April 11, 2022

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Kingston nine that day.

Right-hander Art Leeman was the scheduled starter for the Kingston Lakeview Centennials July 13, 1968.

After five pitches in the bullpen he returned to the bench at Soper Creek Park in Bowmanville telling coach Cliff Earl: “My arm’s hurt, I can’t pitch.”

Keith Weese wasn’t there since it was haying season on the farm in Centreville and Doug McIlroy was working.

Scanning the bench for reserves, Earl suggested strong-armed outfielder Bucky Davis as the emergency replacement, even though he had never pitched. Leeman showed Davis how to stand on the rubber and Davis announced that he was ready to go.

Leeman said, “Well, maybe Bucky we should throw a few from the stretch -- you know just in case anyone gets on base.”

Davis threw from the stretch and was ready to go ... a second time.

Out he went in the bottom of the first to face the Bowmanville Electrons. Davis came to the set position, glanced to his left to see how much of a lead-off the runner at first was taking and threw his first pitch.

“TIME! TIME! TIME!” yelled Leeman and out he went to tell Davis to pitch from the full wind up.

The two had a short conversation and Leeman returned to the bench laughing all the way.

“What did Bucky say?” about four people asked.

Replied Leeman: “Bucky said ‘You can’t be too careful ... you can’t be too careful with base runners Arty.”

Davis pitched seven innings allowing five runs -- two earned -- on three hits and four walks. He struck out three in his 66-pitch outing and left with the lead.

But what now?

On came Elwyn Watts, another back-up outfielder, and a man who had the perfect “I’ll do anything to help the team,” attitude, whether it was driving every weekend, picking someone one up or making sure the equipment was not left behind.

Elwyn worked the final two innings picked up the save in a 7-5 win. He allowed one hit and struck out a pair in his 20-pitch afternoon.

And oh yes, Elwyn pulled a grand slam down the left field line into Soper Creek.

SS Ron Earl had three hits in the win over Bowmanville, while CF Brian Coffey had two and LF Mac Druce singled in a pair of runs. 2B Bobby Gilmour, uncle of Dougie Gilmour of Toronto Maple Leaf fame, also singled.

The next day Kingston was at home at the Cricket Field to play the Belleville Kenmores featuring legendary OHL coach Larry Mavety.

3B Don Goodridge found a fireman’s helmet -- the kind they used to give to the top relievers in the majors -- and presented it to Elwyn before the game.

We tell you this story because Elwyn passed peacefully on April 5, 2022 at the age of 77. Elwyn leaves behind his beloved wife of 52 years Carol (nee Hannah). Elwyn, or Wattsy, as he was known, grew up on Wolfe Island playing for the Wolfe Island Bridge Boosters along with the likes of C Billy Kyle, OF Brian Coffey and OF Eldon (Crunch) McCready.

Elwyn was at my wedding 49 years ago, he was someone to talk to after my father had a stroke coaching in the third base box at Talbot Park in Leaside weeks before our trip to Bowmanville and he became a dear friend long after I left Kingston in 1973.

Over his career with the Kingston seniors, he hit .213 with two doubles, three triples and 29 RBIs in 87 games over his seven seasons. He was part of the team my father coached when Kingston won the 1967 OBA senior title when Doug (Slugger) Arniel hit a two-run homer off the top of the arena in Orillia for the city’s first OBA title since 1932 when his father was on the team.

Bobby Gilmour remembers an afternoon in Centerville when Elwyn ran down a long fly ball in left field only to run through the snow fence. He made the catch and came up smiling!

We told you Elwyn was hard-working, loyal and dependable. He worked the same job in Kingston for 54 years.

Published Dec. 20, 2017, in Petrie Ford newsletter

Dedication – 54 years on the job.

Elwyn Watts has been a staple at Edwards/Petrie Ford for over 54 years … and after a long, successful career, Elwyn has decided to retire this year. We’ll miss him dearly.

We have the original ‘new hire’ file folder from 1963 – the year Elwyn stared at Petrie Ford (then called Edwards Ford). The dealership then was located downtown on Princess St. It wasn’t until 1967 that Edwards Ford traded properties with the Pontiac dealership and moved to its current location at 1388 Bath Road (at the corner of Bath and Centennial). Much of Bath Road was dirt road at the time, and the west end was just starting to be developed.

Elwyn’s starting title – in 1963 – was “stock clerk” according to his ‘new hire’ file. That position evolved along with his vast knowledge of auto parts over the years. Since those early days, he’s long held the position of “wholesale parts specialist” having catered to our business-to-business clients for decades.

He’s become a bit of a local legend in the automotive community. He’s well known and trusted as being a true expert on all things relating to automotive parts!

It’s safe to say that not many people work for over 54 years. It’s an achievement the likes of which the current and next generation of workers will probably never see. After such a long tenure, his retirement announcement is certainly bitter-sweet. It’s well deserved time off, but he’ll certainly leave a hole in our Petrie Ford hearts!

All the best Elwyn.

Deepest sympathies are extended to Carol, his children and their partners, Kevin and Allyson, Kolin and Emily, Kendall and Margot and Kurtis and Tricia as well as his grandchildren, Katelyn, Adam, Raychel, Charlotte, Morgan, Grayson, Eastin, Cheyenne and Harrison and his loyal companion Austin.

Arrangements entrusted to the Gordon F. Tompkins Funeral Home - Township Chapel.

Elliott: R. I. P. Elwyn Watts