R. I. P. Ralph Mitchell, Kitchener Panthers long-time trainer
Kitchener Panthers well-known trainer Ralph Mitchell passed away last weekend.
March 14, 2021
By Ed Heather
Intercounty Baseball League Historian
Probably the most well known and colourful trainer in Intercounty Baseball League history, Kitchener Panthers’ Ralph (Mitch) Mitchell passed way this past Sunday.
Mitchell began his IBL career in the early 1950s as a ball chaser and eventually the trainer for the Brantford Red Sox. He was one of 18 children and had nine sisters and eight brothers.
Mitchell then took up residence in the Twin Cities and eventually the Kitchener dugout.
There wasn’t an umpire, fan, teammate or opposing team member that didn’t know that Mitchell was a rough and ready chap, despite his white uniform, which looked like he came from working in the emergency room.
There are lots of Mitch stories through 2000, the year he retired. During winter months, he was the trainer for seven seasons with the Syracuse Blazers of the Eastern Hockey League. That’s the loop that gained fame in the movie Slap Shot. Also, he was the head trainer for the San Diego Mariners of the World Hockey Association.
In Syracuse, one college student learning his craft covering the Blazers at the Onondaga County War Memorial and State Fair Coliseum was Bob Costas. Years later, Costas was interviewed on NBC about his early days. The Hall of Fame broadcaster said he had covered hockey in Syracuse and they had “this crazy trainer.”
Mitchell phoned New York and eventually got in touch with Costas, who claimed “ah, it was said in fun,” according to friends.
However, there was one Panthers Christmas party when Mitchell brought highlights of the Syracuse season and did play-by-play “this part is kind of boring ... but look at what is coming up next.”
And there was Mitchell on the ice in his shoes fighting with an opposing player on skates.
Mitchell did not always renew his driver’s license. One time Bob McKillop and Tommy McKenzie were driving south from Barrie when Mitchell said, “Bet you wouldn’t believe this car goes over 90.”
The cop who pulled Mitchell over believed it. He asked for Mitchell’s license which, of course, he did not have. The policeman said, “So Mr. Mitchel,l do you have anything for identification?”
Mitchell pointed to his tee-shirt: “Ralph Mitchell, trainer, Kitchener Panthers” as his I.D. The policeman asked for insurance and Mitchell showed his sister’s expired papers ... or so legend has it.
Mitchell looked after the aches and pains of the likes of Panthers Gary Ebel, Court Heinbuch, Dave Smallwood, Ron Smith, McKenzie and McKillop.
Once we went to old MacArthur Stadium in Syracuse. Mitch knew everyone and said, “He’s with me,” to the man on the gate, so we walked in without paying. Next thing I know he has hopped the fence and has starting pitcher Hal Reniff, the former New York Yankee, in a head lock. Reniff had pitched in Syracuse and knew Mitchell.
Another famous Mitch story is about him being stuck in downtown Toronto traffic. He rolled down his window and made the sound of an ambulance. Cars pulled over for a while until a policeman pulled him over. Mitchell went to court to appeal the ruling.
“Why were you going so fast?” asked the judge. Mitchell explained that he was late and in a bit of a hurry
“I want to hear the ambulance noise,” the judge commanded.
Mitchell made the realistic sound and down went the gavel. “Case dismissed.”
Another time, legend has it, he was pulled over for speeding. Mitchell got out of the car and said, “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought it was my pal Rusty (or a name of someone currently on the force) -- we always play cops and robbers when he has a slow day. But you’re not Rusty. Sorry.”
When the IBL all-stars went to Halifax, Mitchell admired a giant Canadian flag flying in the breeze. In broad daylight, he lowered the flag and it soon appeared before Panthers home games.
They don’t make them like Mitch anymore, and anyone that knew him will attest to that. He will be missed.