December 11, 2024

By Melissa Verge

Canadian Baseball Network

In a colourful and storied 25-year history, there have been many talented Quebec Capitales teams.

But for outgoing president Michel Laplante, who has helped create the vibrant culture that exists with the Capitales to this day, one sticks out.

“2009 was spectacular,” Laplante said, as he reflected on his own career with the organization earlier this month, in which he wore many hats, including player, coach, general manager, co-owner and most recently, president.

Laplante is stepping away from his role with the team at the end of this month to pursue other avenues with the sport, including a goal to develop a multi-sport facility in Montreal.

They won it all in 2009, but that’s not the only reason Laplante (Val d’Or, Que.) looks back on it fondly. That season eight francophones took the field for them, a testament to what they had developed in Quebec over the 10 years prior.

The culture that Laplante created is one where francophone players wanted to come to the city to finish their baseball journey, Miles Wolff said, who founded the team back in 1999.

“Whenever a French speaking player got released from organized baseball, they would come to us to sort of end their career,” Wolff said.

In 2009, it was an incredibly talented team that included Montreal-born Éric Gagné, who pitched 10 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1999 to 2008. In 2002 and 2003 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Gagné completely shut down the opposition, with 1.97 and 1.20 ERAs, respectively. He also had much success in 2004 with the Dodgers, posting a 2.19 ERA in 82 1/3 innings and 114 strikeouts. With the Capitales in 2009, he pitched just over 102 innings, with a 4.65 ERA and 64 strikeouts.

The team also had Quebec-born pitcher Michel Simard, who played four seasons with the Capitales, including in 2009. He logged just over 125 innings that year, with a 4.16 ERA and 81 strikeouts. Simard finished out his career in Quebec one year later at the end of 2010.

Their 2009 roster also featured catcher Pierre-Luc Laforest (Hull, Que.) and outfielder Sebastien Boucher (Hull, Que.) who was an important contributor at the plate for the Capitales for many seasons. His number was retired earlier this year by the team.

In 2009, Boucher had 45 hits and 28 RBIs for the Capitales, and all-time from 2009 to 2014 with the team, he ranks second in career batting average (.319).

Other francophones on that 2009 roster were third baseman Patrick Deschenes (Quebec, Que.), catcher Patrick D’Aoust (Montreal, Que.), pitcher Karl Gelinas (Laval, Que.) and third baseman Pat Scalabrini (Coaticook, Que.). Scalabrini had been named the Rookie of the Year in 2002 as the Capitales’ All-Star third baseman, hitting .325 with seven homers and 45 RBIs. Scalabrini has continued to be an important part of the Capitales’ organization to this day as the team's manager.

Wolff recalls one game in particular where the umpire ushered everyone on that 2009 team in.

It was a special moment. Everyone standing in the infield, from the first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman, the catcher, the umpire, and Laplante, were francophones.

How did they garner such interest from french speaking players that year?

Taking the field in Quebec with the Capitales was special for them, Wolff said.

“They wanted to pitch [and play] in their home environment,” Wolff said. “And you know, [there was] such a strong feeling in Quebec City that all the french speaking ballplayers at least wanted to spend one year there,” he said.

And it all started with Laplante, who helped develop the culture there from day one. He took things a lot further than Wolff said he ever could, and it’s brought them a fan base and a successful team, who were crowned champions in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

“[Through Laplante] the Quebec fans, the French speaking fans, had somebody to identify with,” Wolff said.

“It all helped to start the culture in Quebec,” Wolff said.