COBOURG — Although in a new location this year, the Jim Bradford Classic men’s fastball tournament was enjoyed by players, coaches, umpires and spectators just as it has for the past two decades.
Cobourg’s Legion Fields played host to the 21st edition of the Classic for the first time. For the first 16 years, the tournament was held in Baltimore before moving to Grafton for the past four. The existing tournament was named in memory of former umpire Jim Bradford following his death in 2001.
“That’s the umpire fraternity right there,” said Serge Laflamme, a Quebecer who has worked the Classic as an umpire for the past few years. “That’s a decent calibre of ball and some great preparation for ball this season.”
Bradford, who was from Baltimore, was the only nationally recognized Level 5 umpire in both fast-pitch and slo-pitch. In 2003, he was inducted into Softball Canada’s Hall of Fame.
“Jim was my first supervisor in 1988 at the Canadian slo-pitch championships in Quebec,” Laflamme said. “That’s when I first met Jim.”
Laflamme said Bradford was very “generous” in working with other umpires.
“He was always ready to help,” he said. “When I met him I couldn’t speak a word of English. He spoke slowly to help me. I think his heart was always in the right place for softball.”
Cobourg Force team member Craig Buttar has played in the Classic for about 12 years now, describing it as a “very good tournament.” Click here for the complete story and photo.