McRae's Senior "A" Fastball Team 1974 (Team) - Virtual Sports Wall Of Fame

McRae's Senior "A" Fastball Team 1974

	Team : Fastball Era: 1971 - 1990 Inducted 2004

Click to view a larger version of the plaque

     In 1974, the Niagara Falls McRae’s Senior "A"Fastball Team won the Ontario Senior "A" Fastball League Championship.

     This league was formed in 1973 and was considered the elite fastball league in Canada. Several players in the league were touted as the top players in the world.

     In capturing the Championship, the McRae’s bested the Oshawa Tony’s, reigning Canadian Champs, in a best of 5 final, 3 games to 2. To get to the finals, the McRae men won against Burlington in a sudden death playoff game in Niagara Falls, this afforded them the opportunity to play Newmarket in the Western Conference Championship. The Niagara Falls team defeated Newmarket 2 games to 1 to gain a berth in the Championship against Oshawa. Oshawa had defeated the Toronto Globals to get to the finals.

     The outstanding pitching from Ed Neudorf (who was a pick-up for Oshawa when they won the Canadian Championships), Jake Neufeld, and Walt Szpilewski led the way for the victorious Niagara Falls squad. McRae’s also won the prestigious Labatt’s International Fastball Tournament in 1974 with a 2-1 victory in the final against Detroit. The George Lalicich and Al Dane coached team was one of the finest fastball teams ever assembled in Niagara Falls.

Additional Images & Resources

Click to view image of bat boy Mike Lalicich
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Mike Lalicich bat boy of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of coach Al Dane
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Al Dane coach of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of Coach George Lalicich
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	George Lalicich coach of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of Dave Steele
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Dave Steele team member of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of Jake Neufeld
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Jake Neufeld team member of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of Jokie Summers
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Jokie Summers Equipment Manager for McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of Rich Plato
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Rich Plato Statistician of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of Rick Climenhage
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Rick Climenhage team member of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of Rob Rost
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Rob Rost team member of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of Ron Sunstrum
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Ron Sunstrum team member of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of sponsor Ed McRae
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Ed McRae sponsor of sports teams in Niagara Falls
Notes	Sponsor of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974 ;
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of team member John Watson
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	John Watson member of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of team member Mike Cockburn
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Mike Cockburn member of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of team member Pepper Martin
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Pepper Martin member of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of team member Reg Wall
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Reg Wall member of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of team members Ed & Norm Neudorf
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Ed and Norm Neudorf members of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of Victor (Vic) Dyk
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Victor (Vic) Dyk team member of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view image of Walt Szpilewski
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Walt Szpilewski team member (pitcher) for McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view images of Bob & Larry Christie
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Bob & Larry Christie team members of McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Description	Black & white scan from Ontario Fastball League brochure ;
Date	January 14, 2004.

Click to view photograph taken at Induction Ceremony
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	15th annual Sports Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony - McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974
Creator	Simon, Pat
Description	Award being presented by Mayor Ted Salci (back row right) ; Team members in no particular order: Rich Climenhage, Al Dane, Reg Wall, Mike Lalicich, George Lalicich, Pepper Martin, John Watson, Rich Plato, Ron Sunstrum, Norm Neudorf, Vic Dyck, Rob Rost, Jake Neufeld, Larry Christie, Bob Christie, Mike Cockburn, Walt Szpilewski, Ed Neudorf, Jokie Summers,Clarke Christie, Frank Falconer, Dave Steele, Kevin McRae (Batboy), Ed McRae (Sponsor) ;
Date	January 18, 2004.

Click to view the original image
From the library's image database (click the link to view the full record)

Title	Niagara Falls Sports Wall of Fame - McRae's Senior A Fastball Team 1974 era 1971 - 1990 era
Description	scan from an Ontario Fastball League booklet ;
Notes	Image may not be reproduced without the written consent of the City of Niagara Falls, Parks, Recreation and Culture Department ; induction January 2004 ; Front Row: Rich Climenhage, Al Dane, Reg Wall, Maike Lalicich, George Lalicich, Pepper Martin, John Watson ; Second Row: Rich Plato, Ron Sunstrum, Norm Neudorf, Vic Dyck, Rob Rost, Jake Neufeld ; Third Row: Larry Christie, Bob Christie, Mike Cockburn, Walt Szpilewski, Ed Neudorf, Jokie Summers ; Missing from photo: Clarke Christire, Frank Falconer, Dave Steele, Kevin McRae (Batboy), Ed McRae (Sponsor) ;
Date	January 13, 2004.


Names
Click to search for other entries for a name
Team Member	Christie, Bob
Team Member	Christie, Clark
Team Member	Christie, Larry
Team Member	Climenhage, Rich
Team Member	Cockburn, Mike
Team Member	Dyck, Vic
Team Member	Falconer, Frank
Team Member	Lalicich, Mike
Team Member	Martin, Pepper
Team Member	Neudorf, Ed
Team Member	Neudorf, Norm
Team Member	Neufeld, Jake
Team Member	Rost, Rob
Team Member	Steele, Dave
Team Member	Summers, Jokie
Team Member	Sunstrum, Ron
Team Member	Szpilewski, Walt
Team Member	Wall, Reg
Team Member	Watson, John
Team Coach	Dane, Al
Team Coach	Lalicich, George
Team Sponsor	McRae, Ed
(Other)	McRae, Kevin
(Other)	Plato, Rich

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McRae's Senior "A" Fastball Team 1974

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