“Blue skies, nothing but blue skies, from now on.” – Irving Berlin
As noted on a plaque honouring his numerous contributions to slo-pitch at the local, provincial and national levels, Bill Bowers’ wish for all ball players was for sunny skies with nary a drop of rain in the forecast.
Oh, how very pleased Mr. Slo-Pitch would have been Wednesday morning (May 2) as that dedication was unveiled in bright sunshine before a huge throng of close friends, former teammates, and slo-pitch league executive members gathered at Bowers Park off Brealey Drive.
Bowers died suddenly last July at age 72 — 41 years after organizing Peterborough’s first slo-pitch league. He went on to serve as president of the Peterborough Slo-Pitch Association right after, serving in that role for many years while furthering the game’s reach and development at the provincial and national levels.
Still, as his longtime friend and Peterborough Slo-Pitch Association executive colleague Dave Crowley noted, Bowers never lost sight of one simple thing — slo-pitch is a great game to play but the relationships it forges are the reward.
“What Bill understood was it wasn’t about the hits and it wasn’t about the runs or the wins and the losses, it was about being with the guys,” Crowley said.
“Bill showed up (in Peterborough) and he had this game called slo-pitch. And guess what? We got to be kids again, not for a couple of years but for decades. Without him, I’m not sure it would have happened.”
The unveiling was very emotional for Bob and Maureen Lewis, who befriended their neigbhour Bowers close to 40 years ago. Both avid slo-pitch players, they served with Bowers on the Peterborough Slo-Pitch Association executive for a number of years as well as spent a lot of off-diamond time together.
“Our mutual love of the game is what brought us together,” recalled Maureen.
“Bill’s passion and desire to build the sport of slo-pitch in our city was contagious. Bob and I are forever grateful we were invited along for the ride. We miss our chats about everything and anything. We miss his goofy sense of humour. Bill was a humble and honest man who was always quick to deflect any praise or accolades.”
That was a lot deflecting as the accolades numbered many: receiving the Sports Personality of the Year Award from the City of Peterborough in 1997, being named Peterborough’s Tourism Ambassador of the Year (also in 1997), and his induction into the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
In addition, in 1996, the ballpark that’s now home to his plaque was named Bowers Park, partly in recognition of his helping raise $250,000 towards the construction cost of the four-diamond facility in 1991.
Besides getting the game off the ground in the mid 1970s just a few years after arriving in Peterborough from Toronto to take a job at Trent University as its print shop manager (he retired in 2010), Bowers played a major role in the development of the Peterborough Slo-Pitch Council in 1986, serving as its first president. Ten years later, he was a key player bringing the Slo-Pitch National championship tournament to the city.
“Bill was looked up to by many of the (slo-pitch) volunteers across Canada and was certainly a mentor to all of the new recruits that come in and help out in their communities,” said Slo-Pitch National vice-president Trish Harrow-Rodic.
She added that Slo-Pitch National has struck an award in Bowers’ name that will be bestowed each year upon a league “that exemplifies above and beyond service in their community.” The inaugural award has fittingly gone to the Peterborough Slo-Pitch Association.
Also reminiscing was Steve Gardner, president of the Peterborough Men’s Senior Slo-Pitch League — one of two leagues that Bowers played regularly in right up until his passing.
“Bill was an ambassador for the game and continued to be right up until his last days … he loved the game, he was a student of the game,” said Gardner.
“When Bill got to the senior league, he was able to be a player. His team, McMillan Sports, dedicated the season to Bill. I’m sure Bill is up there laughing because we stunk.”
And making the long trek from his home in Fargo, North Dakota was Bowers’ son Dan.
“My father sunk his heart into it for years (the Peterborough Slo-Pitch Association) and he took great pride in it, and he took tremendous pride in this facility and all the joy it brings to so many,” he said.
“He would certainly be very humbled but very, very proud.”
Later, Bob Lewis remembered his friend as someone whose volunteer work wasn’t limited to slo-pitch circles as he lent a hand wherever he thought he could help.
He added he hopes Bowers Park visitors — slo-pitch players and otherwise — take a moment to stop and read the plaque’s inscription as they make the trek toward the diamonds.
In addition to the playing for McMillan Sports of the Peterborough Men’s Senior Slo-Pitch League, Bowers also played for J.O. Express of the Peterborough Slo-Pitch Association.
Following the dedication, both teams squared off as a tribute to their late teammate.
