The Legend on the field
Kenny Timmons Jr. has been a fixture on Cape Breton diamonds for 67 years
The title “The Legend” can have various meanings, but on Cape Breton ballfields it means Kenny Timmons Jr.
Timmons, who is 75 and a member of the Chant Funeral Home Cardinals, has played baseball or fastball for 67 years but he isn’t ready to hang up his glove.
“I have no plans of ever giving it up,” he said. “Unless something happens where I can’t get (to the field) anymore, I will be there.”
About three years ago, he decided to become a “spare” player and told the coach to make sure everyone else plays.
“They have a lot better players now than me,” he said. “If someone doesn’t make it (to the game) I play, but otherwise I look after the scorebook and help with the team. As long as I am with the guys, that is the main thing for me.”
Cardinals coach Milton MacDonald said Timmons is always at the field with his jersey and cleats and ball glove in hand.
“He’s always one of the first guys on the field ready to go,” he said. “He just wanted to still be part of a team because he loves it.”
When he gets into a game, the first thing he says is “‘Really?’ He can’t wait to get in.”
MacDonald admits Timmons’ presence on the field makes a difference because he’s an inspiration to the younger players.
“We had him in a game two weeks ago … and he had two base hits against guys 25 and 30 years old.”
When he’s not in the game, he’s the team’s biggest cheerleader.
“His enthusiasm spreads right through the team. I’ve known Kenny for about 30 years, he’s always been like that.”
MacDonald said Timmons’ nickname, The Legend, came about in 2014 when the team was in Prince Edward Island for the 35 and over national fastball championships and Timmons entered the game to pitch.
MacDonald told the game announcer that Timmons was 71 years old and the announcer shared the news with the crowd: ‘Now pitching for the Cardinals, 71-year-old Kenny Timmons.’
“He threw a pitch and all
the fans were yelling. ‘Kenny, Kenny, Kenny.’ He got pretty emotional.
“Kenny told me afterwards, ‘That was the icing on the cake for my ball career.’”
Timmons was eight years old the first time he picked up a baseball as a member of the Scotchtown Yankees Little League team.
His career was delayed because when he was four years old he fell down the stairs and injured his back and leg.
“I was late starting for that reason,” he explained.
At the time organized Little League only went up to age 12 and the older children played on neighbourhood teams.
“We just made up our own teams and played different areas in someone’s field somewhere. It wasn’t structured but it was fun.”
One day in the early 1960s, Timmons was playing catch
with Melvin Eldridge and Eldridge encouraged him to join an organized fastball team.
Timmons went on to play for the New Waterford Red Devils then the New Waterford Hawks and later the Scotchtown Raiders. When the Raiders folded he went back to the Hawks.
Back in those days there were hard core dedicated fans that would come out to watch the eight or nine fastball teams in the New Waterford area, Timmons said.
“It felt good having all the people coming out to support the teams. No matter where you played.
“(In the early days there) were only two gloves (worn by) the pitcher and catcher. When you caught a ball in the outfield or the infield you caught it with your bare hands.”
When the Hawks folded Timmons moved on to the Reserve Mines Alpines, a team for players
ages 35 and over.
“I went where ever I could get a game and play ball,” he said.
When the New Waterford Hawks came together to mark their 25th reunion they ended up forming a team which played together for several more years and Timmons rejoined the squad.
When the Hawks finally hung up the gloves for good, Timmons joined the Chant Funeral Home Cardinals.
Over the years Timmons has played most positions.
“Most of my career was spent pitching,” he said. “Where ever I was needed, I played, except catching.”
Timmons has earned the respect of his teammates.
“Kenny is a fantastic guy, a great teammate. He comes and plays, has fun and enjoys it,” said longtime teammate Kevin McDonald.
Teammate Frank Selvet said Timmons is always available and has a lot of heart.
“If young guys had heart like him we’d be doing pretty well for fastball in Nova Scotia.”
Timmons admits he loves to play but he’s not a serious player, he only wants to play.
“I always leave the field happy. If I win, I win and if I lose, I lose.”