St. Marys – Dave Stieb, Steve Rogers and Doc Younker have been looking forward to seeing the charming small southwestern Ontario town of St. Marys, but when they arrive to be enshrined into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum, they just may feel like they got off at the wrong stop.

From June 24-26, St. Marys is going to look more like bees swarming a beehive than the town that Ball Hall president & CEO Tom Valcke proudly described to the 2005 inductees as "a place where Norman Rockwell could have painted, we have three traffic signals in total, six thousand friendly people, breathtaking scenery, year-round music on our main street, and a peaceful atmosphere that will take you back fifty years."

Celebrity Golf Classic

The 9th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic fundraiser event takes place on Friday morning, June 24 at the St. Marys Golf & Country Club, followed by a Sports Celebrity Banquet featuring the likes of the inductees joined by Fergie Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, Jim Fanning, Toronto Blue Jays brass from past and present, Miss Canada, and even Chris Robinson, the Londoner selected in the 3rd round of last week's Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

While the golf tournament is sold out, there are still tickets remaining to the banquet, which will be held on the Ceremonial Grounds next to the Hall's museum on Church St. South.  The emcee is The Score's Sam Cosentino.

Inaugural Tournament bringing teams from USA

Also beginning on Friday will be the inaugural Hall of Fame Invitational Tournament for players aged 18 & under, with teams coming from as far as North Carolina and Georgia.  In addition, the Hall may be hosting a 14 & under tournament that will determine the Canadian representative to attend the NABF World Series slated for Joplin, Missouri.

Induction Ceremony

The Induction Ceremony takes place at 10:00am on Saturday, June 25.  Ryan Paton of The Score will emcee and Michael Burgess will sing the National Anthem.  Admission, as always, is free.  There will be food and beverages available on the Ceremonial Grounds, as well as entertainment by the Casino 39 band, and an autograph session will follow the ceremony.

Concerts for all ages

On Saturday evening, Tara Tuma (party band featuring lead singer Rob Edney) returns to the tent on the Ceremonial Grounds for a return engagement, and will be joined by Darcy Scheuerman's Country band for a fantastic night of dance and music.  Doors open at 8:00pm.  Tickets are $8.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door, there will be a barbecue and the event is licensed.

On Sunday afternoon, also in the Induction Tent on the Ceremonial Grounds, four bands will take the stage including Going Down Screaming, Stone Haven, Shadows of May and The Summer I Lost Everything.  Doors open at 4:00pm, and the ticket pricing is also $8.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door.  All ages are encouraged to come, and there will be a barbecue as well.  This event is also licensed.

By Monday, the tranquility of St. Marys will return, and fond memories will be had by all!

ST MARYS – 17 June 2005

June 24 – 9th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic

June 25 – 2005 Induction Ceremony

2005 SUMMER CAMPS for Boys & Girls

* Week-long camps (drop off Sunday, pick-up Saturday), including accommodation & meals
        * Focus on baseball FUNdamentals, swimming, soccer & tennis, trip to SkyDome
        * Social Justice and Cultural Awareness programs incorporated
        * Baseball Celebrities to take part