The Halifax Capitals
- Type: Team
- Sport(s): Baseball
- Year: 2019
Sometimes things just come together … or more precisely … the right people come together at the right time. No where is that more accurate than sports.
The Halifax Capitals of the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball league ..were one of those teams … right people, right time.
The Halifax Capitals had a brilliant if short life … formed by Kevin Umlah and Ralph Lagere and Robert Moore in 1982. When they wrapped things up in 1988, The Halifax Capitals had covered themselves in glory with two provincial championships, a regional championship and a swat at the National title that brought them within a wisker of the big game.
The Halifax Capitals drew a good deal of its talent from two teams in the Metro area; Pelham Electric and a team from Dartmouth Merchants plus a number of other players who signed on.
Pelham Electric, led by Jim Pelham decided to take a break and stand down as a team for a few years … Although they’ve been back for the last 30 years as Pelham Canadians.
The 1985 Halifax Capitals were loaded with talent. Kevin Umlah led the league in doubles, runs scored and stolen bases. Jim Pelham led the league in RBI’s and was second in home runs.
Richard Boudreau who came from Cape Breton to teach in the Halifax area played short stop and was one of the most consistent players on the team and in the league. He’s since returned to Cape Breton and still plays ball.
The team was sparked by strong pitching from Steve Burke, Duncan Wilson and Ray Powell. The following year, Ray Powell set a league record for the most saves in a season, eight. That record still stands. Unfortunately, Ray Powell and Donnie MacDonald have passed on as did one of the directors Pat Forestall. Danny Burns along with the founders was the other director.
Over the course of the season, coach Larry Turple did a terrific job of moulding the team so that it peaked at the right time.
The Halifax Capitals finished fourth during regular season play. They were a slow out of the gate but in the playoffs they came together.
First, they defeated first place Louisdale Baracois in the semi-finals.
Then they faced the reigning Canadian Senior Baseball Champions, the Kentville Wildcats. However, by the time they reached the Nova Scotia championship, they were down to 12 players. There were no replacements for injury or illness. In the best of five series, the Capitals defeated the Wildcats 3 games to 1.
Now they had the provincial championship.
Next was the Atlantic Season Championship. That was held in Newfoundland. They kept getting better. With a skimpy bare minimum roster, they picked up four players before heading to the Rock. Chet Boudreau and Lorne Landry from Louisdale, Hugh Fraser from the Wildcats and George Maclean from the Sydney Sooners.
The Halifax Capitals went undefeated in three games to take the title and with it a berth to the National Championship in 1986.
When the National Championship rolled around, the Capitals had a new coach, Bob Gillis.
They faced the Moncton Mets in the Bronze medal game. Bill “Spaceman” Lee, formerly of Montreal Expos and Boston Red Sox, was on the mound for Moncton and had been boasting that he’d bring the prize home for New Brunswick. Just the incentive Halifax needed to turn the tables …the Capitals scored four early runs and defeated the Mets 5-4.
The Halifax Capitals brought the bronze to Nova Scotia.
Their time was brief but it was glorious.
Please welcome the 1985 Halifax Capitals as inductees to the Maritime Sport Hall of Fame.