1980 – 1989

 

 

 

 

 

In 1980 the Ironmen finished 15-13 with Ray Royce notching 6 victories and 74 K’s. Guy Sorel batted 345 and had 5 HR’s while Kevin Keith batted 339 with 5 round trippers. Brian Cox hit 326, with 4 HR’s and led the team with 28 RBI. Cuffy McLaughlin hit 355 and 3 HR

1981 saw  scheduled spring training begin on April 17 for the Chatham Senior Ironmen, with the season expected to start around the end of May. Among those returning to the lineup was Wally Jimmo, seasoned pitcher and veteran of twenty-seven seasons with the Ironmen.

The senior Ironmen began their season in poor fashion, losing 11-3 to their arch-rivals, the Marysville Royals, at the diamond in Marysville. This defeat was accredited to unusually poor circumstances. For example, the Ironmen were failing to score even though they loaded the bases three times, and the loss did not dampen the spirits of the Ironmen.

On the sixth of September, the Chatham Senior Ironmen’s playoff hopes were dashed when the Marysville Royals defeated them 15-14 to clinch a berth in the semi-finals.

Almost a month later, on September 21st, Chatham’s beloved Senior Ironmen defeated the Marysville Royals 10-7 to win the best of seven series four games to three and clinch the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League Championship for 1981. Jim Fischer was 8-4 on the mound for the Ironmen while  Kevin Keith had a huge year batting 504 with 11 HR and 42 RBI. Cuffy McLaughlin hit 364 with 4 HR

Before the final game, which was played in Marysville, each team had won its three home games. However, Marysville had won the regular league pennant, and because of this was favored to defeat Chatham.

After this “come from behind” victory, Chatham treated its heroes with due appreciation, giving them a parade in which they rode on fire trucks, whose sirens were wailing and lights flashing. The show of support, in which hundreds of Chatham natives participated, lasted until the early hours of the following morning.

1982 saw the Ironmen compose a 51-12 W/L record. Cuffy McLaughlin batted 478 with 2 HR and Keith hit 445 with 8 HR and 27 RBI. Jim Fischer topped the team in wins with 5 and Mike McLaughlin had 4..

In 1983 the team had a sub 500 record at 11-15.Rollie Nadeau had 5 wins and Dave Baruka had 4 .Kevin Keith hit 340 with 7 HR and 23 RBI. Ron Hardy batted 344

1984 saw the Ironmen slip to 7-20. John St Pierre had 4 of the teams wins. Ron Hardy batted 357 and Eric Despres batted 348. Roger Dean hit 8 HRs to go with 27RBI leading the team in both categories.

The Ironmen did not field a senior team in 1985 and the league did not operate again until 1989.

In their return to senior baseball in 1989,  the Ironmen composed a 5 and 22 record with Kevin Blakely getting three of them.Hitting wise, Eddie Marsh batted 342 and Eric Despres batted 333 Despres also had 3 HR to lead the team