TORONTO — Two prominent sportsmen – one a fastball player, the other a softball umpire – were honoured recently by the Canadian National Exhibition as part of its Stars of the Past tribute.
Fastball first baseman Harry Eckler and softball umpire Maxie Scheff were recipients of the honour, Scheff posthumously.
Eckler was described by Paula Warder, who presented the athletes’ biographies at the tribute, as “one of Canada’s best first basemen ever.”
In a career that began at Harbord Playground in the 1930s, Eckler went on to win numerous city and provincial championships. In 1942, he played on Tip Top Tailor’s Canadian championship team, and in 1950, he was on People’s Credit Jeweller’s city, provincial and Canadian championship squad.
A member of the Canadian Softball Hall of Fame, Eckler also got the opportunity to play against boxer Joe Louis’ famed Championship Team in an exhibition at the CNE.
Following his retirement from competitive fastball, Eckler spent 25 years in the nightclub business with partners Joe Krol of the Toronto Argonauts and boxer Sammy Luftspring. Together they operated the Mercury Club on Victoria Street. The after-hours club was a mecca for visiting entertainers and the city’s sporting elite.
Scheff was described by Warder as “Canada’s most dominant personality in softball as a player, umpire and executive member.”
His career spanned 50 years, during which he served as Ontario’s Umpire-in-Chief from 1935 to 1960. He umpired for men, women and children’s games across the province and, Warder noted, organized umpire clinics across Canada.
He officiated at the Cleveland World Championships for two seasons and called the final game in the 1947 tournament.
Scheff started his career as a fastball player with the famed Lizzies playground team. He won a provincial championship in 1929.
He switched to softball and won two provincial titles and was 1931 batting champ for the Yolles-Hertzle team.
Scheff also played hardball for the Jewish Community League at Bellwoods Park, Warder noted.
After retiring from playing, he turned to umping and was umpire in chief for the CNE from 1936 to 1980.
Since 2002, the CNE has been honouring softball players or officials who played at the Ex.
