History of the A's

Quotes

The Famous Athletics In Real Time

“Never did the Athletics' grounds present a prettier picture of the popularity of lacrosse than they did today when the Athletics and Cornwall teams appeared. The open grand stand and the covered and temporary stands were filled with ladies, while the available standing room was occupied by gentlemen from all quarters of Western Ontario.” The Toronto Globe reports of the 3,000 fans at a game in St. Catharines in July 1891.

“The Standard thinks the Athletic goal keeper is first rate, but, as he had nothing to do through the game, there is no proof of it.” A Standard reporter of goalie J. Bradt after a 1895 game.

“The match was witnessed by quite a large number of spectators despite the threatening weather and the crowd was quite impartial in distribution of applause. Any clever work on the part of any player got him a round of applause.” The Athletics "host" the Torontos in June 1895.

“Williams controlled his temper and did not return the blows, but J. Craig, the referee and captain of the home team, ruled both men off the field. He stated that he did not see anything wrong done by Williams, but Graham would not have hit him without reason.” The A's Frank Williams gets a black eye and a raw deal at a game in Fergus in June 1895.

“Field Captain Craig pulled the rest of his team together and walked past the grand stand amid the hisses of almost all those present.” The visiting Fergus team heads for the train station after a goal is overturned by referee Henry O' Loughlin in the opening minutes of a game in St. Catharines in July 1895.

“If the referee asserts that he saw the ball pass outside the flag poles, his vision must be abnormal and we recommend an inspection of his eyesight by a competent oculist before undertaking to referee another game in which the Athletics are participants.” Fergus Thistles field captain J. J. Craig in a letter to the editor of the Toronto Globe in July 1895.

"The St. Catharines boys are a grand lot of players and will always be welcomed to Seaforth." The report of the Toronto Globe's correspondent in Seaforth after the Beavers defeat the Athletics in July 1895.

"Some of the scenes on the grand stand were exciting and one ex-mayor nearly jumped through the roof when the last goal was taken." The Daily Standard in August 1895.

"It was like old times to see the lacrosse grounds thronged as they were Monday afternoon. It carried one's thoughts back to the good old days when "Doc" Collins, Jim Chaplin, Yielding and the other stars were the pets of the grand stand." The Daily Standard in June 1896.

"The referee ordered 'those four men who were fighting' to leave the field. But its difficult to tell which man is which when all are in uniform and the referee couldn't pick them out, so the game went on." The Daily Standard in June 1896.

"Just as soon as play begins some one in the front row stands up, then the whole row follows suit and those behind, to see anything, have to do likewise. Everyone could see just as well and with more comfort if they remained seated." The Daily Standard in June 1896.

"The Athletics are developing a system of signals similar to those made use of in Rugby football games. Such a system if perfected will cause a revolution in the national game." The Daily Standard in August 1898.

"The 19th Battalion Band will come from St. Catharines, under Bandmaster Peel, 40 strong, and play during the match." The Toronto Globe reports that the Athletics will get some musical support for a game at the Toronto Island Grounds in July 1899.

"The referee was asked to stop the match but whether from fear or otherwise, blew his whistle and ordered play to proceed." The Toronto Globe reports of the A's darkest hour when some members of the team along with a portion of their supporters engage in some uncontrolled ugliness directed at Fred Dowling and the Orangeville Dufferins in a match played at the St. Catharines Athletics Grounds in July 1899.

“When young men play games like this, if trouble occurs, they ought to try to keep it out of the police court.” Police Magistrate Comfort at the St. Catharines police court of July 31st, 1899 hearing of charges against John Richardson and Bill Harris of the A’s, and the Orangeville Dufferins Fred Dowling.

"The game in St. Catharines received a blow some time ago, which it took some time from which to recover, and uncalled for roughness is not tolerated on the St. Catharines team to-day."  The Daily Standard in July 1901.

"One result of the game should be the exploding of the reputation the Athletics have for roughness. They have played clean lacrosse all year and Saturday's game could not have been bettered from the Athletics' side."  The St. Catharines Evening Star reports of the A's district championship win over Brantford before 8,000 spectators at the Toronto Island grounds in August 1901.

“Wm. Lang of St. Paul Street on Saturday hoisted his handsome set of colors after the lacrosse match and in the evening fired a salute of 21 guns in honor of the victory.” The St. Catharines Standard in August 1901.

“Well! Well! Now we can settle down to business again and get in the hay.” One unidentified supporter after the Athletics were defeated by the Orangeville Dufferins for the Globe Shield in September 1901.

“Several local men are receiving requests from outside teams to join them for the season, but so far none have succumbed to the wiles of the tempter. This season St. Catharines wants the championship and every local man is needed to win it. It is to be hoped they will remain loyal.” The St. Catharines Evening Star in April 1902.

"McIlwain has lost none of his fire and as usual showed his willingness to do two men's work, although he is scarcely the size of one."  The Daily Standard in May 1902.

"When they landed on the Yonge Street dock they appeared paler, wiser and much lighter."  Some of the Athletics experience a rough trip across Lake Ontario on the Lakeside for a game against the Tecumsehs in June 1902.

"I am informed on good authority that I am wanted in the Seniors."  Shoe salesman Charles Donnelly after the charity game between the "Boots and Shoes" and the "Grocers" raises much needed funds for the Orphans Home in August 1902. The final score was 7 to 2 "in favor of the feet decoration merchants."

"There were several peculiarities about the players, the most noticeable one being a tendency to lie down without any apparent provocation."  Observation made of the charity game between the "Single Men" and the "Married Men" to raise much needed funds for the Orphans Home in September 1902. It was claimed that "the several hundred people present had more than 80 cents worth of fun for half that money."

"A good crowd will take the excursion to Oshawa on Saturday. One factory will shut down altogether, and there are others who will take advantage of the cheap rate to take the trip."  After a special train is planned for the A's supporters for a road game in June 1903.

“He committed an assault on a British subject in front of hundred of witnesses.” The Standard’s account of Brantford’s “Tack” Hendry’s swing at the A’s Billy Elliott in a game in 1903.

It has happened.” A joyous Standard reporter after the A’s opened the 1904 season with a win at the home of bitter rival Brantford. He then would add, “It will go down as the greatest day in St. Catharines in the history of lacrosse.”

“There was a dispute, and in the delay, many spectators went onto the field. Numerous vigorous demonstrations were made against Jack, and the Athletics' players surrounded him to protect him against possible violence by the enraged spectators.” Referee Hugh Jack is poorly treated at the Lacrosse Grounds after calling back a game-tying goal by the A's Eddie Hagan in a match with the Tecumsehs in July 1904.

"And the home is entirely home-brewed. But it is the lightest and cleverest that the Garden City has turned out in recent years. They play well out in the field and come in with a rush, crossing and re-crossing the field in a style well calculated to mix-up a defence." The Toronto Telegram on the A's potent attack in May 1905.

"The management of the sr. team invested their money to good purpose when they put that barb wire around the top of the fence." Reported by the Daily Standard in June 1905 after resolving the ongoing problem of hundreds of spectators gaining admittance by climbing over the eight-foot wooden fence at "the old corner lot".

"The Athletics left for Toronto today by G. T. R. (Grand Trunk Railroad) for their big struggle in the big Rosedale grounds with the Torontos. The Tecumsehs might take notice that when St. Kitts really want to win a game they don't travel by boat, even if the tickets cost less." The Toronto Telegram in July 1905.

"To who's address shall we send the Globe Shield?." Part of a congratulatory cable send to the Athletics by the Brantford Lacrosse Club in August 1905.

"If St. Kitts were ever to get that Minto boilerplate over to the corner lot, wouldn't there be a nice time getting it away from them? It would be just about the same proposition as getting the Stanley Cup out of Ottawa.” Mr. Lacrosse, Joe Lally of Cornwall, in August 1905.

"It rained almost every day we were away and we went on the field for the second game about as useless a bunch as you can imagine." Eddie Hagan of the Athletics on the poor showing of the team in the second game of the 1905 Minto Cup series with the Montreal Shamrocks.

"As the smallest child already is aware, senior lacrosse is as necessary in St. Catharines as is rain to the farmer." With the C. L. A. season in jeopardy, the Standard addresses the importance of the game in the Garden City in June 1906.

"Crap shooting, card playing, and, worst of all, dirty and profane language are practiced daily, or rather, nightly...many parents think their children are safe, if, at the lacrosse grounds. If they could see these same children holding lights for the card players and listening to the obscene and foul language of those present, they would have a different opinion." The complaint of an unhappy resident of the Catherine and Maple Street area in a letter to the editor of the Daily Standard in July 1906.

"St. Kitts had brand new uniforms, and looked so nice that the photographers were chasing them after the game."  The Toronto Telegram in July 1906.

"It seems a pity that the C. L. A. senior series should be so weak-kneed as to admit St. Kitts to the fold at this late date. It is time the sulkers on the Welland Canal were taught a lesson. They make more trouble than all the other teams in the C. L. A. combined." The Toronto Telegram in April 1907, after a tumultuous 1906 season was attributed to the Athletics dictates to the league.

"There was a group, consisting of Billy Lee, Frank McIlwain, and Fred Beard in Tim and Mac's Tuesday, talking of fence jumpers, and they all had a serene look on the faces, that boded no good for those worthies if caught in the act on Saturday." The management of the A's addressing the recurring issue of gate-crashers, as reported in the Daily Standard in July 1907.

"St. Kitts will win the C. L. A. championship in a walk and they look to the Indians (nickname of the N. L. U. Tecumsehs of Toronto) to land the Minto Mug. Then the Old Boys will strengthen their team with such players as have strayed from their fireside and have a try for the silverware. With the best of their C. L. A. players and Kalls, Barnett, Elliott, Lowe and Tod Downey, they think they will have just about the greatest team ever." The Athletics dream of bringing home some professional N. L. U. players for a post C. L. A. season run at the Minto Cup is addressed in the Toronto Telegram in July 1907.

"Joe Timmons stated that whatever happens, George Kalls will stay in St. Kitts. and with young Harris, Parke, Hagan and Fitzgerald, who is said to surpass Kalls at outside home, St. Kitts will be pretty strong." With George Kalls returning from the N. L. U., the Athletics anticipate big things in May 1908. 

"Down at St. Kitts the children are taught to play lacrosse almost as soon as they can walk and between the quarters of Saturday's game about 25 youngsters from three up to ten years of age would take the field and put up an exhibition of stick-handling and combination play that would be a credit to many league teams." The Hamilton Herald in July 1908.

"The team held a meeting the other night and agreed to cut out beer and cigarettes till after the games are over." With the team sending challenges to New Westminster for a Minto Cup showdown,  the players raised their level of commitment in August 1908. But with some of the New Westminster players headed for the London Olympics in the autumn of 1908, the challenge was not accepted.

"St. Catharines was all expectant this afternoon to find out the result of the game at Toronto. Hundreds of telephone calls were received at the Standard office asking about the score and a large crowd waited for the bulletins." Team supporters anxiously await the results of the Globe Shield game in Toronto between the Athletics and the Young Torontos in September 1910.

"The Athletics of St. Catharines won their series with the help of players who could not qualify as amateurs in competition for the Mann Cup." The Mann Cup trustees in October 1910.

"The Mann Cup trustees would have been lustily execrated in British Columbia if they had brought a lot of boys down here from Vancouver and then turned such C. A. A. U. amateurs as George Parke loose on them." The Daily Standard writing in September 1912 of the failed challenge of the Athletics to play for the 1910 Mann Cup.

"That St. Kitts is the greatest lacrosse town in the world, and produces more real lacrosse players, is being demonstrated every year. We grow them here, and have done so for over a quarter of a century."  Claim printed in the Daily Standard in June 1911.

"Neither Vancouver not Toronto showed the snap that has for years marked St. Catharines as an A1 lacrosse team, and it is a pity that the Garden City boys will have no chance to demonstrate their right to the Mann Cup." The Toronto Mail and Empire, October 1911.

"My idea was to go even further and to tour the main portion of Europe with the teams and show the oldest part of the world what a splendid game this young country really has." Proposal by the Vancouver lacrosse club to have the Athletics join them at the 1912 Olympics and also participate in a grand tour of the continent. The Daily Standard in October 1911.

"The Sir Thomas Mann Gold Cup is fulfilling the purposes of its donor. A team of Canadians from the Niagara frontier is to cross the continent to meet a team of fellow Canadians on the Pacific slope." The Daily Standard in September 1912.

"If they had been allowed to play the team they wanted to play two years ago they might have won on the field, but they would have lost on a protest, and the Mann Cup would have gone west." The Daily Standard in September 1912.

"He is in the game for the love of it. It simply looks from this distance as if the trustees had been looking for something to get back at the Athletics for the ridiculous Mann fiasco of two seasons ago." The Daily Standard writing in September 1912 of the Mann Cup trustees' refusal of allowing Ed Harris to play with the team for the 1912 Mann Cup.

"Personally and officially I, with all citizens wish you every success. We know you will do your best." Telegram from Mayor W. H. Merritt that was read to the Athletics before their first Mann Cup game in Vancouver in October 1912.

"Come on boys, remember old club, old town and old victories." Telegram from former A's executive Joe Timmons and Fred Beard that was read to the Athletics before their first Mann Cup game in Vancouver in October 1912.

"They have strengthened greatly since they were east. They are heavy and fast." Telegram sent home by Athletics goaltender Frank "Tony" Dixon after the A's lose badly in the first game of the Mann Cup series played in Vancouver. The Toronto Globe in October 1912.

"The players are a younger crowd who are playing the self same game which brought fame to the Garden City; but the crowd! Oh, where have they gone to? No, it is not there, filling every inch of space as of yore." The Athletics open their home season with a 7 to 4 win over the Lansdownes of Toronto before a disappointingly small crowd of 600 spectators in June 1913.

"It is very unlikely that St. Kitts will do anything against them (Excelsiors) at Brampton. St. Kitts never did play a good game away from home." The Toronto World, in July 1913.

"The Toronto sporting editor should get a little knowledge of past events before calling the St. Kitts boys quitters." The Daily Standard in rebuttal to a Toronto World story in July 1913.

"At the ticket office those wearing the Athletic colors were charged double the general admission fee of 25 cents. One man who protested was told he would have to pay 75 cents." The Daily Standard's report of the A's supporters visit to the Brampton grounds in August 1913.

"Giving a dazzling display of the national sport of Canada, the Athletics of St. Catharines defeated the Calumet lacrosse team of Chicago, 13 to 11, at Comiskey Park yesterday." The Chicago Sunday Tribune in September 1913.

"While many other towns in which the national game has flourished in previous years, have been unable to carry on the great sport and developer of manhood and physique, St. Catharines continues to loyally keep the game alive." The Daily Standard after the A's defeated the Toronto Riverdales in O. A. L. A. senior action in July 1916.

"As far as the Athletics are concerned over their playing against Fitzgerald and Kalls, they are justly proud of having had the opportunity of doing so." Athletics Secretary Bert Gatsby after the team plays an Red Cross fundraiser in Chicago and return home to a storm of controversy after N. L. U. professionals help to fill out the Chicago roster in August 1917.

"As regards the Young Torontos objection to play against us, we are surely proud of this bunch of simon-pures. They have been the one team for the past 3 or 4 years that have caused all the disruption in the O. A. L. A. They were practically the means of breaking up the C. L. A. Now we are going to the limit to put them right where they belong. That is right in the same class as the deposed Athletics of St. Catharines --- professionals." Athletics Secretary Bert Gatsby threatens a counter-attack against the team leading the acquisitions of professionalism against the A's in August 1917.

"Tell them just what we have told you and get this matter straightened out or lacrosse is done in good old St. Kitts." Athletics Secretary Bert Gadsby in 1917 after the Young Torontos refused to play against the Athletics since they played a charity game in Chicago that involved professional players George Kalls and Bill Fitzgerald dressing for the Chicago Calumets.

"The old-time fans sat up, took notice and said 'It's the real thing; when's the next game?' " The Athletics field a now openly pro team in a resurrected Canadian Lacrosse Association in July 1918.

"It was a treat to hear the Toronto fans cheer Fitzgerald and Kalls when they time after time performed some of their lightning moves." The Daily Standard in July 1918 after the now semi-professional Athletics played the Maitlands at Cottingham Square.

"Managers Kalls and Fitzgerald have been showing them all the tricks of the game." Longtime professionals George Kalls and Bill Fitzgerald lead their hometown Athletics on and off the field in August 1918.

"Owing to the A. A. U. of Canada refusing to reinstate certain players who played with professionals last year to help along the Patriotic series, the C. L. A. decided to continue in the game." The A's are forced to continue to play in the now renegade C. L. A. after bans are placed on many of their players in June 1919.  The C. L. A. is now down to just two teams and collapses in mid-season.

"We raise peaches and lacrosse players." Message on a streamer hung at the St. Catharines train station to welcome home the new Ontario junior champion Young Athletics in October 1920.

"Loud applause greeted the announcement by Ald. J. D. Wright at the band concert in the Opera House last night when he announced that the Alerts of St. Catharines had won the sudden-death game at Scarboro Beach against the Shelbourne team." The St. Catharines Standard, in September 1921.

"There is something distinctive about the style of St. Catharines players. They are all, to start with, perfect stick handlers. Then there is perfect calculation of passes. No one seems flurried or excited.” Former Tecumseh star and Toronto Telegram sports columnist H. "Sport" Murton in May 1922.

"If St. Catharines is bringing on many more of the same type in the boys series, and there is no doubt they are, for boys always pattern themselves on their seniors, then the Athletics are doing a great service to Canadian lacrosse.” Former Tecumseh star and Toronto Telegram sports columnist H. "Sport" Murton in May 1922.

"The body check is also little understood by our young players and is likely to become a thing of the past in St. Catharines lacrosse." Columnist Hugh Swindley in the St. Catharines Standard in August 1922.

"It has been difficult for the Seniors to get much practice together this week. Most of them are on teams in the City League, and played Tuesday and again last night." The St. Catharines Standard in May 1924.

"A fence will be erected across the field so as to keep the crowd back, for on Saturday last they over-ran the field and it was difficult for the players when the ball rolled among the spectators." The St. Catharines Standard in May 1924.

"There were three players who stood out in the last years of professional lacrosse in Canada. They were Fitzgerald, Newsy Lalonde and Charlie Querrie. Fitzgerald had the lacrosse brains of Querrie and Lalonde, and he had the speed that was denied them."  The Toronto Mail and Empire after the passing of Billy Fitzgerald in June 1926.

"The writer feels this as a personal loss, as we evinced a great liking for the team, every one of them."  The Standard's Clayton Browne on the folding of the Athletics in June 1929.

"This but foretells what may be the outcome of the senior aspect of the game elsewhere in Ontario as a result of certain practices which have long been tolerated." The Standard's Clayton Browne on the field game and the folding of the Athletics in June 1929.

"The Athletics traveled one thousand miles this year to play eight games out of town and five cars made each trip. In addition to the players, Coach Herb Millar, Manager Jack Manning and President Dan Millar are to be congratulated for their work." The Standard summing up the first season of Senior "A" "boxla" for the Athletics in August 1934.

"The memory of the late Frankie Williams, one of the original wearers of the double blue, crested with the familiar 'A', will be honored tomorrow when the fans and players alike observe one minute's silence before the game starts."  Popular 19th century "home-brew" passes away in June 1935.

"St. Kitts Athletics acknowledged with regret that McMahon has gone northward." Announcement in April of 1936 that St. Kitts native son Jack "Wandy" McMahon would be playing for the Orillia Terriers.

"Out-of-town juniors would not draw flies here, while the Tecumsehs and Athletics can pack them in any time by their own rival factions." One of the reasons provided by the local lacrosse association for sticking to their own junior city league rather than join the larger O.A.L.A. circuit in June 1936.

"City Council in regular session last evening, voted $150 for the broadcast of the St. Catharines - Orillia lacrosse match at Orillia to-night." City fathers provide last-minute financial support for radio station CKTB's broadcast of a senior Athletics playoff game in September 1937.

"Billy Wilson never wastes an effort. His coolness, adroit passing and deadly sniping are going to produce a lot of goals."  The Athletics welcome home a native son in May 1938. The ramblin' man had picked up Mann Cup titles in Hamilton, Orillia and New Westminster before playing a single game for his hometown seniors.

"The officials of the Athletics Lacrosse Club wish to express their appreciation to Charles H. Smith and Son, proprietors of Sunshine Dairy of this city for the donation of the 1938 jerseys to the senior team. The club is supplying the silk 'panties' to complete the outfits. St. Catharines is one of the smartest-appearing clubs in the senior O.A.L.A."  The Athletics are looking good in May 1938.

"Hall was replaced in the nets by veteran Bill McArthur, the crowd giving the 52-year old goalie a big ovation." A veteran of decades of battles against the Athletics gets a warm welcome at the Haig Bowl in September 1938.

"After missing one game, Morton begged Coach Brown to let him back in there. His pleas were answered, and he has starred in the last two victories." The St. Catharines Standard after two cracked ribs briefly sidelined Roy "Pung" Morton in September 1938.

"When you have players possessed of the shooting ability of 'Bucko' McDonald, Bill Brunskill, and 'Onions' Smith blazing them at you from a few feet out, one is really on the spot, but Billy time and again came through with marvelous stops." Goaltender Bill Whittaker comes up big in the Ontario finals against Orillia in September 1938.

"It is St. Catharines' first Mann Cup and the elation of Garden City sportsmen today will know no bounds." W. T. (Tommy) Munns of the Toronto Globe & Mail in October 1938.

"Congratulations are offered the club and the players, not forgetting the Garden City itself for being one of the oasis in the lacrosse desert when Canada's national game seemed doomed to extinction." J. P. Fitzgerald of the Toronto Telegram in October 1938.

"The Athletics are the fastest team ever to step on a lacrosse field. They play with their heads as well as their sticks. To my mind they are one of the greatest teams lacrosse ever produced." Rev. F. S. Dowling, pastor of First United Church in St. Catharines (and a turn-of-the-century Orangeville Dufferin) in October 1938.

"A former great team in St. Catharines won eight amateur Ontario championships, but the present day team is among the greatest yet." Frank McIlwain, one-time player and field captain of the old Athletics, in October 1938.

"Teachers as a rule like to boast a bit about their old pupils who become distinguished. Many of the Athletics were my pupils. Honestly I cannot help blowing about them and telling people that several of them went to school to me, although I never taught them lacrosse." A. E. "Scout" Coombs, former principal of the Collegiate Institute, in October 1938.

"Captain Madsen has never been guilty of rough tactics or poor sportsmanship and it is with the greatest pleasure that I present the Murphy Memorial Trophy." The senior Ontario Lacrosse Association's most valuable player award is presented to Carl Madsen by league President Russell T. Kelly in September 1939.

"It is hard to stop a team which sends out reserves equally as fast as the fellows they are replacing. It is this sustained speed which has spelt 'finis' to the Athletics opponents for the past two years." Comment made by Conn Smythe, owner of hockey's Toronto Maple Leafs, as his team opens training camp at the Garden City Arena in St. Catharines in September 1939.

"The management of the McKinnon - Columbus Chain Co. of this city have courteously granted leave of absence with three weeks full pay to all members of St. Catharines senior Athletics in their employ." An example of the community support for the British Columbia bound '39 Athletics as reported in the St. Catharines Standard in September of 1939.

"Well over 5,000 sports and citizen public jammed the C. N. R. station in a throng that held the New York flier six minutes behind schedule, as players were forced to crowd their way through ranks of admirers." A "royal sendoff" for the team as it begins its trek to British Columbia in October 1939.

"They were all pleased to meet me as I was to meet them." 1880 St. Catharines Athletic K. J. Johnston speaks of his meeting with the players and supporters of the 1939 Athletics as they stopped over in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

"Efforts are being made, here at home, to find what hotel will house the Athletics at Vancouver. A legion of friends wish to send them letters and the "home paper" which may have to be by air mail."  The St. Catharines Standard, October 1939.

"It is a saddened St. Catharines and joyous New Westminster today. Our gallant Athletics gave every ounce of everything they had in the futile effort to retain the battered mug." Standard sports columnist Clayton Browne on the A's defeat in the Mann Cup finals in October 1939.

"We can take the bitter with the sweet." Mayor Charles Daley addressing team members and 8,000 supporters at the welcome home celebration for the defeated 1939 Athletics.

"St. Catharines is a great sport city in victory or defeat." Two-sport star "Bucko" McDonald of the Orillia Terriers and the Toronto Maple Leafs in October 1939.

"A pleasing performance by the Ladies Auxiliary drill corps of the Scottish Clan Stewart opened the evening, to draw well merited applause from intricate movements with military precision."  The St. Catharines Standard on the opening ceremonies to start the A's 1940 season at the Haig Bowl.

"This column does not carry a purity torch for the Athletics. From the time of Montreal Shamrocks fifty years ago, St. Kitts learned to fight back for existence. The present generation is capable of holding their own under warlike conditions." The Standard's Clayton Browne after a particularly rough night in Mimico in July 1940.

"Family expenses of members of the champion A's will be considerably lightened this week and following as they are dined and feted right and left." The Mann Cup champions prepare for another outpouring of local appreciation in October 1940.

"Gol darn it. I read the rule book through and through yesterday and they don't call it the way I read it." Athletics veteran Bill Fitzgerald Jr. commenting on the refereeing after the fourth game of the 1941 Mann Cup finals.

"Well men, win or lose we go home Tuesday evening and I think it would be much nicer to take the Mann Cup with us." Athletics coach Art Brown speaking to his team after they lost game four to the Richmond (B.C.) Farmers in the 1941 Mann Cup finals.

"They defeated a good team and two so-called referees." CKTB sportscaster Rex Stimers after the Athletics won the 1941 Mann Cup in British Columbia.

"Fire siren stop poles along St. Paul Street screamed for several minutes, horns honked, celebrants waved and shouted and noise-makers of all sorts were effectively used in the celebration which continued from shortly past 10 o'clock to nearly midnight." Another late-night celebration as the Athletics return home from British Columbia with the Mann Cup in October 1941.

"It isn't every night that we can welcome the Athletics home with the Mann Cup. But it sure seems like it." An unidentified team supporter in October 1941.

"They have brought more glory to St. Catharines than any other organization that ever existed." Dominion government wartime production executive Harry J. Carmichael speaking of the 1941 Athletics

"We did not travel 3,000 miles to play on a dirt floor. Moreover, we hear the fans down there send up a barrage of stones at visiting goalies. It is final, definite and irrevocable - our team will not go to St. Catharines for a game on Thursday." New Westminster Salmonbellies coach Jack Wood in October 1944 on the suggestion that a Mann Cup game be played at the Haig Bowl.

"What started out to be a double-blue team comprised entirely of Garden City players, found the dubious Saints executive adding the services of Bill Isaacs, Whoopee Arthurs and Scoop Hayes." Frank "Piper" Bain writing in the Orillia News-Letter after the A's played three "imports" in the deciding game of the 1944 Mann Cup.

"We'd say the presence of Billy Nelson of the R.C.A.F. had a lot to do with the win, along with navy men Spark Urquhart and Billy Mackie." The gradual return from military service of lacrosse talent was happening in June of 1945.

"Certainly you can, my boy. I am an old lacrosse player myself and I hope you come back after this 35-day leave, ready for your discharge." The answer that paratrooper Pat Smith received from his O. C. Ernie "Hank" Goudie, an old A's field player, when asked to play in the 1945 Mann Cup finals.

"One of the chief complaint of residents of Haig St. is the unseemly hours of light and noise down that way. Is there any good reason why Haig Bowl cannot be blacked out and patrons well on their way home by 10:30?" The St. Catharines Standard in May 1946.

"If Owen Sound, Orillia, Brampton want to start at nine, the only kickers are the A's players who get home so late they are all fagged out for work the next day." The St. Catharines Standard in May 1946.

"We let too many loose men skip around the floor for easy goals." New Westminster Salmonbellies coach Jack Wood after the Athletics win game one of the 1946 Mann Cup finals in October 1946

"Those Athletics were deadly in on the finish and a fine team - I'd say they were better than when they beat us two years ago." New Westminster coach Jack Wood after the A's capture the 1946 Mann Cup in three straight games in October 1946.

"Anywhere from ten to fifty youths scale the flagpole at Haig Bowl every box game and their scampering feet over the press-radio coop is like a sheep run." Clayton Browne's complaint in the St. Catharines Standard in July 1947.

"Why not grease the pole?" Clayton Browne's suggestion to combat youths sneaking into senior games in July 1947.

"Pres. Fred Conradi wonders what is wrong that fans do not support his junior A's. They had a disgraceful skinny crowd out to see them down Long Branch, while Legion fastballers catered to nearly 1,000 payees in the twilight tilt." A common problem for the Minto Cup bound juniors in 1947.

"Around 2,000 lacrosse fans were kept waiting and fidgeting around from 7 to 9 o'clock while debate after debate followed." With inches of water on the floor of the outdoor Haig Bowl and the Georgians coach Frank "Piper" Bain insisting that the match go ahead after his team's long drive from Owen Sound, official postponement of this game was delayed while referee Joe Murphy was stranded in Burlington with car trouble in September 1947.

"Every player on the St. Catharines roster, including goalie Ralph Speck, scored at least one goal. Speck's counter came towards the close of the third period, as he took the ball right from one end to the other, cut right between two defenders and scored his first of the season." The Junior Athletics run up a 44 - 4 score against an out-gunned Dundas team in August 1948.

"Junior Athletics Minto Cup Fund still remains $120 short of its required quota to enable all the members of the Garden City team to eat regularly." With the Junior Athletics traveling by rail to the Pacific Coast to defend their Minto Cup title, the team continues its plea for "sustenance insurance" in September 1948.

"The boys went to Owen Sound short handed when some A's reneged. That forced Coach Jack McMahon to hop back into squad togs and they did not fit any too well." "Wandy" McMahon is pressed back into active service as some players avoid a long car ride in May 1949.

"Six inches?" The incorrect answer given by one St. Kitts resident at the half time quiz at an Athletics game in August 1949. This miss would push the jackpot to $75 for the next game. The question was...what is the circumference of a lacrosse ball? (eight inches).

"Well fellows, we lost, but they knew they were in a battle." Veteran George Urquhart after the A's lose 6 to 5 in game seven of a playoff game in Brampton in September 1949.

"Two miles outside of Orangeville, one of the St. Catharines cars was forced into a fairly deep ditch and overturned...fortunately, with the exception of a few minor cuts and bruises, no one was injured." The Junior Athletics have a big scare during one of their semi-nightly, 300-mile round trips to neutral site Owen Sound for the Minto Cup finals in September 1949.

"The stiff impost of traveling more than 300 miles between each game finally caught up with the Ontario champs and they simply wilted in the second before stronger Vancouver pressure." The Vancouver Eagles become the first western box lacrosse team to win either the Minto or Mann Cup in the east with their win over the Junior Athletics in September 1949.

"We have watched your progress with great interest." Mayor Richard Roberts addressing the 1950 Minto Cup champion Junior Athletics.

"Both (hotel) managers told me that they had never had a better bunch of boys at their hotels." Co-manager George Cleverley speaking of the returning 1950 Jr. Athletics team.

"St. Catharines won't be shy of lacrosse talent for a long, long time." M. C. Rex Stimers introducing the Minto Cup champion Jr. Athletics at the half-time of a senior playoff game in September 1950.

"Who said lacrosse was declining in our Garden City? Surely not after that splendiferous gathering of the Haig Bowl last night." The Standard's Clayton Browne after the Athletics draw 4,000 patrons to a playoff game in September 1950.

"Did someone say that the loop could be called the St. Catharines House League?" Comment by Jack Gatecliff in May 1952 after reporting that all seven teams in the senior O. L. A. would have at least one St. Catharines player.

"Like old man river, he just keeps rolling along. That's Big Bill Whittaker, plucked from retirement by the persistent talking of Coach Joe Cheevers." Goaltending legend Whittaker agrees to come back for his 20th season of senior lacrosse in May 1952.

"What is the lacrosse future of Steve Oneschuk? Right now the question of Steve's participation in lacrosse is not clearly defined" After starring for the University of Toronto's football and basketball teams, this emerging Athletics' super-star considers leaving lacrosse in May 1952. Oneschuk would later play six seasons for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League.

"Coach Joe Cheevers, on the prowl for more defence strength, announced this morning that he succeeded in signing a Hobart University lacrosse star to a double blue contract." The A's bring in 200 pound, U. S. field lacrosse player, Joe Corcoran to add strength on the defense in June 1952.

"Sometimes I wonder why I play this game at all" Quote attributed to the A's Bill Bradshaw after a rough playoff game in Peterborough in September 1952.

"If lacrosse doesn't click in St. Catharines this year, the entire subject might just as well be forgotten" Comment by O. L. A. President Art Brown after the Garden City Arena undergoes an expensive refit specifically for lacrosse and becomes the new home of the Athletics in May 1953.

"With the added comfort of Garden City Arena...this should be the year of the great comeback" Standard sports columnist Jack Gatecliff shares the hopes of the Athletics executive for the team's move to the Garden City Arena and the return of capacity crowds in May 1953.

"The supporting timbers, which have been out in the weather for approximately 18 years, have weakened noticeably in the past two or three seasons and to avoid any po