SB 60's +

The days of victory parades, regimental bands at the grounds, impassioned speeches by proud mayors, and thousands of well-wishers swarming to be near their heroes, were gone. In 1904 when the Athletics beat arch-rival Brantford, hats and coats went in the air and people from all walks of life ran onto the field and carried the Athletics off on their shoulders. In 1939 an estimated 8,000 citizens waited for the return of the Athletics after their five-day rail trip from British Columbia, not to welcome home the victors but to console the losers. What a remarkable history for a team and for the city that loved it. Perhaps the history of the St. Catharines Athletics is just as much a story of the city and an overwhelming sense of community that rallied its proud citizens around their own double-blues. "Remember, old team, old town, old victories" was the simple message wired to the Athletics in Vancouver in 1912. Team and town indeed had a such tremendous bond.

In the modern era a cadre of dedicated supporters and lovers of all things double-blue, have tried to rebuild the once fabled Athletics. To all those who have tried and failed, and tried again, we salute.

Maybe the golden Mann Cup will bear the proud name of the St. Catharines Athletics once again.

In 1961, St. Catharines amalgamated with Port Dalhousie, Merritton and parts of Grantham township, and the city's population jumped to 84,000. Brock University was founded in 1964, the Rex Stimers Arena opened in 1966, Regional Government was formed in 1970 and the Bill Burgoyne Arena was opened in 1973 (the same year that the old Haig Bowl was torn down). Harold Ballard moved an American Hockey League franchise into the Garden City Arena in 1982 (the Saints lasted just four seasons), the St. Catharines General Hospital received the area's first CAT scan in 1984, and recycling blue boxes came into use in 1988. In 1998, the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame officially opened and in the fall of 2005, the new four-pad arena complex was opened in west St. Catharines.

June 27, 1960	Jim McNulty is a double-blue again
June 21, 1961	Sports Hall of Fame calls Fitzgerald
August 17, 1961	Lacrosse at the crossroads
August 10, 1962	Dedication...young and old
August 29, 1962	Lou spoils Moore's magic
September 10, 1963	"It's been a long time"
September 17, 1963	Athletics again play for the Mann Cup
May 27, 1964	A's shine early in 1964
May 14, 1965	Joe Cheevers takes over the helm
June 12, 1965	Joe fires up A's while son eyes NHL
April 1, 1966	Rex Stimers remembered
May 3, 1966	Athletics fold (almost)
June 23, 1966	Lacrosse Here's Howe
July 14, 1966	The losses mount
July 25 , 1966	Athletics fold
August 25, 1969	The Golden Hawks of the E. P. L. A.
September 22, 1970	A trip to the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame
June 29, 1976	The "Old Grounds" remembered
November 30, 1976	Joe Cheevers remembered
August 5, 1989	Doug Cove Goes To The Hall Of Fame
May 18, 1999	The senior Athletics are reborn
September 5, 2000	Jack Gatecliff remembered
July 13, 2001	Jimmy McMahon Goes To The Hall Of Fame
July 16, 2003	Ken Croft Goes To The Hall Of Fame
July 28, 2005	Major Athletics final home game
July 18, 2008	Gary Moore & Al Frick Go To The Hall Of Fame