By Adam Harnum
Star Staff Writer
CORNER BROOK The man who calls Corner Brook his second home will be returning to help with the Corner Brook Baseball Association’s annual Mary Tavenor tournament on July 5 and reunite with old friends.
Steve Angeline was the technical director of Corner Brook minor baseball from 1979-84 and brought his experience from playing baseball in Virginia to the table during his five-year stint in the city.
He will be bringing back the character that the local association fell in love with.
“I have travelled a lot of parts of the U.S. and Canada, as well as other parts of the world, and I have to admit that Corner Brook is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited,” said Angeline.
The game of baseball was secondary to the relationships that Angeline was able to develop with people from all walks of life during the 10 weeks of each summer he spent in Corner Brook over five years.
“I do love the game and offering my knowledge of the game, but what I am going to enjoy most about coming back is the opportunity to see the old faces that were surrounding me during the years that made me the person I am today,” Angeline said of his return, which lasts from July 4-12.
Angeline said he would probably still be in Corner Brook today if he had not decided to return home to Virginia to pursue a business.
“At that time, there was nothing in Corner Brook work-wise,” he said.
The now 56-year-old Angeline is married to Susan, his wife of 25 years, and is a happy father of two boys. Zack is 24 years old, and Jake is 18.
Zack will now take over for his father’s duties at the business while the former Corner Brook Baron pays the city which he says “made him a man” a visit for the first time in nearly 30 years.
As Angeline reflected from his Fairfax, VA. home on his memories in Corner Brook, he remembered most the genuine people he met and the long-time friends he made.
“Everyone I met there were just so nice and down-to-earth, like nothing I had ever seen before in my life,” Angeline said.
First connection
Angeline was first connected to baseball in Corner Brook through fellow American Ed Nietopski, who had coached for a year in the city back in the 1950s. Before he knew it he was a 19-year-old college freshman playing for the Corner Brook Barons and coaching in Newfoundland.
“I could not have been so lucky as to come and have met great baseball people such as Frank Humber, Rob Myrden and Tex Seaborn,” he added.
Allan (Tex) Seaborn is now a Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador judge, but was not during the years when Angeline was in the province, as he was rather a dedicated ambassador for the game of baseball in Corner Brook.
“It is those great guys that were dedicated and loved the game of baseball that made each of the years more and more worthwhile,” he said.
Angeline expects to meet with his old friends to reminisce about the old days and hope to help out the best he can on the field.
Over his week-long stay, Angeline said he first plans to observe and watch how the game is being taught to the kids, then offer his knowledge and experience from coaching and playing to mentor those instructing the kids.
He does however feel that the parents have to be convinced that the game is worthwhile for their children.
Angeline feels that if the parents can be persuaded that the game is fun and entertaining for their children, then the word will spread.
“I am hoping that while I am in Corner Brook that maybe I can help to attract some more players to the game,” she aid of his goal to get 50-60 more kids involved in minor baseball in the city.
“First of all, the game has to use the kids’ time fairly and secondly the game has to be made fun.”
Ex-pro pitcher Frank Humber is excited to see his old friend and the man who recognized his skill and guided him in the direction of the U.S. to play baseball.
“He was pretty well the man who was responsible for my career to take off,” Humber said of Angeline.
Humber said the opportunity Angeline provided allowed for him to play in Virginia and Florida during high school, where he then moved onto college baseball and later onto a few years of professional baseball.
“I am very excited to have an old friend and great baseball coach come back after years of not seeing him,” said Humber.
Rob Myrden, current technical director of Corner Brook minor baseball, shared the same excitement and enthusiasm as Humber about reuniting with an old friend and a cornerstone piece in developing the city’s baseball program.
“He brings the exuberance, baseball knowledge and whatever it is you need to direct kids,” he said.
Myrden said the buzz about Angeline’s return has begun around the baseball community and parents of players who were close to him when he was last here.
“He always gave 100 per cent to the kids and it certainly showed,” said Myrden.
Angeline encourages anyone, who are either meeting him for the first time or who was acquainted with him 30 years ago, to visit Jubilee Field from July 4-12 to reunite and share stories.
