Victoria Day isn’t just a long weekend; it’s the official day Canada celebrates the Sovereign’s birthday! Originally honouring Queen Victoria, it has continued as a tradition for the reigning monarch. Victoria Day was officially designated as a public holiday in Canada in 1845 by the Legislature of the Province of Canada, originally to celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday on May 24. It is considered Canada’s oldest official holiday, later made a federal holiday in 1901 after her death.
In Sudbury, baseball has along tradition as a celebratory event!
The Sudbury Journal of May 21, 1891, reported that the “captain of the Sudbury Baseball Team … has received a challenge from the Copper Cliff Team on … the birthday of Her Majesty (now Victoria Day) … the game will take place at Copper Cliff … a scratch team is being got together which it is hoped will make a good showing for Sudbury.” In the end, the fans in attendance were treated to a wild and decidedly lopsided affair that ended in Sudbury’s favour, 35-14.
Throughout the next decade Dominion Day, Victoria Day, various civic holidays and even picnics were all occasions that saw the men of the town demonstrate their skills on the baseball diamond. The “sandlot” style of the game suited the recreational needs of the townsfolk.
Eventually, in April 1902, a formal town team was created to represent Sudbury against teams from all corners of Northern Ontario. Mayor Frank Cochrane chaired the meeting and stated the object of the gathering was to ensure that “good ball” would be played. As would become tradition in the region, local merchants and industry stepped forward to offer their services in establishing and maintaining the baseball team.
At this time, baseball in Sudbury was played at Victoria Park and spectators averaged just below 1,000 at most games. A game between the Sudbury and Copper Cliff teams was reported to have attracted more than 800 spectators on Victoria Day. The local newspaper wrote that “the admission was 50 cents, and we have not heard of anyone who wanted his or her money back. In fact, those present got good value for their money … A large contingent came from Copper Cliff to cheer their team on to victory”. Though, the final score ended up 3-2 for Sudbury.
Unfortunately, by 1913, Victoria Park would be vacated in order to become the campus for College Sacré Coeur, leaving Sudbury without a ballpark. The following year, Copper Cliff began building what was reported at the time as the “Best Ball Park in New Ontario” that will “make the other teams sit up and take notice.”
