The year 1984 in Camrose was an important one for the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games. It was the first time slo-pitch was part of the event, and Barrhead resident Joe Smith remembers it well.
For 25 years Smith was involved in slo-pitch in Barrhead. When the sport was offered in the Games, Barrhead had a team in the playoffs.
Cherhill and Mayerthorpe were also in the battle for a spot. Although Mayerthorpe won, they were short of players to go to Camrose. The team asked Smith, Alec Thompson and Jack Warehime to go with them.
Smith said marching into the Games with his teammates, ready to play ball, was one of the highlights of his sports career. The team took away the bronze medal, and had a lot of fun doing it.
The red, circular tag he was given for participation in 1984 holds special meaning for Smith. Looking back on that first year he was in the Games, Smith said it almost feels like a dream.
"Here you are playing in the Senior Games against different teams across the province," he said. "It's kind of special too, because it's the first one they had for slo-pitch."
The first year in Camrose was only the beginning for Smith. He went on to play in the Summer Games on multiple occasions all over Alberta.
Smith represented Zone 5 seven more times: Grand Prairie in 1986; Vermillion in 1988; Medicine Hat in 1992, where he brought home a bronze medal; Lethbridge in 2001; Fort McMurray in 2003; Wetaskiwinin 2005, where he won silver; and Fort Saskatchewan in 2007.
He also won bronze when he participated in the Winter Games in 2011, but that’s a story for another time, he said.
Smith reflected on his past experiences at the Games. Traveling to different areas across the country, the slo-pitch lover has accumulated a valuable collection of fond memories. And some funny ones.
When Smith went to Medicine Hat in 1992, he said it was about 103 degrees when the team arrived Friday night. However it didn't stay that way for long.
"It was so hot. We played Saturday, then Sunday morning there was snow on the ground," he laughed. "They had to shut all the outdoor venues down.
Most of Smith's slo-pitch career was spent playing for Barrhead, and occasionally St. Albert and Edmonton.
However Smith's love for the game extended into the United States as well. For 14 years he and his wife would spend about three months of the Canadian winter in Arizona, where two or three teams awaited his arrival.
"When we came down there in the fall, on the step there were two uniforms and schedules," said Smith. "I played on two teams for sure, and the odd time there was a third team."
Two years ago Smith put away his glove for good. When you get to a certain age, he said, it’s just time to quit.
“I'll be 86 pretty soon, I didn't figure I would live that long," he laughed. "And to play ball yet? Twenty-five years of ball after you've retired, that's pretty good.”
Although he won’t be participating, seeing the Summer Games come to Barrhead is an exciting time for Smith. During his time on Barrhead county council, Smith said he and his fellow counsillors often tried to bring the Games here.
Unfortunately at the time, Barrhead didn’t have the right facilities to host.
“I’m glad Barrhead has got it now,” said Smith. “Barrhead and Westlock got together on it, and that’s really good. It shows that working together, you can always succeed.”
