DECEMBER 2019 THE RIDER/ 9 INSIDE


Remembering a team mate and what may have been..... ***RENO BERTOIA***


By George Hewitt. As a youngster growing up in Windsor Ontario


our only form of entertainment was pickup sports, road hockey, football, lacrosse and every kid played baseball. I never played hockey as a kid, everyone said I had weak ankles. No one mentioned that my skates were way too big (men size 9). At 7 years old I could have put both feet in one skate. That is how I first met Reno Bertoia. We never


had the luxury of proper baseball diamonds or other groomed areas that most kids of today just take for granted. Springtime of about 1948 I was 13 years old.


Two of the kids that I grew up with told me about a baseball team that was a developing program for pro-teams. We all dreamed of becoming professional ball players. The excitement of hearing the sound of baseball was addictive as it carried over the river from Briggs Stadium, the home of the Tigers. We ran to take a place on the Canadian side of the riverbanks to listen to our heroes, The Detroit Tigers. We lived across the Detroit River in Windsor. When I was called to be part of this program I


was really surprised. Why me? I asked. “Come with me Alec Hoffman suggested.” Alec was the kid that got the coaches interested in me. There was a field- ing coach, a batting coach, a pitching coach and then the head guy. Their job was to select the best prospects and then work with them. This was a weeklong tryout. About 25 to 30 kids made the team, with Reno and me getting most of the attention. If you got by the tryout then you would continue until? The kids that made the cut were given uniforms


that resembled the Detroit Tiger uniforms. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Then along came RENO BERTOIA. Over the summer, along with this other young


kid, Reno Bertoia, we got the OK nod. The coaches liked me at center field for my ability to run down those long fly balls and make what they referred to as “circus catches.” Reno was a standout at second base. We could both hit pretty good with Reno the best I ever seen. He did not hit too many long balls but Reno could place them anywhere.


Reno Bertoia Both Reno and I remained with the team until


the end of the program. Reno Bertoia eventually signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers and re- ceived a $25,000.00 bonus. That was the largest bonus ever paid, up to that time, to a professional baseball player. Oh me? Well as usual my injuries, in this case


my knees. The Dr. declared me as unfit. I could not pass the physical. Oh what the hell, Rodeo will re- place my dreams of playing pro ball. Rodeo doesn’t care about injuries as long as you have the ability and the mind set to risk your life every day that you go to work. “Welcome aboard cowboy” ***** In Memory—-RENO BERTOIA —-


January 8, 1935—April 15, 2011 ***** I hope you enjoy this first adventure.... “Hang


on tight”.... Thanks, George 1 Year - $30.00* Don Rowntree


Via Pax E T Ltd., Georgetown donrowntree@hotmail.com (416) 464-2373


ONTARIO’S HORSE


INDUSTRY NEWSPAPER


Subscribe Today and Keep In Touch With Your Horse Industry


2 Years - $56.50* *includes HST


We accept Paypal. Go to our website - www.therider.com - and click on Subscribe!


Name: Address: City: Prov.:


Phone Number:


Visa/Master Card # Expiry Date: Email:


Send To: The Rider, P.O. Box 378, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 (905) 387-1900 • email: barry@therider.com


12/19


Hepburn Sales Part Store is now offering WeatherTech mats, truck accessories, trailer & RV parts and much more!


Representing Hawk Trailers Canada Wide


With 26 standard models and unlimited "no charge" custom designs.


For up to the minute detailed inventory, pics, prices & payments visit www.hepburnsales.com • Hwy 9 Schomberg, ON • 905-939-2279


FOR SALE


Large, square bales, top quality, no rain or dust. 1st and 2nd cut Timothy, OG and Alfalfa Mixes. Delivery available in 20-30 bale loads.


Limited supply of Small 21 Bale Barrons. Also some straw.


Reno Bertoia . . . . . . . . . 9 WHAO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Horses Blink . . . . . . . . . 11 NERCHA News. . . . . . . 12


Mare Recruitment Program . . . . . . . . . . 12


EC Convention . . . . . . . 13 The Fire Horse. . . . . . . . 15 ORCHA News . . . . . . . . 15


OCHA News . . . . . . . . . 16 ORHA News . . . . . . . . . 17 OXC News . . . . . . . . . . 18 Lindsay Grice . . . . . . . . 18 OTRA News . . . . . . . . . 19


Postal Code: Date:


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55