Newfoundland at the 1977 Canada Games – Dave Buckingham

May 26, 2025

By Ryan Sweeney

Premier Sports Academy

When the umpire room at St. Pat’s Ballpark is named after you, you’ve probably seen a game or two. Dave Buckingham — better known as “Buck” — is one of the most respected names in Newfoundland. Long before he became the province’s gold standard for umpiring, he was a ballplayer representing Newfoundland at the 1977 Canada Games.

When I sat down with Buck, I told him my goal was to write a story that would help people understand the culture and history of the game in Newfoundland. I explained that I wanted to focus on the 1977 Canada Games — how it shaped the sport then, and what they still mean now. I was also interested in how Buck helped bring a sense of professionalism to umpiring in the province — something that deserves a story of its own down the road.

He leaned back and thought for a second. Then he smiled and said, “Well, I guess it all starts with St. Pat’s.”

A Ballpark Reborn

The iconic ballpark in St. John’s has a history unlike most — but there were darker days when it was little more than an unsightly dust bowl tucked into the heart of the city.

Buck traces the revival of St. Pat’s Ballpark directly to the Canada Games.

“St. Pat’s was basically rundown,” he said. “But when Mayor Dorothy Wyatt and her team landed the Games, reinvestment came.”

In fact, St. Pat’s had been effectively lost in 1969, set to become a housing development, Buck recalls. The plan fell through, but the ballpark lay dormant and headed south for nearly eight years. During that time, players trained and competed at Wishingwell Park, often under windy and uncomfortable conditions. As Buck joked, “We were literally blowing away out there.”

The successful bid to host the 1977 Canada Summer Games changed that. It secured the restoration of St. Pat’s and reinvigorated the game in the province. Buck pointed out that baseball was going to be played again where it belonged — “it is why we are playing there today.”

Buck is the tall handsome 3B in the back row, middle.

Making the Team

I asked Buck what it took to get on that 1977 team.

“I knew that I would qualify for that age bracket,” he told me. “Hoping that I would make the team — and fortunately enough -- I did. That was certainly a driving factor to continue playing to the best of my ability to make that team.”

Led by head coach Joe Wadden and assistant Jack Hurley, the team conducted training camps across the province — including Stephenville and Corner Brook — and engaged in competitive exhibition games, even facing the senior Barons. One standout moment came in Corner Brook where Buck met young bat boy Mike O’Neil, a later participant at the 1989 Games, and stayed with his family.

“It was a great weekend, and one of those memories that sticks with you,” he said.

Much like the current NL program, the 1977 team made the journey south to Boca Raton, Fla. It was particularly memorable and rare, Buck emphasized, for a Newfoundland team to travel south, play college opponents, and receive pro-level instruction. The players were treated like adults, given room to grow and bond as a team.

“Joe and Jack gave us rope, and we didn’t break it,” Buck said.

Despite facing stronger competition, Buck said the team held their own.

“We weren’t blown out. We competed.”

He noted the structured practices, hitting sessions, and positional coaching that helped prepare them for what lay ahead.

Importantly, it was a well-supported endeavor. Buck doesn’t recall large out-of-pocket expenses. The provincial government and Baseball Newfoundland backed the team — likely aided by the fact that the province was hosting.

“They wanted us to put our best foot forward,” Buck said.

The Opening Ceremonies

What did Buck remember about the start of the Games — before any baseball was played.

“The Opening Ceremonies were fantastic,” Buck said, lighting up. “All the teams were there, packed stands at the new Aqua Arena Track and Field, it was something else.”

He went on to describe the parade of provinces, each team entering the venue 1-by-1.

“Every team got a big ovation,” he said. “And when Team Newfoundland came in last, the place erupted.”

“I remember we were right at the back, the last group to enter. It was a huge thrill,” he said. “I’m not certain who the flag bearer was, but I keep thinking it might have been Blair Tucker.”

He paused, then added, “One thing I’ll never forget — Bren Kelly. He ran across Canada promoting the Games. When he entered the track that night, the whole place erupted. It was a standing ovation I still get chills thinking about.”

Play Ball

I asked Buck to walk me through the games.

Newfoundland opened the tournament against New Brunswick at St. Pat’s. Dean Robotham pitched a complete game in a 4–2 win in front of a crowd of 3,000–4,000. Buck recalled the energy: “There was a buzz in the ballpark. Dean even was interviewed by CBC after.”

Game 2 against Nova Scotia at Wishingwell Park was tougher. Newfoundland fell behind early, and despite a strong showing from Kevin Power in relief, lost 4–1.

When I asked if Wishingwell got the same renovation treatment as St. Pat’s ... “Same old Wishingwell,” Buck said. “There wasn’t much you could do with it.”

Against Alberta in Game 3, Buck told me, “It was a close game. We went up by a couple, then they tied it, we went up again … I think it was 5–3 heading into the ninth.”

With Newfoundland clinging to that 5–3 lead and two outs on the board, Alberta had runners on first and third. A ball was hit into left-centre.

“The guy from third scored easily. Our centre fielder Joel Fraser — he could run like a deer and had a cannon—picked it up and let one fly,” Buck said.

“The runner from first was flying around second heading to third. Joel picked it up clean, fired a seed right to me at third base. It came in chest-high, I tagged him—bang. Out. Game over.”

He paused, then added with a grin, “The look on that runner’s face — I’ll never forget it. He was stunned that anyone could make that throw. That’s one of those plays you remember.”

I could tell from his voice, from how he sat forward in his chair, that this wasn’t strictly a game to him. This was a moment. Maybe the moment of his playing career.

With a 2–1 record, Newfoundland was in the playoff hunt. Their next game was under the lights against British Columbia at a packed St. Pat’s.

“We rolled in on the yellow bus,” Buck remembered. “People were already lined up along the fence on Karpasian Road — 100s of them, maybe more — and we weren’t even there yet.”

He continued, “The top gate was closed, so we parked in front of Hawthorne Place across from the field, the door opened, and as soon as we stepped out, they clapped. They clapped and cheered all the way down Gordon Breen Way (recently named in his honour). It didn’t stop.”

“I still get chills thinking about it,” he said. “The atmosphere was electric. I’ve never had a moment like that as a player. Never.”

Estimates placed the crowd between 8,000 and 10,000.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Buck said. “It was filled with people — the bleachers, the hill on Empire Avenue, even the roofs.”

But on the field, the atmosphere of the moment changed quickly. BC scored early and often. Newfoundland’s lone run came on a home run by Lou Drake.

“We thought there was a mercy rule,” Buck said. “There wasn’t. We played the full nine and lost 21–1.”

The fifth-place game came the next day at Wishingwell Park against Quebec. Still recovering emotionally, Newfoundland fell 6–3. Buck acknowledged it wasn’t their best outing. “We probably weren’t at our best,” he said. “But we gave what we had.”

Buck, veteran of the 1977 team, with the 2025 Newfoundland and Labrador team, hosts of the 2025 Canada Summer Games team.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Toward the end of our conversation, I asked Buck what stood out to him most.

“That summer is clearer to me than most of what came after,” he said. “I played in several league championships, provincial and national tournaments but nothing stands out like those five games. Ask me what happened in the 1978 provincial championships, or when I retired in 1990 — I can’t tell you. But the Summer Games, for some reason ... And that’s what, 47 years later?”

What advice would he give to today’s players as they prepare to represent Newfoundland in the 2025 Canada Games.

“Playing in your home province in front of your family and friends — it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Buck said. “Absorb the moment, then focus. Don’t worry about the crowd. Just play ball.”

He paused and emphasized again: “Listen, absorb the moment. Absorb the crowd, where you are, what’s on the go. Then put it in the back of your mind. Concentrate on baseball. Don’t worry about the crowd. Acknowledge them. Take it in but try and forget about it and concentrate on baseball. Don’t worry about making a mistake. We’re going to make mistakes anyway — whether there’s 10,000 people in the stands or 10. Put it behind you and concentrate. You’ve got to try and be grounded.”

He also urged players to treasure their experience: “Keep your memorabilia — your hat, your socks, whatever. I didn’t keep much from 1977, and I regret it. You don’t realize how special it is until years later.”

I asked him directly, what he would like to see from our team in 2025?

“I would like for that team to improve on whatever the best finish Newfoundland baseball has put forth. I think it may be sixth place — by the ‘77 team.”

He offered high praise to the people who have kept the game strong: “Baseball Newfoundland has come a long way. Hats off to the coaches, staff, and execs—past and present—they’ve done a tremendous job.”

Buck the Umpire

Before we wrapped up, I asked Buck if there was anything else he wanted to say.

He reflected on his time as an umpire at later Canada Games: “I’ve been at two other summer games — in Quebec and in Ontario. But it was different. I was an umpire then. There’s no fame in it for umpires,” he said with a smile. “When you’re a player, in your hometown, in front of your crowd, it’s a whole different feeling.”

Then he added, “And I was at the Pan Am Games one year, in ‘99, in Winnipeg. Those opening ceremonies were great too. The Pan Ams are something else — you’re talking countries instead of provinces. Both are exciting, a different kind of atmosphere. Nothing ever topped that opening ceremony in ‘77. That’s still a highlight of my career.”

Our current Canada Games program has proudly revived the Terra Novas name in recent years, paying tribute to trailblazers like Buck and the legacy of the 1977 Games. We presented Buck with a new and improved Terra Novas hat, and from time to time, he’s taken a moment to speak with our players — or even stepped in to umpire during our Live At Bat training sessions.

Pioneers like Buck have paved the way for generations of Newfoundland ballplayers, and perhaps a few members of the 2025 squad will one day give back to the game with the same dedication he has shown throughout his life.

Sweeney: There in 1977, Buckingham imparts wisdom for Terra Novas, Summer Games hosts