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Fred Cuvelier, a native and life long resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia, had a career that spanned some three decades. Over those years he was rated the best softball pitcher in Eastern Canada.

As statistics and records were not kept in the 1940’s and 1950’s it can only be guessed the number of players who went down swinging at a Cuvelier pitch. Many were told just where the payoff pitch was to be thrown and still a “K” was marked by their name.

Cuvelier’s greatest attribute was his disposition on and off the field. He was fun, loving and took great delight in taunting his opposition, and if necessary, his own team. He played on teams such as the Keiths, Zwickers, Olands, and the Barrington Exchange Esquires. He could not only pitch, but could also swing a mean bat.

In 1947, while sporting a 12-record, Cuvelier was also second in batting with a .417 average. Fred Cuvelier was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1992.

Fred passed away in 1981.

 

Annual Program Induction Article

By Al Hollingsworth 

In 1985, on the pages of the Daily News, I wrote “the Nova Scotia Sport Heritage Centre needs the name of Fred Cuvelier on its roster. How else could it honestly be tagged the ‘home of the famous’?” It was one of a number of columns offered on the ability of this extraordinary athlete.

Many will recall his great talents; his high kick, rising fast ball, and the confusion he caused with his slow drop. While they can remember this great pitcher, few pause to think of the game as it was played during his time between the white lines.

It was a more difficult game, with only the catcher and first baseman permitted to wear gloves. Although the bare hand antics of team mates like Erwin Lucas, Bomber Forbes, Ronnie Hanna, offered outstanding support, many balls got by them because they didn’t have the aid of a glove. Couple this with the fact that the games were nine innings, not seven, and life for a softball pitcher was no picnic.

Freddie, a native and a life-long resident of Halifax, had a career that spanned some three decades. Over those years he was rated the best in Eastern Canada. Some will think of his days with Olands Four Man Team.

In the earl 1950s one of the powerhouses in the sport was the Saint John Drydock. One season they defeated Halifax to win the Maritime crown. The next weekend, Freddie and his three mates went to the New Brunswick city and beat the newly-crowned champs.

Because statistics and records were not kept in those days, we can only quess at the number of players who went down swinging at a Cuvelier pitch. Needless to say, thousands experienced the fate. Many were even told just where the payoff pitch was to be thrown and still a “K” was marked by their name.

His greatest attribute was his disposition, on and off the field.

He was fun-loving and took great delight in taunting his opposition and, if necessary, his own players.

Over the years he toiled with teams like Keith’s, Zwickers, Olands, and the Barrington Exchange Esquires. The latter was his last hurrah in 1969 when he was the playing coach for the Don Wheeler-manager nine.

Being constrained by limited space, only a few of his many feats can be highlighted here. He not only could, as they say “bring it”, he also swung a mean bat. In the 1947 season, while sporting a 12-2 record, he was also second in batting with a 417 average. In the playoffs that season he posted three consecutive victories.

Others will reflect on the classic match ups with Glace Bay’s Sam Wareham. Or maybe on the night he lost to Jackie Pearce over 12 innings, despite holding Navy to five hits. A few nights later, in a showdown for the pennant, “Ace” thrilled 3,000 fans with a sparkling two hit shutout.