Although Truro’s Gordon (Gordie) Mont has been elected to the Nova Scotia Sport Heritage Hall of Fame as a builder, there are many who will always think of him for his athletic abilities, especially in senior baseball.

Mont, 67, was born in Halifax, but came to Truro with his parents when but three months old and considers himself a Truro native.

Known as “Mr. Baseball of Truro” Gordie has been a long-time supporter and volunteer worker in numerous sports activities.

A member of the 1946 Nova Scotia Baseball champions, the Truro Bearcats, Gordie started playing baseball in 1938, and forty years later, in 1978, played his last game at the age of 58, a record equaled by few baseball players.

As a teenager Gordie helped organize baseball in Truro’s Victoria Park. Little League Baseball was practically unheard of at that time, and another young baseball enthusiast of that day, Win Langille, helped organize a team in Truro’s west end to give Gordie and his players competition. Both went on to star with the 1946 Champions.

Like many young men of his day Gordie enlisted in the Canadian army with the Halifax Rifles in 1940, and was transferred to the Prince Edward Island Highlanders, stationed at Gander, Newfoundland. Here he assisted in organizing an army team and acted as player-coach in competition against other service teams from the area.

Gordie was later transferred to the West Nova Scotia Regiment, and in England was physical instructor at the advanced training base for Canadian troops arriving overseas.

From England he went with the West Novies to Italy in 1944, again as a physical instructor. He coached the only Canadian army baseball team in Italy. He suffered an injury while his unit was advancing against the Germans. After serving in World War Il and coaching baseball teams in Canada and abroad, he joined the Truro Bearcats in 1945 as a pitcher and catcher.

During his years with the senior Bearcats, Gordie organized and coached the Truro Intermediate Baseball team. When the Halifax and District Baseball League folded in 1958, Gordie organized senior baseball in the “Hub” town and took on the duties of playing-coach. In 1978, his team, comprised mostly of local talent, won the Nova Scotia Senior Championship.

Always interested in the youth of his home community, Gordie conducted baseball schools for the young players of Truro, and at one point, had 121 youthful aspirants registered in a school sponsored by the Truro Recreation Commission. For half a century, Gordie organized and acted as coach or player-coach on twelve teams that brought championship titles to Truro, also working as ground-keeper at the Truro Amateur Athletic Club field, and on several other recreational fields in Truro until his retirement in 1984.

In 1968, Gordon Mont was named Citizen of the Year by the Truro and District Chamber of Commerce.

Bio Courtesy of C. B. Johnson