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PORT PERRY STAR -- Wed. September 4, 1985 -- 21 Ernie Whitt enjoys time with youngsters Smiling, relaxed for autograph session, no sign of pressure by John B. McClelland On a cold, rainy late August evening, a pro- fessional baseball player is signing autographs and posing for pictures in the showroom of a Port Perry car dealership. Ernie Whitt, catcher with the league leading Blue Jays, has just come off a grinding western road trip. His team is getting ready for a 12 game home stand at Ex- hibition Stadium. The Jays have a rare day off from the ball diamond, a chance for the players to Toronto Blue Jay catcher Ernie Whitt get a little time to themselve and prepare for what is the most crucial four weeks in the history of the franchise. Last Thursday even- ing, Ernie spent the bet- ter part of two hours at the Dennis Anderson Chev Olds dealership. He posed for well over 100 Polaroid photos with youngsters of all ages, signed the photos, and put his name on an assortment of baseball caps, balls, scraps of paper and autograph books. Pi 7 5 wary was a busy man last Thursday evening at the Dennis Anderson Chev dealership in Port Perry as he signed autographs and posed for Soccer action was close Port nips by Port Perry vs. Tyrone The game started at a fierce pace with both goalies having to make several good saves as the play swung from end to end. It was ten minutes into the game before a mistake by the Port Perry detence left one of the Tyrone strikes in the clear. Albert Holder for Tyrone made no mistake and Vince Criscione had no chance in goal for Port. At the twenty two minute mark one of the Tyrone players was His genuine affection for children was obvious. Constantly smiling, he greeted all the kids, sat them on his knee, ex- changed a few words, ruffled their hair or pat- ted them on the back. A lot of Moms and Dads stood back beam- ing proudly as little John- nie or Susie had their pic- tures taken with a baseball star. Through it all, Ernie seemed completely at ease. He laughed and joked, and it was almost TT impossible to believe that here was a guy smack dab in the middle of a pennant race pressure cooker with the New York Yankess hot on the heels of the Jays from Toronto. After the last photo was taken and autograph signed, he spent a few minutes answering ques- tions for the local newspaper. Referring to the race to the wire with the Yanks, Ernie said he and his team mates aren't looking over their pictures with hundreds of youngsters. The kids in this photo are Alechia, Matthew and Bobbie Cracknell of Port Perry. Tyrone 2-1 given a red card for a foul on the Port Perry goalie and sent off. Port Perry pressed with the man advantage and came close on several oc- casions. Jamie Brown, Mike Kosurko, Neil Mark and Mike Toye all came close and worked Scugog Island Marina (416) 985-8200 BOAT STORAGE & WINTER SERVICE -- All Boats Fully Insured -- Free pick-up and delivery from any waterfront on Lake Scugog. / 7 , INDOOR AND OUTDOOR STORAGE. some very pretty passing plays between them to no avail. The score at half time remained Tyrone I, Port Perry 0. Two minutes into the second half Jamie Stubbs saved a certain goal after the goalie lost control of the ball in the penalty area and the Tyrone strikes was through all alone. Stubbs came diving across the goal and breasted the shot round the post After this fortunate escape Port Perry came storming back and within the minute Alex Cramner blasted a shot past the Tyrone goalie to tie the game at one goal each Twenty one minutes into the half Cole Parry slipped a nice pass through to Mike Kosurko who blasted the ball first time into the far corner of the net passed the div: ing goahe Port Perry 2, Tyrone | back shoulders, or hearing footsteps. "We can't worry about the other guys. All we are going to do is just go out and win, like we've ~ been doing all season." Ernie is 33. He's been a professional baseball player for 14 years, one of the original Blue Jays, and 1985 has been his best year individually and the best year for the team. As of last Thursday night, his batting average wa 270. He had driven in 53 runs and cracked 15 homers, third best on the team. His record is enhanced even more by the fact he's been to the plate just 311 times so far. Ernie hails from Roseville, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit and played baseball, basket- ball and football «just a little hockey) He had more scholarship offers to play quarterback than he did for baseball, but decided on the latter as a career because ball players usually last longer than QB's on the grid iron. He comes from a fami- ly of four children, and now has three of his own, ages eight, six and five; When asked about his patience and obvious lik- ing of children, he smiles, shrugs and says it's an important part of his job. "Pro athletes are role models for youngsters, they are idolized," he said and then recalls the days when he was a kid at Tiger Stadium and how kids were hurt when a player would brush aside a request for an autograph. And it's not just autographs and a friend- ly pat on the head. Ernie Whitt is actively involv- ed in charities such as the Kidney Foundation, the Cancer Society, Muscular Dystrophy, Sick Children's Hospital, and for the past two sum- mers, he has organized his own golf tournament with proceeds supporting Camp Dorset for youngsters with kidney disease. This is the second sum- mer as well that Ernie has made an appearance in Port Perry for Dennis Anderson Chev Olds. He was introducea to Dennis through Brian Callery who knows Ernie's agent - Richard Box. One thing led to another and the ap- pearances were set up. Judging from the number of kids (and parents) who came out last Thursday to meet Ernie, the arrangement is working out nicely for everyone. Watching Ernie Whitt "in action' with a couple of hundred youngsters, it's hard to believe this is the same guy who plays the toughest spot on the ball diamond, guards the plate against a charging base runner, handles the Dave Stieb slider, chases down foul balls and hits against the best pitchers anywhere. In an age where some high-paid sulking athletes wouldn't give a youngster the time of day, much less an autograph to a couple of hundred kids in a small Ontario town, Ernie Whitt is a tribute to his sport, his team and himself. 9 a * foe A's of nl O Tyrone fought with lots of pressure bul to no avail Some ex cellent defensive play at both ends kept the score at the final whistle Port Perry 2. Tyrone 1 Emily and Sara Cosway got a birthday present a few days ear- ly (they turned eight on Saturday) as they lined up to meet Ernie | Year round SCUGOG ISLAND MARINA PORT / PERRY storage fac lites BILL & LYNDA KENDRY Whitt. Looking over their shoulders is Dennis Anderson. The Blue Jay catcher says he always has time to sign an autograph for a youngster and he thoroughly enjoyed meeting kids from Port Perry and area last week (see story) 4 J", »- .