The date was October 1934 (2). The headings read "The Chatham Colored All Stars trounce Penetage (Penetanguishene) in final game to win Provinical Intermediate Baseball Championship." The result of the game, played on netural ground at Guelph, was 13-7 in favor of the Colored All Stars. Earl "Flat" Chase performed an "iron man" act by being able to pitch another game after just a twenty-four hour rest for his arm. The pitcher for the opposing team was Phil Marchildon (who later went on to the American League with the Philadephia Athletics.) Don Taborn started the game but was ineffective. As a result, he traded places with Chase at shortstop even though Chase had pitched 11 innings two days before. Most of the scoring was done in the early part of the game for Penetanguishene. The team settled down and with some smart defensive work won the game. Leonard Harding led the team at the plate going 4 for 4 and in the field he made a running, shoestring somesault catch to spark the team. Len was the person mainly responsible for helping organize the team and more than anyone else he kept the team intact through the lean years.

The team members that took to the field that day in October were: Gouy Ladd, Wilfred Harding, Earl Chase, Kingsley Terrell, Don Taborn, Ross Talbot, Stanton Robbins, and Lenard Harding. Other team members were: Sagasta Harding, Hyal Robbins, and Clifford Olbey. Don Washington and Don Taborn were from Detroit, Michigan. This team imported players to replace some who moved on to other ventures. In 1935 they acquired Dutch "White" Scott as shortshop, Willie Shaugnosh from Walpole Island, and Ferguson Jenkins Sr. of Windsor. A third Harding brother, Andrew, also joined the team.

While on the road, the team was confronted with many problems reflecting the general attitude towards blacks in Ontario. They were made to eat in out-of-the-way spots along the route and were denied sleeping accommodations, once having to travel to another town to acquire rooms. They began their games with a warm-up called a "pepper" game (3) displaying their exceptional expertise in ball handling and they drew terrific crowds who had never seen a Blacks baseball team before.

Many of these players were of professional caliber but were denied opportunities in the Major Leagues because of color. At a civic reception for his baseball team, coach Joseph "Hap" Parker, thanked the city for the banquet but encouraged those attending to give these fellows employment in some of the places where they were currently not welcomed.

Archie Sterling, Bev Kerr, and Pete Gilbert were men in the city who encourged the All Stars. They supplied cars for traveling and aided them in being accepted to participate in the Ontario Baseball Association (O. B. A). All of Chatham should have been proud when these men brought the first O. B. A. championship to the city (4).

In the late thirties, before the Second World War, the following names appeared in the All-Star lineup: Gordon Milburn, Bill Hensen, Marvin Wrightmore, William Crosby, Lyle Johnson, Jack Scott, George Benson, Charles Scott, Harry Murphy, Gerald Browning, William Land, Lloyd Jankins and Benjamin Talbot.
Source:
Seek The Truth: A Story of Chatham Black Community
By: Gwen Robinson

Chatham All-Stars
Top row - Left to Right - Louis Pryor (coach), Gouy Ladd, Sagasta Harding, Wilfred Harding, Percy Parker (coach)
Middle row - Hyal Robbins, Earl Chase, Kingsley Terrell, Donise Washington, Don Taborn, Ross Talbot, Clifford Olbey
Front row - Stanton Robbins, Jack Robinson (bat boy), Leonard Harding