MOOSE JAW — Baseball has been Earl Berard’s life for nearly 80 years, so a book he’s writing will include stories about a recent once-in-a-lifetime trip he took to visit three shrines that honour the sport.
That 15,000-kilometre trip was also a healing journey for Berard, 84, whose second wife, Ione, died in May from health complications.
“It was great,” Berard said recently about the North American tour, which included stops at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, Ont., the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., and the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa.
Berard — who was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in Battleford in 2006 — noted that he and Ione had discussed visiting Iowa years ago, but were unable to go because of her health issues.
After her death, Berard’s decades-long friend, Ross Morrison from Medicine Hat, Alta., visited and spent the week in Moose Jaw supporting his friend.
The following week, the two travelled to Medicine Hat and had many good talks about life and sports. Berard talked about visiting the Iowa field since it was on his bucket list, along with the two halls of fame.
“I said, ‘I’d like to plan for next year.’ So … Ross, he said, ‘You know, Earl, my short memory is failing. And you know what? I think we better go this year,’” Berard recalled. “And I said, ‘Fine with me. … I’m retired. I’m good to go.”
So, on Aug. 23, a prayer service was held for Ione, and the next day, the two baseball aficionados hit the road and began their 26-day, 15,000-kilometre cross-continent journey.
The first stop was at the “excellent” Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, followed by stops in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh to see the Blue Jays play. They then drove to Cooperstown and concluded their trip in Iowa, before coming home — with plenty of souvenirs — on Sept. 18.
“Cooperstown is a beautiful place. … (It’s) all marble floors,” Berard said.
“I really enjoyed it. … It’s overwhelming,” he continued, pointing out that all the great American players are enshrined there, along with Larry Walker and Ferguson (Fergie) Jenkins, the only two Canadians. “It’s just amazing … . It’s huge.”
The Field of Dreams complex was also an amazing place, with Berard dumbstruck about walking on the field where the 1989 Kevin Costner movie was filmed. The best part for Berard was that he and Morrison took batting practice there, with a 70-year-old left-handed pitcher on the mound.
With a chuckle, Berard —who tried out for the Pittsburgh Pirates at age 17 and last pitched at age 60 — said he and Morrison are in their 80s, so both hit only three out of 10 pitches. He recalled Morrison expressing disbelief about missing the pitches, considering he used to hit home runs as a young man.
“And then we walked out to the cornfield. The corn there is 12 feet high. So you’re playing with the ghosts,” Berard added.
After they returned, the friends agreed that their trip was “like a big dream,” considering they had spent their entire lives involved in the sport.
Some of Berard’s achievements include bringing the 1984 World Baseball Championship to Kindersley and helping build two 5,000-seat baseball diamonds — one is named after him — for the tournament. He also coached the 1991 midget national team, which won the World Youth Baseball Championship — the only Canadian team to ever do it — in Brandon, Man.
Berard said he sent regular updates to his children while on the road and described the journey as a “healing trip.” However, while talking with his daughter afterward, she pointed out that the trip had “healed (his) soul.” He agreed, noting that he was Ione’s caregiver for three years, which was stressful.
“And (the trip) gave me more excitement and energy to move forward,” he said. “And that’s what I’m doing.”
This trip will form the final chapter in the book Berard is writing about his life, which will take an almost year-by-year approach. He’s written nearly 100 pages and plans to finish by Christmas. He’ll also include dozens of pictures from his involvement in baseball.
“It’s quite an exercise,” he joked, noting that Ina Williams, a Saskatchewan Hall of Fame inductee, will edit his book, which he wants to turn into a movie.
“… all of my dreams in my life have been achieved,” Berard added. “The game of baseball is in my soul and has been all of my life.”
