Florence Chicks

On display at the Florence Library June 2023.

In August 1950, a group of young women joined together to create a softball team to compete in the Lambton-Kent Women’s Fastball League against teams from Kent Bridge, Dresden, Rutherford, Wabash, Newbury, and Florence. The team played their home games on a grass diamond behind the Florence Continuation School and had Wilbert North and Gord Osborne as the manager and coach. Despite losing their first nine games, the team overcame their struggles and quickly gained momentum.

Playoff game.

1951 Playoff game.

In 1951, funds were raised to purchase spotlights for the new baseball diamond at the local fairgrounds. Wilbert North also provided new red and gold uniforms for the team. The team gained their name, The Florence Chicks, through a conversation with reporters Bob Dunlop and Ernie Miller who remarked “Maybe we should call them the Florence Chicks since their manager owns a chick hatchery.” The name ultimately stuck, and a crest of a chick was added to the new uniforms. The Florence Chicks won their first league championship, one year after forming. This win entered the team into the Intermediate “C” category of the Provincial Women’s Softball playoffs, ultimately winning the Florence Chicks their first provincial championship title.

Florence Chicks 1958.

Florence Chicks, 1958.

For a small-town team, the Florence Chicks were a sensation, drawing on average 800-1000 spectators per game. The team won Provincial Championship titles in 1952, 1956, 1957, and 1959. At the ball park, a food booth was added and operated by Mrs. Christina Christner while fundraising efforts brought in a new scoreboard and announcer booth. Albert Truedale built the booth’s first public address system and Deo Suzuki announced the games.

Initial members of the group included Jeanne Osbourne, Jessie Coutts, Jean Auld, Hazel Price, Florence Annett, Annie Wranich, Shirley McBrien, Lucy Ann Fansher, Anne Stacey, Nellie Wranich, Mary Bartolac, Grace Jackson, Tak Suzuki, Shirley Bodkin, Helen Butler, Sylvia Leeson, and Bea Osborne.