When the Moncton Fisher Cats trot onto the field at Kiwanis Park this Friday, players will sport a much different look than usual. The team will drop their vibrant orange jerseys for a grey and black colour scheme to celebrate Moncton Mets retro night.
The Fisher Cats were previously known in the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League as the Mets.
Ahead of the exhibition match against Chatham, the organization will pay tribute to the late Rhéal Cormier.
“There will be a bit of a presentation to the family, a minute of silence, of course, I believe a friend or member of the family will be saying a few words and his brother will be throwing the first pitch,” said Fisher Cats Head Coach Patrick Tardif.
Cormier, a native of New Brunswick, spent 16 seasons in the MLB splitting time with the Cardinals, the Red Sox, the Expos, the Phillies and the Reds. He passed away in March following a fight with cancer.
The Fisher Cats will have more than just their jerseys to provide fans with a flash from the past on Friday night. Instead of starting a player on the roster, the team will send 74-year-old Bill “Spaceman” Lee to the mound.
The lefty pitched in 416 MLB games before leaving the big leagues and ultimately spending time as a member of the Moncton Mets.
Lee planned to be in town for the memorial golf game at the Fox Creek Golf Club, but wouldn’t shy away from a chance to play ball.
“Of course, he asked if there was any opportunity to play baseball,” said Tardif
“I think he stayed in pretty good shape, but he did say to me ‘I’ll give you three innings hopefully I get out of the first’.”
Tardiff said that many former Mets players will be in attendance. Friday night’s game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
