The 1959 season in the Richmond County Baseball League (RCBL) saw the Petit de Grat Red Caps resume their winning ways and recapture the championship.
The young, talented squad that had fallen to the River Bourgeois Tigers in the finals the previous season had matured and gained confidence.
The starting line-up usually consisted of catcher Alzear Marchand, manager Rudolph Boudreau at first base, outfielders Vernon Boudreau, Peter (Pierre) Boudreau, Gerard Boudreau, and captain David Gordon, with Claude Boudreau at third and Ludger Boudreau, the flashy shortstop. Other players were Stanley Benoit, Alcide Boudreau, D’Assise Landry, Omer Boudreau, Bernie Fougere, Leon Samson, Arthur Samson, Phil Benoit, and Leo Marchand. The coach was Adolph Boudreau, the team president was Louis Samson and the secretary-treasurer was Gwennie Boudreau.
The two-out-of-three championship round pitted the Red Caps against the very tough L’Ardoise Ramblers. On September 22, the Caps took the first contest 4-2 behind a strong performance by young pitcher Vernon Boudreau with relief help from Claude Boudreau.
The second game was played at Petit de Grat before one of the largest crowds ever seen at a Richmond County baseball game. The fans were entertained for six innings by a pitching duel with the score knotted at 2-2. In the bottom of the sixth, shortstop Ludger Boudreau led off with a single, and when he was followed by Claude Boudreau, discussions erupted among the spectators as to whether or not he should bunt given the situation. No one can be sure as to what sign he was given by his coach, but anyone who followed local baseball and who knew Claude knew that he was not stepping to the plate to bunt. Most people realized that every time Claude came up to bat he was thinking home run and this time was no different. At the end of the sixth inning the score was 4-2 in Petit de Grat’s favour. Later Gerard Boudreau singled and scored on a double by Ludger. Wilfred (Lopat) Boudreau, with his devastating sinker, shut out the Ramblers the rest of the way for a 5-2 victory and another championship crown.
Players in the RCBL played as hard and seriously as any big leaguer yet good sportsmanship and camaraderie was displayed by most players.
The following are quotes from Roy Boudreau’s book in which players comment on their opponents: Ludger Boudreau, “When Georgie Boyd would bat you knew you had to be on your toes at short. He would hit them like a bullet. One thing, you never had a bad bounce – there were no dribblers. One hop and the ball was at you – you had to make the catch – it was self-defense!
“On the base paths, Georgie was a good sport. He never tried to hit you intentionally. One time he was coming in to second base full speed and to attempt to avoid me, he grabbed me by my belt and swung me around. I can think of other River Bourgeois players who would not have been as kind to me.”
Claude Boudreau on Gerard Mombourquette: “I threw him my best fastball and he timed it perfectly. Gerard Boudreau, the right fielder, didn’t even move. I’m sure it landed halfway to the Rocher.”