Before they were grandparents, they were champions.
James Leo Heximer, known as Buddy by his friends and fans, began his baseball career playing minor ball in Niagara Falls. He started off with the St. Stephen’s Midgets, who won the city championship, and progressed through juvenile and junior ball. In the summer of 1942, Buddy played for the Niagara Falls Rainbow Seniors, coached by Max Kaminsky, and in the winter played junior B hockey.
Buddy joined the Royal Canadian Navy team in 1943, helping to win three consecutive Maritime championships in 1943,1944, and 1945. Buddy was chosen most valuable player in the 1945 series.
While playing for the St. Mary’s Halifax junior A team in 1944, Buddy was scouted by many professional baseball teams including the Boston Red Sox, the Chicago Cubs, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. During 1946 and 1947, he played for the Kingston Ponies in the Border League, where he had the team’s top batting average. Buddy was signed by the Boston Braves of the Eastern League in 1948, and played with the Hartford Chiefs. He then played for the Quebec City Braves in the Canadian-American League, winning the pennant and playoffs in 1949.
Returning to Niagara Falls in 1953, Buddy rounded off his career by playing baseball and hockey with the Cataract and Kerrio teams, and coaching and refereeing. For his contribution to minor ball in Niagara Falls, Buddy was awarded the Mayor Miller Trophy in 1964.
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