Rodalphe (Sparky) Sauve
Sport: Softball
Year Inducted: 1984
Rodalphe “Sparky” SauvĂ© is most reluctant to talk about how he became and why he was one of the top stars in Cornwall senior softball over a period of 10 years (1948-1957). But some of his former teammates and others who were opponents – all Hall of Famers – unanimously agree that he had an almost unbelievable knowledge of both softball and baseball – in other words one of the few complete ball players.
Sparky was born in Cornwall in 1925, educated at Nativity Boys School and CCVS and is another of the many products of the OCOT Program – under which he played lacrosse, softball, baseball, and basketball. He was a member of 2 softball Championship teams in 1938 and 39, and Holy Names’ Senior Basketball Championship team in 1943. That same year, he was the recipient of the OCOT Sportsmanship Award.
Still under legal age, he joined the navy in 1943 serving on the Canadian Frigate Longeuil on North Atlantic patrol duty.
Following discharge he played softball with OCOT in the City League for 2 years then signed with the Canadian Legion team which joined the North End League in 1948. In 1950, this team was the first post-war team to win the Eastern Ontario Senior Championship – a feat they repeated in 1953.
During these years Legion also completed in the Massena Fastball League. When the Legion team disbanded he went with Brookshell Motors playing under Softball Hall of Fame ‘Chief’ Garand. “Chief” described “Sparky” as one of the best fielders of the time who always knew where to be at the right time making the playing of the position look all so easy, and was invaluable with his advice in the operation of the team.
In 1957, his only year as a full time coach he led a strong Howard Smith team to the Eastern Ontario Finals losing out by a single run to Smith Falls. It is unfortunate that he decided that he had enough because softball needed his type of talent and suffered as a result.
Sparky was also a fine baseball player with Cornwall Seniors in the Northern New York League.
In 1949, he married Marjorie Moss, and it was a foregone conclusion where they were going on their honeymoon – Boston, Fenway Park, his favourite Ken Soe and Ted Williams.
They have 2 married daughters Susan and Tanya.