Disability couldn’t stop Papineau
Brian Papineau had the honour of representing his late father Paul Thursday night during his induction into the St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame.
“If my father was standing here today, he would be extremely humbled and proud and a bit nervous like me and he would be warming up the crowd with one of his jokes about trying to wash his only hand with one of those spring-loaded taps in the men’s room,” Brian said, to laughter from the crowd. “Try doing that.”
Paul Papineau lost his arm when he was 15 years old, but that didn’t prevent him from becoming one of the city’s finest fastball pitchers, with a rising pitch clocked at 103 km-h.
“He played hockey and softball after his accident and made his mark as a pitcher leaving many batters scratching their heads with his rising fastball,” Brian said.
Paul led the Intermediate Fastball League in 1975, going 10-0 with 120 strikeouts, and hitting just under .300. Paul also won the same award in 1979 with an overall record of 27-0. He was the league’s top playoff pitcher in 1974, 1975 and 1979, with a combined record of 13-1 playing for Reg’s Roofing In 1980, he compiled a 39-24 record, including 13 playoff wins. Named St. Catharines Mr. Softball in 1981, Paul set a league record with 16 straight victories. He was inducted into the league’s hall of fame in 1976.
“His physical disability never held him back,” Brian said. “It could have been a bunt back to the pitcher’s mound forcing him to field the ball or the outfielders moving in during his at bat.
“He was always up for the challenge and he would often surprise you.”
And the bigger the challenge, the more Paul would dig in.
“He used this approach all his life in whatever he would do,” he said. “His determination led to success and it often rubbed off on others.”
That determination was evident away from his sporting activities as well.
“He painted houses for a living, hung wallpaper in his entire home and accomplished other projects around the house as well,” Brian said. “He wasn’t one to sit still any time that he was faced with a challenge. He would always figure out another way.”
Paul organized four charity ball games in the early 1980s and raised more than $25,000.
“We are most proud of his charitable initiatives in raising money for the Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre with softball games between the Papineau family, local media and celebrities,” Brian said. “Children were always near and dear to his heart.
Paul spent his winters in the arenas and summers at the ballpark. He helped coached St. Catharines minor hockey schools on Saturday morning and also coached midget and juvenile squad. He served as timekeeper for the St. Catharines junior B Falcons and later with the St. Catharines Saints of the American Hockey League
“Our family is grateful for this recognition of a man we are extremely proud of and who touched the lives of many,” Brian said.