The sports community in Newfoundland and Labrador as lost a sports legend.
Alexander John “Duey” Fitzgerald passed away Wednesday evening at the age of 84.
He is survived by his wife Shirley and sons Andy and Steven
Duey Fitzgerald has had an outstanding career in three sports, Baseball, Softball and Bowling, and has been honoured by all.
Duey first coached the Holy Cross Senior Baseball squad in 1957 and from there went on to coach St. John’s in the Provincial Baseball Championships in 1958, 1959, 1963 and 1969. He also coached softball during this time and in 1971-72 served as the Provincial Coach for Softball Newfoundland.
Duey began umpiring baseball in 1964 and continued to do so until 1968 when he devoted his time towards softball. He was the founder of the St. John’s Metro Softball Umpire’s Association in 1971 and served as the Provincial Softball Umpire-in-Chief from 1969 to 1975. Duey took part in his first national event as an umpire in 1966 for the Baseball National Junior Men’s Championship and he performed similar duties for softball in 1973, 1977 and 1978. Duey retired from umpiring in 1988 but continues to serve softball by calling the game behind a microphone as a commentator for Cable Nine in St. John’s.
Duey was inducted into the St. John’s Softball Hall of Fame in 1975 and the Newfoundland Softball Hall of Fame in 1985. Baseball honoured Duey by electing him into the St. John’s Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Newfoundland Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1986 Duey was elected into the Newfoundland Bowling Hall of Fame. On the National scene Duey was elected to the Canadian Softball Hall of Fame in 1991..
