Before fans get their first glimpse at the newest era of Y-D players at the home opener on Sunday, a Yarmouth baseball legend will take the mound when William “Bill” Keefe, a 1960 Cape Cod League Champion, throws out the Ceremonial First Pitch.
Keefe, who is from Richmond, Vermont, was regarded as one of the best players to come out of Vermont and played two seasons with Yarmouth. He was a member of the 1960 Yarmouth Indians team that took down the Sagamore Clouters in a three-game set to win the Cape League Championship.
While Keefe was joined by standout players on the championship-winning team that included Merril “Red” Wilson, he was right in the middle of the action, delivering crucial hits throughout his two-year stint. He was also a staple in the middle infield with key plays at both second base and shortstop.
In game one of the 1960 championship series against Sagamore, Keefe went deep to right field in the sixth inning to cut Yarmouth’s deficit to 4-2. From that point, the game turned into a slugfest with the Indians and Clouters trading blows. Keefe collected three hits total as Yarmouth fought back for a walk-off 7-6 victory in the 11th inning.
Following the comeback win, Yarmouth went on to win the series over the Clouters in three games and secured the second title in franchise history.
During the following season, Keefe played a major role in helping Yarmouth take down Orleans in a win-or-go-home game to reach the championship series for the second consecutive year. With Yarmouth trailing by four runs, Keefe sparked a rally with a triple in the third inning before coming around to score to make it 5-2.
Yarmouth found itself down 6-2 heading into the seventh and final inning, but a five-run inning gave the team a walk-off win and sent them back to the title series. Keefe drew a walk in the inning and scored another run, which helped set up Wilson’s game-winning two-run double.
Yarmouth eventually fell to Cotuit in the 1961 Cape League Championship Series, but Keefe left a lasting legacy at Yarmouth, playing a key role in a championship and back-to-back Lower Cape titles.
Following his time on the Cape, Keefe settled down in Vermont with his wife of 61 years, Betty, and has raised six children, 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He’s an avid Red Sox fan and enjoys talking baseball with fellow fans or reminiscing about his countless memories with Yarmouth.
Keefe will return to the site where he won his Cape League Championship and throw out the first pitch at Red Wilson Field on Sunday at 5 p.m. as Y-D takes on the Orleans Firebirds in its home opener.
