Les McIntyre was born April 9th, 1937 on St. Mary Street, Antigonish to Lauchy and Rita McIntyre, who had recently moved to Antigonish in May earlier that same year. He grew up in a family of seven children, with two brothers and four sisters.
In 1947, Frank MacGibbon, Antigonish’s first ever Recreation Director, sought to convert the overgrown hayfield along the banks of the West River into a sporting venue. Only a few hundred metres from St. Mary’s Street, the opening of a new sports field would become the catalyst for Les’s athletic career. Young people interested in using the field, including Les, struck a deal with Frank: help maintain the track and field, and he would teach you how to play sports. For Les, this arrangement began his lifelong love of baseball, originating at what today is known as Columbus Field.
Les MacIntyre 1954, on the way to Columbus Field
In the 1950s and 60s, Baseball was the biggest sport craze in town. With no Television or Social Media, the people of Antigonish would gather at Columbus field to watch the Antigonish Bulldogs take on baseball teams from all across the province. For a young ball player like Les, playing for the Bulldogs was the dream. There was no recruiting for the team, and if a player wanted to make the roster, they would do so through merit and affiliation. On the pathway, an aspiring player would often begin as a batboy or would shag fly balls during games, before eventually earning their call up to play infield. The young men lucky enough to wear the Bulldogs uniform had a great sense of pride, and had a considerable prestige around town.
Les MacIntyre as Batboy, 1949
Les’s ties to the Senior Team began when he was 12, and he played until he was 31. During his playing career, Les would predominantly play 2nd base, winning his first Intermediate A Championship with the Bulldogs in 1956. He would be a part of plenty of further victories, winning two Maritime Championships between 1956-59, and 7 Nova Scotia Championships over his playing tenure.
He looks back fondly on the fierce rivalries of the time: Inverness – Port Hawkesbury, Stellarton – Truro and Kentville – Valley. One of his personal favourite playing achievements was the Bulldog’s 3-2 and 4-2 back to back home wins over Kentville, securing Antigonish the championship at their very own Columbus Field. This came only days after losing 3-2 to the same team on the road, as the Bulldogs crumbled to Kentville’s pitchers, two of which were considered the best in the Maritimes. Another of Les’s notable memories came from a game in Cape Breton, when Bulldogs catcher Billy “Boo” MacDougall knocked out an Inverness runner with a tag. Billy was making a point to the umpire, who only a few plays earlier had quite suspiciously called another Inverness player safe at second base.
Les had a special connection with his teammates. Below is a picture of the 1969 Nova Scotia Senior Baseball Champions, featuring Les and a number of notable teammates, including coach DG MacIsaac. Omitted from the picture, but still vital to the Bulldog’s success was the management team of George Grant and Frank McGibbon. Les mentions the Bulldogs were particularly proud of their acquisition of Sam Gero (pictured), an exceptional hitter who had done previous tryouts for major league team Brooklyn Dodgers.
The Bulldogs were not only a pack on the baseball diamond, but also in the community. The ball team frequently helped out at Simpson’s, a local furniture store. Often, as many as fifteen of the guys would pile into the back of a truck to help deliver furniture to homes throughout town.
After his baseball career, Les helped form an Antigonish Intermediate Senior Hockey team in 1961, which played well into the 70s and 80s. Joined by some old baseball teammates, Les and the team won the Maritime Intermediate League Championship in 1961 and finished second in the Cape Breton league the following year. Despite most of the players being in their forties, the Antigonish team was so formidable that organisers would often, perhaps unfairly, schedule them against much tougher opposition.
Les MacIntyre and the 1981/82 Bulldogs Hockey Team
Les worked for roughly 40 years doing auto body repair at a local car dealership, while also helping his wife Marie operate their family flower business. He served as a volunteer firefighter for 30 years, and with the department regularly donated uniforms to local sports teams. Les’s involvement in the community also included his work with Town Recreation and refereeing hockey.
Today, at 89 years old, Les enjoys playing cards and still golfs twice a week with old ball and hockey friends. He has 5 children and nearly 20 grandchildren. To them, and to any aspiring athlete, Les encourages participation in as many sports as possible, as it teaches resilience, and demonstrates the importance of being a supportive teammate and a caring member of the community.
Submitted by Shaun Smith and Herman Wasserman, June 2026