He was known simply as “Junior.”

He had a love for the game of baseball, and shared that passion with local youngsters as a longtime coach.

Junior was a fixture at local diamonds, whether he was out on a bright, sunny day dressed in his usual green Dickie work pants and shirt riding a tractor usually with a child onboard, trimming the grass or pushing the chalk caddy down the base paths creating neat white lines.

Junior was a humble man.

He understood what was really important.

Others came first.

He deeply cared about kids.

He kept things simple.

If a job needed to be done, Junior was already two steps ahead of everyone, tackling the task without being asked. When it came to baseball, he didn’t expect to be paid or thanked. Junior’s reward was seeing the smiles on kids’ faces as they played the game and found their own love for the sport.

For over 30 years, Junior and baseball were a perfect pair. Be it watching the Boston Red Sox or little ones trying to find enough muscle to toss the ball across the field, for Junior, it was like a little heaven here on earth.

He was soft-spoken, but Junior was quick to call out those who treated others unfairly. In the town’s history book, writer Mike Corrigan captured Junior’s feistiness when he spoke about a controversy brewing in the new full-time rec department. “If you had God Almighty as recreation director in this town, He’s still going to be raked over the coals.”

In July of 1989, the town honored Junior as he officially retired from his volunteer job as overseer of Bridgton baseball. BN writer Mike Corrigan, who tabbed Junior as Mr. Baseball, wrote “Clifford ‘Junior’ Harmon got to the field early as usual. He opened up the snack shack and started serving people. He was being honored for his decades of service to Bridgton baseball and Bridgton youth; yet Junior wasn’t about to step out of character on his ‘day.’ Junior coached the Bridgton Orioles for years, bringing them to the state tournament on several occasions. He helped with the Bridgton Royals…Junior has chalk-lined a thousand fields, tied down 10,000 bases, knocked out a million fly balls, arranged for umpires, set up schedules, coordinated teams and leagues. He was invaluable. He loves and cares about kids.”

Junior passed away at the age of 84 at his home on March 5, 2011.

He was born in Lovell on March 27, 1926, graduated from Bridgton High School, and then enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps. As a Marine, he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart after fighting on Iwo Jima.

After being discharged from the war, Junior was an active life member of the Norway-Paris Fish & Game. He also spent time guiding people for hunting and fishing.

Junior was an avid bowler at Sacopee Valley Lanes. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time in the outdoors, and collecting bait for his shop that he ran from his house. He loved playing cribbage with family and friends.

Most of all, Junior loved watching baseball games of all types.

He would have been proud seeing the park that bears his name — Harmon Field — come to life Sunday as Bridgton hosted the state Babe Ruth Softball tournament. The diamond was buzzing with all the sounds of the game, but best of all, at least in Junior’s mind, there was laughter and cheers.

Just as Junior poured his heart and soul into doing whatever it took to make the “experience” a memorable one for kids, Gary Colello now carries that torch. As Bridgton’s rec director, Colello is fully engaged in the local sports scene. With a small group of volunteers, he put together a top-notch tournament which covered four days and three venues. Bringing a state tournament to town is a humungous undertaking, but Colello and his crew were up for the challenge — and they did Bridgton proud. The tourney was a financial boom for local businesses, while it also showcased to parents and fans all the wonderful things Bridgton has to offer.

And, on championship Sunday, it was a chance to show off major improvements at Harmon Field. A tip of the cap goes to the town and staff for creating a top-flight facility.

Prior to the start of the title game, the complex was re-dedicated. Members of Junior Harmon’s family gathered at the pitching rubber as public address announcer Katherine Vincent read a short piece about Mr. Baseball. Then, Junior’s great nephew, Keegan, tossed out the first pitch to the catcher of an Auburn team.

Moments later, it was time to “play ball!”

Those words were always music to Junior’s ears.

— WER