Hal Loubier, a native of Ashland, was such an outstanding pitcher in schoolboy and American Legion with his sneaky fastball and sharp curve that it became elementary for him to transform that ingrained knowledge of balls and strikes into a long and honored career as an umpire.
Loubier, now a salesman settled in South Portland, joined the Western Maine Board of Umpires in 1956 and twice served as its’ president. But he only took to umpiring after his “rubber arm” gave out.
When the arm was in working order, Loubier, who had a few major league tryouts, owned a splendid strikeout record and a stellar won-lost percentage. At Sanford High, in 1934, captain Loubier compiled a 7-3 record, including three shutouts. He finished the year with 113 strikeouts in 84 innings and for good measure fostered a microscopic 0.98 earned run average.
The two-time All-Telegram League selection also took the mound for the Thomas W. Cole Post of Sanford in American Legion competition. In 1933, he lost to a powerful Mobile, Ala., nine in the Eastern U.S. Legion finals, but he went 14 innings and struck out 15. before losing 5-2 on errors.
A short-lived career for the Sanford Independents and semi-pro ball in the Canadian Provincial League followed. He managed a 8-2 standard, averaging 14 whiffs a game, in his last season ever, before his arm gave out, in the Canadian League.
Loubier, stocky in his playing days, is probably best remembered for his curve ball. Some consider it as fine a curve as anyone from the state ever threw. It set up his fastball and tough-to-handle change of pace.
Loubier was also a slashing hitter, usually capable of batting over .300. Moreover, he was a battler on the mound.
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