Through good times and bad, Lambert more than once kept the Braves afloat.

"I would rather have a losing team that went away happy then a championship team ripped by dissension," he would say. "Junior football has given me more pleasure then what I have done for it."

Lambert worked tirelessly behind the scenes in the clubhouse, always present on game days at whether it was at home or on the road. He'd be working the admission gate, or organizing fundraisers for the team.

He was honoured as honourary president of the Braves in the early '80s, and was dubbed Mr. Burlington Braves by Hamilton Spectator reporter Don Lovegrove. The top rookie on the Braves since the early 80's has been presented with the Al Lambert Award.

The naming of the Al Lambert Field House is the first of many 50th anniversary celebrations planned for the coming season.