Betts: Baba takes rightful place among Canadian baseball greats
Longtime Baseball Canada executive director Jim Baba (Moose Jaw, Sask.) was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
June 20, 2026
By Matt Betts
Canadian Baseball Network
There are few people who have had a greater impact on the game of baseball in Canada than the late Jim Baba.
But it wasn’t just what he accomplished as a coach and longtime executive, it was how he went about doing it.
He carried the same passion and unwavering national pride into everything he did, whether it was leading a grassroots initiative to grow the game across the country or supporting Canada’s teams at the World Baseball Classic.
A true baseball lifer who served as the executive director of Baseball Canada from 2000 to 2021, it was only a matter of time until the day came when Baba would take his place among other greats in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Saturday was that day.
The late Jim Baba’s children (from left to right), Jamie, Mitch and Melani, gathered on stage on Saturday to deliver an induction speech for their father. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
It was a bittersweet moment for his son, Mitch, and daughters, Melani and Jamie, as it was less than a year ago they said goodbye to their father after he lost his battle with cancer.
“It’s an honour, we’re so proud of him,” Melani said. “Knowing what our dad did with baseball. He had his name on a lot of things and we’re honoured to be here. We wish he was here.”
His children describe him as humble and caring, two traits the best leaders possess.
His fingerprints are all over some of Canada’s greatest moments, from Pan Am Games, Olympics, World Cups and World Baseball Classics, to assisting with the implementation of the Rally Cap Program and promoting the women’s game.
It wasn’t just about the wins and losses for the pride of Moose Jaw. His long-term vision was firmly focused on making sure the game was growing.
“He was always proud to be Canadian, develop the Canadian game,” Jamie said.
“He always wanted baseball to be fun, he wanted more kids to play baseball. Everything he did was to make it more accessible, fun and a better place for kids to play. That is the essence of what he did in his career.”
When the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame started following his three kids on Instagram, they knew something might be up.
A call followed from the hall’s Director of Operations, Scott Crawford, to deliver the news.
“It was very overwhelming, a lot of emotions,” Mitch said. “Between knowing he’s not here for it, the honour of it and how proud he would be to be recognized.”
Life without their dad is still something they’re getting used to, but knowing he’ll be forever enshrined for something he loved so much brings a smile to their faces.
“Your body gets warm, the tears start flowing,” Melani said about what the call meant. “It’s something we know he would’ve wanted and would be honoured about. It’s heartbreaking, it’s sad, but it’s also immense pride.”
To many, Baba is a symbol of all that’s great about Canadian baseball.
But more importantly to Mitch, Melani and Jamie, he’s dad.
“He was the best,” Jamie said. “Everyone’s favourite person.”