Elliott: Remembering Jim Baba
Late Baseball Canada executive Jim Baba (Moose Jaw, Sask.), right, talking to Walt Burrows (Victoria, BC), Canada’s senior scout in terms of service.
September 21, 2025
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
Writers call it “press-box humour.”
We’ve seen it happen in press boxes at Olympic Stadium, Exhibition Stadium, SkyDome and Rogers Centre.
In the old days when a former writer/friend would take on the scorekeeping duties for a game when the newbie made his first call -- E-6 or base hit -- most everyone in the press box would hoot at the scorekeeper.
“How can you call that an error? Cal Ripken doesn’t make that play.”
“Are you related to the hitter? No way that is a base hit ... even in T-ball.”
In the early days of Tournament-12, the late Jim Baba and Adam Morissette would alternate. One would announce the lineup changes, another would serve as the volunteer scorekeeper.
I do not remember how Baba scored the play, yet I barked at Baba, “Is this your first game? Bear down! These kids did not come all the way from British Columbia to have bad scorekeeping.”
That day I learned how many friends Jim Baba had.
One by one a non-press box regular at Toronto Blue Jays games would slide by and whisper, “You know Bob I think he had that call right.” Or maybe, “How dare you criticize Jim Baba.” And on and on.
I explained that I had not even seen the play -- I was typing. But it is what writers do when a dear friend takes over scorekeeping duties. It was a gag. I would have complained hit or error. Later, I took the time to explain it to Baba, a veteran sandlot man. He looked up with that smile of his and said, “I knew what was going on.”
He always did.
* * *
On the afternoon of the semi-finals at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the first person I saw entering the stadium was Baba.
“Did you just get here?” I told him yes and he said, “Bobby we have a chance for gold -- Australia upset Japan.”
I shook my head and said, “I hope you are right, but how many days do you see two upsets?”
Baba got his back up saying, “We beat Cuba in Italy and won the tournament in Nettuno (the week before). Us beating Cuba is not an upset.”
That night, Canada lost to Cuba as Kevin Nicholson’s attempt at a game-tying three-run homer died on the warning track. If you see the replay again watch the Cuban third baseman. He hangs his head -- he thinks that the ball is gone.
Japan beat Canada the next day for bronze.
* * *
In 2005, I wrote a book -- The Northern Game -- and editor Wayne Parrish suggested I pick an all-time provincial team for all 10 provinces. I have met a lot of proud people from Saskatchewan. No one more proud than Baba. So I asked him to pick the all-time team from his province ... in his opinion.
He refused ... explaining it would cause hurt feelings. So I asked Dave Shury of the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame. I forget the player’s name but when the book came out Baba called me and yelled into the phone the said player’s name four times ... finishing with: “HE DOES NOT BELONG!”
So any time I came across a story of that player I would email it to Baba and others in the Baseball Canada office. He would call and again go through all the reasons why the player should not have been selected.
* * *
Baba was a strong baseball man, but once I asked Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) if he had ever been cut from a team?
“Yes, Jim Baba cut me,” Clapp said. So I would see Baba and ask him how he could have cut Canada’s secret weapon on the international stage.
This week Clapp recalled the story.
“It was with the Senior team and I believe it was 1993 maybe,” Clapp said from St. Louis where he is a first base coach with the Cardinals. “I went with them to Nicaragua the following year, I believe. You know it was the best thing to ever happen to me. I had to pick my chin up and find ways to get better.”
Remembering Jim Baba, a baseball man ...
“I can’t say I knew him well, but I knew him a long time and we got along and collaborated a lot in our early years when I was with Baseball Quebec and Jim was with Baseball Saskatchewan. Jim was a great man on and off the field. He was what was good about baseball in Canada and the world.
“I coached with him at a Pan Am qualifier in Windsor that we won. A tremendous human being.”
_ Alex Agostino, St-Bruno, Que., cross checker, Philadelphia Phillies.
“I had no idea about Jim’s passing. It was just awful news when we heard. Jim was a great man and a class act. So sad.”
_ Alex Anthopoulos, Montreal, Que., GM of the Atlanta Braves.
Decision makers at the 2012 Women's World Cup in Edmonton (L to R) Tournament director/Tournament Commission Chair Jim Baba, Technical Commissioners Shari Reiniger (CAN), Beppe Guillizoni (ITA), Technical Director Justine Siegal (USA), Technical Commissioners Hugh Allen (CAN), Kit Yi Au (HKG), Robin Wallace (USA), Megumi Kitta (JPN) and umpire Director Corrie Davis (CAN). Photo: WBSC.
“Jim was a great friend and mentor. He was always available to guide me through the Baseball Canada requirements when I was first elected president of Baseball Quebec. He was always available to support me when I used to supervise Baseball Canada championships. We often have some peculiar situations to handle during championships.
“Jim was a very calm person. I think the only time I ever saw him get angry was when someone on the board verbally attacked one of his employees without cause. That person had to admit he didn’t have all the facts and that he was sorry. He had a lot of respect for his employees and they all loved him. I sat on numerous committees and I don’t think I ever heard anyone say anything bad about Jim. He was a true gentleman and respected by all.
“He always had great respect for the challenges and requirements we faced in our province. We have a different reality than other provinces. One example was the following: All the Baseball Canada documents intended for all the Provinces had to be translated into both official languages. Protocols also had to be in both official languages during championships and Baseball Canada events. It wasn’t always easy, but Jim was very sensitive to this reality. I always had a lot of respect for Jim to understand the reality that I had to face in my province. He knew that my board members would be very upset if that wouldn’t be respected.
“Jim Baba will be surely missed and nobody will be able to replace him. His legacy will remain forever.”
_ Jean Boulais, Gatineau, Que. Baseball Quebec.
“The one thing that I loved most about Jim was that he was the same, great guy, all the time. Whether he was a guest coach at the National Baseball Institute, manager of Canada’s National Senior Team, an administrator at Saskatchewan Baseball or Baseball Canada, Jim was a first class individual full of integrity all the time. He was very honest, highly respected, and also, a lot of fun to be with. We had a lot of laughs together. This one really hurts. My deepest sympathy to his family. I will miss Jim very much.”
_ Kevin Briand, St.Hubert, Que., Toronto Blue Jays scout.
At 2015 Pan Am Games in Ajax, tournament director Jim Baba, fifth from left, (L-to-R) guest, umpire Elemer Jerkovits (CAN), technical commissioners Robin Wallace (USA) and Shari Reiniger (CAN)
“In 1989, I was a kid watching the Canada Games in Saskatoon and seeing Jim coach that team to a silver medal. That 1989 team was fierce - they even had a bench clearing brawl against Ontario in pool play. They were competitive. I remember then and there that I wanted to be part of that program. Jim coached me in 1990 as I played for the Canada Cup team that competed in Trois Riviere, Que. He was the guy who planted the seed for all of us that played. He encouraged us to go play college ball and play at a higher level. Then in 1993, he coached us again at the Canada Summer Games in Kamloops. He ran everything like a college program - he always had high expectations and we better be prepared to come to the ball park and win. He always gave us that confidence that we could compete and beat the best teams. Players loved playing for him - we knew he loved us and we loved him. Before the Summer Games in Kamloops we played in a tournament against a team from California. I was pitching and I remember questioning the strike zone. The umpire actually told me to “F off!” Babs comes out to ask ‘what is going on?’ and I told Jim that the ump told me to “F off!” Jim tore into that umpire. I remember, wow -- Babs sure has our backs.
“Years later Jim was hired by Baseball Canada and he encouraged me to apply for the Baseball Sask job. That was more than 25 years ago. During the 2016 Baseball Canada Cup in Fort McMurray, he was the tournament chairperson. We had a pretty good team and we ended up winning it. I think he was as excited as me when we won that gold and gold at the Canada Summer Games in 2017 in Winnipeg. He was the guy who set that standard - we can compete and we can win.
“In 2022, he helped Baseball Saskatchewan with our strategic planning. He arrived to Saskatoon early in order to visit with family and friends. A few days later he and I jumped into my van to travel to Regina for our meetings with the Baseball Sask. I will always remember that 2 1/2 hour drive on the prairie. There is not much to see and the drive can be long. We reflected on the past, talked ball and the drive seemed quick. I wish I knew half as much as Jim when it comes to the game. But what I will always remember on that drive was him telling me was that he was ‘proud of me.’ Next to my mom and dad it was probably the greatest compliment I could ever receive. I will never forget that.
“Last September Todd Plaxton (who coached with Jim in Saskatchewan and helped Greg Hamilton with the national team) and myself knew that Jim was having a hard time. Of course we didn’t hear that from Jim - we found out from others. It was never about Jim - he never wanted others to worry about him. So Todd and I traveled to Ottawa to visit him, his wife Penny and help them get to some appointments and help them put away some things for the winter. It was hard to leave knowing that maybe this was the last time we would see Jim and sadly it turned out to be.
“I will never forget the impact he had on me and the game in Saskatchewan and Canada. I am glad in 2022 we had the opportunity to name one of the 15U diamonds ‘Jim Baba’ field. Of course, if I told him ‘hey come to Saskatoon because we want to have a ceremony before the 15U Ray Carter Cup and name a field after you,’ he would have thought that was too much. Jim was a very humble person and likely wouldn’t have shown for that.
Jim Baba, left, with his family, his son Mitch Baba, brother Gary Baba in white, wife Penny and daughter Melani on field dedication day.
“So we had to trick him into coming to Saskatoon. Jason Dickson was in on it and so was the Baba family. We told Jim he was the “co-chairperson” with Al Fitzsimmons at the Ray Carter Cup in Saskatoon. I was at the tournament as well and I remember him telling me ‘I don’t know why they need me? Fitzy can do it.’ I am trying to keep a straight face. That Thursday before the last game we surprised Jim as he thought he was throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Penny and the Baba family came out with the ‘Jim Baba Field’ sign and I remember the look on his face - surprised but ‘hey I don’t deserve this.’ It was such a great night with his family and friends there. It was a great way to acknowledge what he did for baseball in this country.
“We will all miss Babs and I wish I could have one more drive with him on the prairies.”
_ Greg Brons, Saskatoon, Sask., high performance director BaseballSask.
At the 2018 WBSC Women's World Cup in Vierra, Fla (L to R): Technical Commissioners Narelle Gosstray (AUS), Stephen Lesfargue (FRA), Akisa Fukuzawa (USA), Robin Wallace (USA), Tournament Commission Chair/Technical Commissioner Jim Baba, Technical Director Shari Reiniger, Technical Commissioners Angel Bonilla (DOM) and Angel Fanara (ITA)
“Jim was first class, a man full of integrity. Jim was one of my guys (with the Canadian arm of the Major League Scouting Bureau) in Saskatchewan until he joined Baseball Canada. He was highly respected. Jim was a rules guy and respected throughout Canada and around the world. President Ray Carter and Jim paved the way to make Greg Hamilton have success he’s having with the Junior National Team.”
_ Walt Burrows, Canada’s longest serving scout with 30 years of service (10 with the Minnesota Twins, the rest with the Bureau, plus five years as a part-time scout).
“I remember being a nervous young executive director of the smallest province in Canada when I first met Jim, but Jim was always welcoming, friendly, and took the time to talk and listen to me and the concerns of my province. Nobody was too big or too small for Jim, and he made you feel appreciated for your thoughts, feedback and work. I truly believe Jim deserves a lot of credit for the growth of baseball on Prince Edward Island and in Canada - he laid the framework for growth and development that is paying dividends now. We are a little poorer now for Jim Baba being gone - our Canadian baseball community owes so much to him”
_ Randy Byrne, St. Peter’s Bay, Prince Edward Island.
“I had the privilege of working alongside Jim for over 20 years on the WBSC Technical Committee. Jim was not only a trusted colleague but a cherished friend—an exceptional baseball mind whose passion for the game was unmatched. His contributions to Baseball Canada, especially in developing coaches and growing the sport across the country, were truly extraordinary. Jim embodied professionalism, treating everyone with kindness, respect, and unwavering support. His absence will be deeply felt, and his legacy will continue to inspire.
“Hearing about Jim was sad news. I was in Japan for the 18U World Cup when we were told of his passing and were all sad. We held a moment of silence for Jim after the anthems during the bronze and gold medal games. It was emotional. This is truly sad news. We lost a great friend and baseball man.”
_ Peter M. Caliendo, Charlotte, NC, president, GM Caliendo Sports International, WBSC member.
“We coached against each other in 1993 (Jim was with Saskatchewan, I was with Ontario) in 1993 and I coached for him when he managed Canada in Sicily in 1998. Jim was an integral part of the 1990s when Baseball Canada really got started. Jim was a big part of Baseball Canada. He was an inspirational part competing on our international stage especially our early years. He will be dearly missed. When I heard the news, I sent my condolences to Greg Hamilton, Jim’s family and the Baseball Canada family. I thought Greg gave a touching speech about Jim at St. Marys when Greg was inducted last summer.”
_ Remo Cardinale, Thornhill, Ont., former Team Canada manager and coach, ex-Junior National Team coach.
“Although I knew it was coming, I was devastated when I received the news that Jim had passed. We go back over 35 years when he was with Baseball Saskatchewan. I played a role in the hiring of him for Baseball Canada. One of the best things I ever did for the game. He helped and led the transformation of how we went about developing young players in this country. He made himself available to everyone across Canada.
“People didn’t know that he could be feisty. He challenged me on many occasions over what he thought was right. But at the end of the day we sit and laugh and agree to move on. Jim will be missed by many that he touched across the country and around the world. I miss the great times that we had together at many events. I will cherish the memories always.”
_ Ray Carter, Delta, BC, president of Baseball Canada.
“Something I remember about Jim was his consistency. He showed up every single day with a smile, and positive attitude. It was infectious. You didn’t know anything but it was gonna be a great day with the way he talked to ya, engaged with ya and always left ya with a positive thought.”
_ Stubby Clapp, Windsor, Ont., first base and infield coach, St. Louis Cardinals.
“I’ve known Jim since 2000 when I started at the Hall of Fame in St. Marys. He was always one to check-in, ask how things were going and when I saw him, he always with a smile on his face. He means so much to Canadian history after running baseball in Saskatchewan, across Canada and around the world.
“Your smile will be missed Jim. RIP.”
_ Scott Crawford, St. Marys, Ont., director of operations, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Canadian contingent at the 2019 WBSC U-18 World Cup in Korea (L to R): Umpire Stephen Gomes, Technical Commissioner Shari Reiniger, Technical Director/Tournament Commission Chair Jim Baba and Scorer Don Darling
“Prairie boy Jim came to St John’s about 15 years ago to assist us with an LTAD workshop. He arrived in the morning and had some hours free and was told there was a gigantic iceberg within sight of Signal Hill in St John’s. So he hopped in a taxi and headed not to Signal Hill but to Quidi Vida village which is a historical fishing community. He chatted with a fisherman and the fisherman was only too happy to have Jim jump into his small fishing boat and they headed to the iceberg. It’s not advisable to get too close to an iceberg because parts of it tend to fall off and you don’t want to be near when that happens but Jim was not deterred and headed straight to the base of the humongous iceberg. He was braver or crazier than I ever could be and carried a Captain Ahab nickname afterwards for a year or two.
“Such a truly marvelous human being.”
_ Ken Dawe, former executive director, Baseball Newfoundland.
“Jim was a professional who always treated me with the utmost respect and kindness. I am grateful that his knowledge and wisdom helped shaped and grow the landscape of Canadian Baseball. I will miss his random Instagram messages the most.”
_ Corey Eckstein, president, Ontario Blue Jays.
“I had the absolute pleasure of working with Jim for nine years. Over that time, it became apparent that Jim was a true leader that was well respected from coast to coast. He was a huge resource for myself as I navigated through the early years of my career and was always there to provide support when I needed it. I last saw Jim in 2023 when Nova Scotia played host to the Women’s National Championship. Even though he was retired and battling health issues at that point, he volunteered to be the Baseball Canada rep for the event. Nothing had changed, as he spent four days carrying on conversations and joking with anyone that crossed his path. It was always comforting knowing Jim was involved, both for his professionalism and welcoming personality. Jim’s legacy will be everlasting in Nova Scotia and all of Canada.”
_ Brandon Guenette, Executive Director, Baseball Nova Scotia.
“Babs was a wonderful person who had an immeasurable impact on Baseball Canada and our country’s National Teams Program. He was a selfless leader and respected friend who cared deeply and always saw the best in people. “
_ Greg Hamilton, director of Baseball Canada national teams.
“I met Babs as a Little League opponent growing up in Moose Jaw, then as teammates through senior Little League and, at 16 we moved on to the Saskatchewan Major League. It was from those years that a group of us have maintained life long friendships. Jim‘s career choice took him out of Moose Jaw and I guess we should have known, back to Little league, that it was a path that would follow his baseball passion. His playing talents allowed him to succeed on the field from minor ball through college, but it was his knowledge and coaching which took over his life.
“A while ago I was looking over all of Jim’s work, I browsed in amazement with what his involvement had accomplished from a national to international stage. His fingerprints are all over minor ball in Canada, junior and senior levels, national and international, men and women. It was his lifelong passion, not just a job. I could include a final little story that even up to a couple of days before his passing, with his oxygen mask on, Babs was still doing conference calls with the WBC.
“His accomplishments are now becoming well documented, but I want to make my last few words to be the most important: above all Jim was a man of family, he often spoke proudly about Penny and his kids, more recently the grandchildren. He cared for them deeply. Likely his only downfall is that he would take off his responsibility hat and become a kid himself. Babs put fun and laughter into their times at home, those special times will be long remembered.
“Myself and many, many others are proud to call him a friend, rest in peace, Babs.”
_ Rod Heisler, Moose Jaw, Sask., Canadian Hall of Famer.
At the 2019 WBSC U-18 World Cup in Korea (L to R Back Row) Technical Commissioners Jon Ma (HKG), Jan Kuipers (NED), Lucio Taschin (ITA), Myunghoon Yoon (KOR), Rodolfo Puente (CUB), Kwang Yull Lee (KOR); Front/Middle Row: Technical Commissioners George Santiago (PUR), Shari Reiniger (CAN), Technical Director/Tournament Commission Chair Jim Baba, Technical Commissioner Kyung Ko Lim (KOR)
“In the competitive world of baseball across provinces and around the globe, Jim was a voice of reason. When my vision for unrestricted, high performance youth ball collided with rules and regulations, Jim was a person I reached out to for balance and perspective. Simply put, a good, a great guy.”
_ John Ircandia, Calgary, Alta., founding father and director, Okotoks Dawgs.
“One of the greatest guys at Baseball Canada and Western Canada. He was great person to be around. I worked for rep ball in BC Minor. We always had great conversations whenever we met at events, especially when he was a speaker at our coaching conference in BC. Every time he saw me he would say ‘OK Pal,’ We had great conversations when Ari Mellios, Bob Burkmar and I were coaching the North Delta Blue Jays. We lost a great man. He will be missed.”
_ Mike (OKPal) Kelly, Surrey, BC, formerly North Delta Blue Jays coach.
“There are so many things I remember about my interactions with Jim. We first met when he was involved in Saskatchewan ball and I was involved with Nova Scotia but one thing, I will never forget is when I attended my first meeting with Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau as the Nova Scotia Scout after Glenn Matheson left and he welcomed me with open arms and supported me throughout. Jim was always a willing listener and someone who would offer sound advice. Once he went to Baseball Canada, he and I would often connect and I have never met anyone like him with his down to earth personality, whit and his way of treating everyone he crosses paths with respect.”
_ Ken Lenihan, Bedford, NS. former Team Nova Scotia coach, Canadian Scouting Bureau scout.
“I remember the first time I met Babs was at the Canada Cup in Melville, Sask. in 2002. I was a young coach with Team Alberta and right away he introduced me to so many important people not only with Baseball Canada but around the country. Babs always quietly helped us Prairie boys make inroads with the game. When Vauxhall started 20 years ago Babs always made time for Jim Kotkas and I with thoughts and ideas to make the program better. My thoughts are with Penny and the entire Baba family. Canadian Baseball lost a great baseball man.”
_ Les McTavish, Lethbridge, Alta., head coach and director of baseball operations, Vauxhall Academy.
Two of Saskatchewan’s best: Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.) and Jim Baba (Moose Jaw, Sask.)
“Jim hired me in 2010 and soon after became one of my closest friends. Countless memories both through our time working together and outside of the office where we bonded over our love of sports.
“He was universally loved and had tremendous respect from the baseball community both in Canada and throughout the world. I loved and will miss his laugh and how passionate he was for Canadian baseball. Jim loved the Green Bay Packers more than anything so I’m glad they won the other night.”
_ Adam Morissette, Orleans, Ont., Baseball Canada.
“I have many great memories of Babs and owe him everything I achieved in baseball. He was a great friend and mentor and played the game hard and in my opinion the right way. Summers were busy and we ran camps all over Saskatchewan identifying players for many years together both for Team Saskatchewan and for the Major League Scouting Bureau.
“Babs had a great way about him keeping things loose and light but making sure he got the most out of the athletes. He took his position seriously but took time to enjoy and teach the athletes what it took to move on in the game. I remember one of the coaches was hitting fungos to the outfield, to assess arms and players’ ability to move at the level they needed to be an invite to camp. Our coach hitting who was hitting fly balls could not get the ball in the air, nor could he hit it hard enough to get it where we were able to identify their arm strength. Needless to say Babs shut that down quickly, went and took the bat out of his hands and did it himself. It was very funny at the time and certainly made sure we were on task while running all the drills.
“Till the last day I saw him along with Greg Brons. He told that story and laughed so hard because he was serious about doing it right but not serious at all and loved to bug that coach, who hall remain nameless.
“I loved Babs and was lucky to have him in my corner. He was a great teammate and a better friend.”
_ Todd Plaxton, Nogales Az., former Team Sask coach.
The umpires, the teams — Team USA and Japan — along with the fans, observe a moment’s silence in memory of Jim Baba as his picture is shown on the scoreboard before the gold medal game of the World 18U championships in Okinawa, Japan. Photo: WBSC.
“Babs was an absolute beauty. Back in 1997, when I was hired as a summer student, while attending the University of Regina, Jim was the director of operations at Baseball Sask and that was when I first met him. He made me feel welcome immediately and that was the beginning of a great friendship that lasted almost 30 years.
“Back in 2013 at the World Baseball Classic in Phoenix, Canada was playing Mexico at Chase Field. The game was going very well for Canada as they were up 9-3 in the top of the ninth when Chris Robinson laid down a bunt for a base hit. Mexico didn’t like this, and it led to benches/bullpens clearing and fists flying.
“At the time, I was sitting a few rows up behind the Team Canada dugout when all hell broke loose. The stadium was very full and at that point, we realized that fans of Mexico outnumbered us massively. Babs soon thereafter texted me to bring his wife, Penny, with our group to verify she was safe after the game ended. We did indeed get Penny out safe and sound. We all met at The Tilted Kilt to celebrate the big win. Jim had Larry Walker sign a ball for me as well to show his appreciation for taking care of Penny. As we were all having a few drinks, I noticed that former Green Bay Packer (and current Seattle Seahawks) punter, Jon Ryan, at the same establishment. Ryan is from Regina too. We had mutual friends, so I started chatting with him. As most people know, Babs was a huge Packers fan, so I introduced them, and this absolutely made Jim’s day as they talked Packers football for quite a while.”
“Needless to say, Jim was loved by many and he will truly be missed.
_ Mike Ramage, Regina, Sask. executive director, Baseball Sask.
At the 2022 WBSC U-18 World Cup in Florida (L to R): Technical Director/Technical Commission Chair Jim Baba, Technical Commissioners Tom Valcke (CAN), Shari Reiniger (CAN), Joe Carbone (USA), Lucio Taschin ((ITA), Pete Caliendo (USA), Frank Marcos (USA). Photo: WBSC.
“Jim was a one of a kind leader and person, on and off the field. His legacy across Canada and around the world will live on through the many people he inspired and mentored to carry his torch. We will miss his leadership, and especially his friendship, at the WBSC.
“Jim was the Chair of our Technical Commission and I was honored to work with him there as well as at many international events and projects going back to the Long Term Athlete Development Committee at Baseball Canada. He was a good friend to my husband and I for most of our adult lives. Everyone loved Jim. I’ve never heard anyone around the world say a bad word about him or question his impeccable integrity. Truly a special man.
“He touched a lot of people as he made a positive impact in the game. He’s the reason I got my first International assignment in 2004, as well as the Olympics and World Baseball Classic. The only way I can repay him is to carry his torch as far as I can and mentor the next group of people to do the same.
“Jim never gave up and he stayed committed to the game right to the end, with our final meeting together last Tuesday to finish off a project. And he never wanted the spotlight or awards ... he preferred to elevate those around him and let them shine.
“You could write about Jim Baba for days. Good luck finding your perfect ending point.”
_ Shari Reiniger, Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., WBSC Baseball Technical Commission, Performance Consultant.
Ed Bryant, past president of Baseball Sask who worked with Jim when he was in office, and Baba.
“Jim embodied the spirit of Canadian baseball. He was proud of Canadian players and truly cared about the growth of our game. Many of us were afforded opportunities in our careers because of Jim’s efforts behind the scenes and he will be missed by everyone.”
_ Former Tip O’Neill winner Jamie Romak, London, Ont., Great Lake Canadians.
“Jim Baba embodied the spirit of Canadian baseball. He was proud of Canadian players and truly cared about the growth of our game. Many of us were afforded opportunities in our careers because of Jim’s efforts behind the scenes and he will be missed by everyone.
“Jim Baba is a man I considered a friend. True to his word. He gave much of time in life to the advancement of baseball not only in his province of Saskatchewan but from coast to coast and across the globe. My sincere condolences to His wife and family.”
_ Bernie Soulliere, Windsor, Ont., chef de mission Baseball Canada.
“I got to know Jim through our several trips to Nationals at various levels from 2014 to 2022. He was part of the committee on many occasions. My memory of him was that he was a true gentleman, very respectful and made you feel important even coming from a small province like New Brunswick. He was always impressed with our results and the level we played at and often commented on it.
“Only saw him once a year or even sometime every second year but he always took the time to check in on you and have a baseball conversation. I lived in Saskatchewan for five years and always felt a certain connection with him because of that.
“Finally, my last memory of Jim was being in Fort Mac in 2022 at the 18U nationals, as he presented me with the silver medal after being killed by Ontario he said: ‘Not many teams win silver, you guys won silver tonight, well done.’
“Baseball will miss Jim Baba …”
_ Patrick Tardif, Dieppe, New Brunwsick, provincial coach.
“Jim was a great ambassador for the game of baseball in Canada as well as around the world. Internationally he was well respected. Jim was always there for me if we needed anything for the senior program.”
_ Ernie Whitt, Canada’s WBC manager.
And as the sun set, Baseball Sask’s Greg Brons holds the mike alongside Todd Plaxton, Andrew Albers and Jim Baba
* * *
Some of you may know that during a speaking engagement Feb. 2, 2019, I collapsed on stage at the annual Okootks Dawgs banquet. Dawgs trainer Savannah Blakeley, Dawgs photographer Angela Burger, Dawgs coach Lou Pote and Okotoks fire fighter Geoff Brown saved my life -- twice.
Now, 76, I am still writing about baseball and my friend Jim is gone at age 69. Since 2019, this is the only the second time I have felt guilty about outliving someone else, for Jim Baba, a better man, is gone too soon.