International baseball community mourns passing of Jim Baba
Jim Baba, the chairman of the WBSC Technical Commission, passed away on Friday at the age of 69. Photo: WBSC
September 13, 2025
Official WBSC Release
The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) announces with profound sadness the passing of Jim Baba, the chairman of the WBSC Technical Commission.
He was 69.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Penny, and their children, Jamie, Mitch, and Melani. He was a proud grandfather to five grandchildren.
WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari extended his deepest condolences on behalf of the WBSC family to Jim’s family, friends, colleagues, and the broader international baseball community.
“Jim Baba was a pillar of our sport,” President Fraccari said. “His dedication to baseball, his wisdom, and his tireless work in developing the game globally will never be forgotten.
“His long-serving and instrumental work with the WBSC to grow our game, especially in the advancement of technical officiating, leaves a lasting legacy for international baseball. On behalf of the WBSC family, I send our heartfelt sympathies to Jim’s loved ones during this difficult time.”
Jim served as a technical official for over two decades having first worked with the International Baseball Federation in 2002 before playing a key role in the transition to the WBSC, working numerous international events, including Olympic qualifiers, the Pan American Games, the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup, and the World Baseball Classic. He travelled the world delivering technical official education programmes on behalf of the WBSC, further contributing to the global development of the game.
A native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Baba dedicated his life to the growth and development of baseball in his home country, Canada. After beginning his career in sport as the Parks and Recreation Director in Kindersley, a role he held for nine years. He went on to serve as the Director of Operations for Baseball Saskatchewan for 10 years, during which he laid the groundwork for coach and player development, as well as grassroots growth, in the province.
Jim’s passion was coaching, and his impact was felt throughout Saskatchewan, where he delivered numerous National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) courses each year, in addition to coaching on the provincial stage. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008
Baseball Canada soon brought Jim into the fold, where he coached and managed national teams at several international competitions, including the 1991 Pan American Games, 1993 World University Championship, and the 1994, 1998, and 2005 Baseball World Cups. In 2000, he relocated his family from Saskatchewan to Ottawa, the national capital, where he served as Baseball Canada’s Manager of Baseball Operations before transitioning to Executive Director, a role he held until his retirement in 2021.
During his tenure as Executive Director of Baseball Canada, Jim became one of the most respected and influential leaders in Canadian baseball history. Over his 20-plus-year tenure, he guided the organisation through a period of significant evolution - strengthening domestic programming, advancing high-performance development, and helping Baseball Canada earn a strong international reputation.
"Jim Baba was more than a leader. He was a mentor, a builder, and a true steward of the game," said Jason Dickson, CEO of Baseball Canada. "He led with integrity, respect, and a tireless commitment to making baseball better at every level. His impact will live on through every program he helped build, every athlete he supported, and every person he inspired."
Greg Hamilton, Baseball Canada's Director of National Teams, coached and worked alongside Jim for over three decades and offered a heartfelt reflection: "Jim was an incredible mentor, a loyal colleague, and an even better friend. We coached together, travelled together, and spent more than two decades working side by side. His leadership shaped the direction of Baseball Canada, but more than that, it shaped people. He cared deeply, not just about the game, but about the people in it. I'll miss his calm presence, his wisdom, and his belief in doing things the right way."