R. I. P. Colin Cummins, Ontario Giants coach
Veteran coach Colin Cummins (Mississauga, Ont.) passed away,
By Andrew Hendriks
Canadian Baseball Network
The Canadian baseball community is mourning the loss of Colin Cummins, a devoted player, coach, and tireless advocate for the game, who passed away in Toronto on April 11th at the age of 55.
Colin’s journey in elite ball began on the national stage, where he represented his country as an outfielder for Team Canada’s Junior National Team in 1988. His pro career brought him to the Frontier League in 1995, where he showcased his talents over parts of two seasons with Johnstown, Springfield, and Evansville, posting a respectable career slash line of .277/.362/.434.
After retiring, The Toronto native dedicated his time to the development of young talent and became a fixture in Southwestern Ontario’s baseball scene, helping shape the careers of countless athletes.
His instructional credits include serving as the head coach for the York Lions (OUA) between 1997 and 2007, director of operations and 18U head coach for the Ontario Giants (Premier League of Ontario), and most recently, as the hitting and infield coach for Team Pakistan on the global stage.
Colin’s son RHP Logan Cummins (Mississauga, Ont.) listened well. Logan plays for the Ontario Blue Jays and made Greg Hamilton’s Junior National Team.
On a personal note, I worked with Colin in 2015 when he attempted to bring pro ball to both Welland and Waterloo as part of an upstart six-team independent circuit named the East Coast Baseball League. Though the ECBL ultimately failed to make it out of the gate, his passion for the game and unrelenting desire to create professional opportunities for local talent were prominent throughout our many interactions.
Remembered for his unparalleled positivity, infectious smile and deep understanding of the game at the elite level, Cummins leaves behind a legacy etched into ball diamonds across Ontario and the hearts of the players he mentored.