September 10, 2021

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

In their own way Derek Jeter, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) thanked coaches and volunteers who helped them along the way ...

If only for a moment each Hall of Fame inductee travelled back in time to their days on the sandlots:

Jeter to Central High in Kalamazoo, Mich. ...

Simmons to Southfield High in Southfield, Mich, and at Ann Arbor ...

And Walker to Mundy Field where the Coquitlam Reds of the BC Premier League played, coached by Don Archer, Bill Green and Wayne Martin.

Sure there were coaches to thank, but any sandlot team from Victoria, BC to Mount Pearl, Nfld. -- and everywhere in between -- there are volunteers, whether it is helping with the bases, raking the field, chasing foul balls, organizing road trips and tournaments, as well as putting down the first and third base lines.

And it’s the same from Blaine (Wash.) to (Bangor) Maine south of the border.

One such man was Marc (Marce) Godin, who passed Tuesday at 1:30 due to a heart attack. He was one of the best and most loyal Erindale Cardinals volunteers before moving on to the Ontario Terriers with Erindale alum Danny Thompson.

Godin’s No. 50 hangs from the outfield fence on the Cardinals Wall of Fame at Greg Cranker Field at 9th Line in Mississauga.

Starting in the Erindale Little League, he played all the way up to junior and senior, winning three OBA titles as a player. Godin coached with Cranker and along with Tim Gasparotto ran the successful Erindale golf tournament for over 15 years.

Godin was the assistant general manager of the Ontario Youth Team, under the late John Jepson that won the 2008 Canada Cup championship in Medicine Hat, Alta., beating British Columbia 8-6. Godin and Jepson were a solid 1-2 punch and the organized a lot of events between the Terriers and the Jepson’s Toronto Mets.

He became the Terriers GM from 2008 to 2011 and coaches said his meticulous attention to detail and organizational qualities helped make baseball operations run smoothly for all the coaches and players. His portfolio included banking, a mountain of other paperwork, in addition to booking buses, flights, hotels and meals for tournaments south of the border.

Under Godin’s watch the Terriers won 10 championships at various age levels.

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Services will be at Glen Oaks Funeral Home (3164 Ninth Line, Oakville, Ont.) across the road and the parking lot away from where Godin’s No. 50 hangs at Greg Cranker Field.

Godin was a man with a huge baseball-shaped heart who will be missed, but will be keeping an eye on his former charges.

Visitation Glen Oaks Funeral Home will be: Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 from 4-8 p.m.

(Up to 16 immediate family arrive 3-to-4 p.m. for private time)

Up to 10 family then stay throughout visitation and four guests will rotate beginning at 4 p.m. every 10 minutes. Reservation online will be required for all, except the 10 immediate family that stay throughout, and the extra six family from 3-4 p.m. To Register …..

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“Let’s keep Marc in our thoughts for a few days.” _ Greg Cranker.

“Prayers up to the family. Great Cardinal and Terrier memories. Rest well fella ... you were a beauty.” _ Dave teBoekhorst.

“I’m just gutted hearing of Marc’s passing, he was one of the greatest guys. I will miss him.” _ Steven Kaszycki.

“Good friend growing up! Good teammate on the field! Good supporter in the business world and would help anyone he could! He will be missed.” _ Ed Stodulski

Marc was all class. A genuine nice guy who would go out of his way to help. A great sense of humour and always a wry smile on his face. He was a great team-mate, classmate at Woodlands and friend to so many. He will be missed.

Glad to hear some of the guys are able to get together to pay their respects. I am out of town today, but I'll be sure to raise a glass to remember Marc.” _ Greg Zaritzky