November 24, 2023

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Baseball Canada’s Greg Hamilton was inducted into the Baseball Ontario Hall of Fame Saturday night at the annual general meetings in Guelph.

So, I guess I missed his acceptance speech.

So probably missed him sticking out his chest to talk about the Baseball America Tony Gwynn Award ... with hundreds of comments from players and families past and present who took the time to congratulate him.

Or maybe the 2012 Baseball Canada Fundraiser when alumni presented Hamilton with a Rolex.

Or boasting about being already inducted into the Peterborough Hall of Fame.

And bragging about having the home field of the Montpelier Barracudas in France named after him. He had been their former coach. No one knew about the dedication for a couple of years.

Nope ... Hamilton didn’t speak about the Peterborough Hall, the ball diamond in France, the highest honour the most respected magazine gives out to a coach or executive or his watch. Hamilton could play a round of golf and maybe shoot six hole-in-ones and never mention. it

The man is humble with a capital H. He is never the story. His players are.

He would never be mistaken for Simba atop a cliff in The Lion King. He would bite his tongue even if he saw a big leaguer hit three dozen balls into the upper deck at Rogers Centre at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Hamilton accepted his honour, posed for a quick picture and headed back to his table.

That’s the way the man is ... if they had given him 10 minutes to speak, he would have passed. If they had tied one arm behind his back and forced him to speak he likely would have explained to young players “how everyone is not the same size, but ... youngsters grow at different rates.”

I happened to be in Moncton, NB watching eldest grandson win MVP honours for Dieppe Flyers at Monctonian hockey tourney in 15U division ... but that is another story ... TSN will have highlights no doubt.

* * *

The other inductees ...

Len Andrews (1920-2006)

Andrews ran the Campbellville Merchants which won 11 consecutive Halton County league titles and 12 Ontario Championship titles between 1952-1967, an amazing feat for a hamlet of 300 at the time. He was a past president of OBA and an honorary life member. A veteran of World War II, he was a Lieutenant in 22nd Canadian Armored Regiment, Canadian Grenadier Guards. Andrews passed at age 85 in Hamilton, Leonard Andrews at the age of 85. He was wed for 64 years to June (nee Hall). He graduated from of University of Toronto Schools in 1938 and Trinity College, U of Toronto in 1942. He was a past master of Campbellville Lodge #603, past district secretary of Hamilton District A and owner of Cambay Stables.

Former New York Yankee and Pittsburgh Pirate OF Frank Colman (London, Ont.) was inducted in the OBA HOF. He passed away in 1983. The award was accepted by a family member. Photo: Baseball Ontario

Frank Colman (London, Ont.)

He won the Intercounty League’s batting crown and MVP leading his hometown London Majors to a championship in 1936. He was signed by Toronto Maple Leafs in 1941. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates for five seasons and two with the New York Yankees appearing in 271 games. In the minors he had stops with the class-C Cornwall Maple Leafs, class-D Batavia Clippers, class-B Wilmington Blue Rocks and the double-A Toronto Maple Leafs (1941-42) and triple-A Maple Leafs (1943, 1951-53), triple-A Newark Bears and triple-A Seattle Rainers. He was a player-coach his final three years with the Maple Leafs, as he was with the Majors in 1954. In 1955, he co-founded London’s Eager Beaver Baseball Association, a respected minor ball organization.

Troy May (1966-2006)

He started his coaching career in Oshawa with the Junior Legionnaires in 1994, coaching for eight seasons, winning the Junior elimination tournament in 1999, and becoming the first junior team in Oshawa’s history to attend the Canadian National Championship. May’s dream eventually grew to include being owner and field manager of an IBL team when he was awarded the Oshawa Dodgers in 2001 and started playing the following year. May served as president of OLMBA and EOBA. He coached his sons’ mosquito and rookie ball teams and started the first rookie ball program with OLMBA. He found time to umpire as a level 4 umpire in his spare time. He passed away on July 19, 2006 in Cambridge Memorial Hospital, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident, ironically traveling from one ball game to another. By night he was at a ball field, while by day he ran Durham Sports Wholesale in Oshawa and would often say to a coach, who was already over budget “ah, pay me at the end of the season.”

Rob Thomson (Sarnia, Ont.) manager Philadelphia Phillies.

Thomson grew up in Corunna and was a standout for the IBL’s Stratford Hillers in the early ’80s. In 1984, Thomson was part of the first Canadian team to compete in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 32nd round of the 1985 draft. He played for the rookie-class Bristol Tigers, class-A Gastonia Jets and class-A Lakeland Tigers for four seasons. He earned five World Series rings with the New York Yankees as a coach and minor league field co-ordinator. He then moved the Phillies.

* * *

Award Winners

Players

Rep Pitcher of the Year 13U below – Leyton Fleguel, Welland.

In the first game of the provincial championships, he pitched a perfect four innings ... 12 up 12 down. During the season, he had four shutouts, went 8-0 and an ERA of 1.81. His strike ratio is almost 80% with 870 pitches thrown this year. He received three MVP awards during tournaments in 2023. Not only were his pitching stats awesome, but he batted leadoff and hit two home runs during their tournament in Saugeen Shores.

Rep Pitcher of the Year 14U above – Mitchell Sills, Quinte Royals.

Three times he hit double-digit strike outs and fanned 82 in 50 innings with an ERA of 1.68. He also had many multi-hit games and led in nearly every stat category on his team. He started the season hitting in the No. 2 spot but stepped up in a big way during provincials where he was moved into the leadoff spot. He helped the team become provincial champs.

Rep Player of the Year 13U; Below – Westin Merrit, Stouffville.

In his first year of triple-A ball, he had six home runs, knocked in 62 runs and stole 29 bases in 68 games. On the mound, he fanned 109. He was added to the Ontario team for the 13U Nationals at Woodstock, Ont. At the eliminations, he hit two of his six home runs, and hit a walk-off home run to pave the way for the championships.

Rep Player of the Year 14U above – Cameron Tully, Mississauga Majors.

In 61 games, he had eight home runs, drove in 79 runs and stole 15 bases. He helped his team become the 15U elimination champs, finish first in the EBLO, win the provincial champions and attended the 15U Nationals. His team went 52-11, as he contributed from the mound as well.

Select Player of the Year 13U, below – Zach Mosek, Vaughan Vikings.

He averaged 12.85 pitches an inning -- Hall of Famer Whitey Ford used to say a pitcher’s magic number of pitches per ining was: 14.

Rep Team of the Year – Mississauga Majors 15U

With over two years of hard work, they captured the ultimate prize “winning the eliminations” and “representing Ontario at the nationals.” They won the eliminations, went to the nationals and became provincial champs on Labour Day weekend, finishing with a 52-11 record.

Select Team of the Year – Sault Ste. Marie 9U Dedicated Select

The Soo went undefeated in tournament play and capped their season with a very exciting provincial championship win. With 1,339 at-bats, coach Jason Rooley’s team had a batting average of .809.

Coaches

Rep Coach of the Year 13U _ Mike Tilson, North York Blues.

His team went 45-5-1, including tournaments.

Rep Coach of the Year 14U above – Bob Neck, Peterborough Tigers.

The Tigers had a winning record, was an elimination finalist and an OBA finalist.

Select Coach of the Year – Trevor Clement, Barrie Baycats.

The team won the York-Simcoe loop championships and advanced to OBA provincials.

Umpires

Dick Willis Junior Umpire of The Year – Fernando Levert

In his first year of umpiring, he worked 30 games at the rep level between 8U and 11U. He always made sure that coaches from both teams shook the umpires hands after the game, not just the winning team.

Dick Willis Senior Umpire of The Year – Francesco Di Biase

He took over as co-umpire-in-chief and helped run a smooth and tight ship. He had the plate in the Gold Medal game at the senior provincial championships. He completed approximately 200 games this past summer.

R. Jack Middlemasss Memorial Award for provincial Volunteer of the Year

Adam Wolfe, Mitchell.

As a coach with three different teams, the president of the local association, an umpire assigner, a convenor of multiple divisions, and much more, he is not shy to get involved in all aspects of the association. He is involved trying to build the newest diamond and is very involved in fund raising. He began coaching 24 years ago when he finished playing ball and coached for 10 years before his son even started playing. For the past 15 years, he has convened a minimum of two tournaments a year.

Don McKnight Memorial Award for Affiliate Volunteers of the Year

Tina Turner, Brampton.

Known as their “Rock,” Turner took on the mountain of a task of being vice-president of house league for 2023 season. With 59 teams at the local house league, Turner had to oversee seven convenors and age series, as well as work with the vice-president of scheduling to set regular season, tournament and playoff schedules. This volunteer does not have any children playing house league. Both of their kids played rep and Turner manages both of those teams.

Daryl Macklem, Oshawa

Macklem took on the role of head coach role of an 11U team and he was head coach of the fall ball team. He was also vice-president of the local association.

David Ramsdale, London, Ont.

In 1996, he became the rep/umpire assignor and set up the umpire clinics and filled in when there were last minute cancels. He was president of the association from 1998 to 2001 and has coached for over 30 years. Also, he has been the treasurer of their affiliate since 2009 and has coached at four different nationals.

Michael Alderton, Niagara District.

He gives his time to support and mentor those who are new to umpiring and returning umpires. He is also the umpire in chief for the affiliate. He schedules umpires, organizes umpire camps, and assists with registration.

Adrienne Reddecopp, Simcoe.

On a tournament weekends you will find Reddecopp at the diamond before anyone else making sure everything is in order for the day. During games, duties include scorekeeping and pitch count duties. Has served as the vice president since 2020.

Jamie Kell, Tecumseh.

He took the lead on a successful application to host the nationals in 2024, which includes upgrading funding opportunities to improve the home diamond, applied and received grants for upgrades, and renovations to diamonds. And oh yes, he manages a senior team. He serves as association president.

Mike Klein, Walkerton.

Without any children playing in the program, Klein became a force. He provides them administrative support, coaches and is the umpire-in-chief, webmaster, registrar and president. He introduced a girls 9U program with two full teams participating in the house league system.

Michael Sheinfeld, Vaughan.

Sheinfeld wears many hats within the local organization including, vice-president/director of house league ball and has been for the past six years, assistant coach for an 18U team this year. Also in the portfolio means managing Team snap, social media platforms, a bi-weekly newsletter, and is an active umpire who regularly works rep, select and house league games and tournaments in the association.

Former OBA players of the year:

Year Junior and Senior Players of the Year

1994 Chris Green, Mike Kusiewicz

1995 Paul Brown, Shawn Pearson

1996 Dan Hansen, Doug Vandecaveye

1997 Scott Thorman, Jason Mandryk

1998 Bradley Gould, Patrick Nailer

1999 Chris Emanuele, Tanner Watson

2000 Derek Lowe, BJ Richardson

2001 Dan Zehr, Chris Robinson

2002 Kate Psota, Jamie Romak

2003 Ian Choy, Cherie Piper

2004 Trevor Barton, Davey Wallace

2005 Cain Monaghan, Kevin Long

2006 Tanner Nivins, Greg Densem

2007 McCalla Sturgeon, Robert Cooper

2008 Geoffrey Seto, Larry Balkwill

2009 Nicholas Dimpfel, Ryan Zimmer

2010 Josh Naylor, Jake Lumley

2011 Connor May, Byron Reichstein

2012 Jason Stott, Matt Smith

2013 Noah Naylor, Justin Gideon

2014 Noah Roberts, Zachary Fascia

2015 Colin Mandarich, Jake Brennan

2016 Joe Kuin, Tyrell Schofield-Sam

2017 Carson Lumley, Josh Arce

2018 Brett Talbot, Carter Arbuthnot

2019 Jorja Sandilands, Scott Austin

2020 COVID

2021 Markus Woodley, Ryan McGivney

2022 Clive O’Brien, Darian Barnes

2023 Westin Merrit, Cameron Tully

(Major-league service time players listed in bold.)