OTTAWA – Baseball Canada is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Jim Baba, longtime Executive Director and one of the most respected and influential leaders in Canadian baseball history.
Jim, who was 69 at the time of his passing, dedicated his life to the growth and development of baseball in Canada, serving as Executive Director of Baseball Canada from 2000 to 2021. Over his 20-plus year tenure, he guided the organization through a period of significant evolution – strengthening domestic programming, advancing high-performance development, and helping Baseball Canada earn a strong international reputation.
A native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Jim began 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, where he laid the groundwork for coach and player development and grassroots growth in the province.
Jim’s passion was coaching and his impact was felt throughout Saskatchewan, delivering numerous National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) courses each year while also coaching on the provincial stage.
Baseball Canada soon brought Baba 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 moved his family from Saskatchewan to the national capital in Ottawa becoming Baseball Canada’s Manager of Baseball Operations before transitioning to Executive Director until his retirement in 2021.
During his time as Executive Director, Jim’s achievements included:
- Leading Canada through Olympic (2004 and 2008) and World Baseball Classic (2006, 2009, 2013, 2017) cycles.
- Supporting gold-medal wins at the 2011 and 2015 Pan American Games.
- Overseeing national programming like Rally Cap, Girls Baseball, Winterball, and Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD).
- Building strong relationships with Major League Baseball, Sport Canada, and international federations such as the IBAF and WBSC.
- Advancing coach education, safe sport, and governance modernization across all levels.
“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, traveled 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.”
Jim’s impact on baseball was felt throughout the world, serving as a technical official for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), working numerous international events including Olympic qualifiers, Pan American Games, the U18 Baseball World Cup, the Women’s Baseball World Cup, and the World Baseball Classic. He traveled the world delivering technical official education programs on behalf of the WBSC, further contributing to the global development of the game.
Jim was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008 and is also a member of the Moose Jaw and District Sports Hall of Fame.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife Penny, and their children Jamie, Mitch, and Melani. He was a proud grandfather to five grandchildren, who brought him endless joy.
Baseball Canada extends its deepest condolences to Jim’s family, friends, colleagues, and the broader Canadian baseball community.
Contact:
Adam Morissette
Baseball Canada
613-748-5606 (office)
613-862-0256 (mobile)