Hall Calls for Baba

There are few people who have had a greater impact on the game of baseball in Canada than the late Jim Baba.

But it wasn’t just what he accomplished as a coach and longtime executive, it was how he went about doing it.

He carried the same passion and unwavering national pride into everything he did, whether it was leading a grassroots initiative to grow the game across the country or supporting Canada’s teams at the World Baseball Classic.

A Friend and Mentor

Only one other person had ever represented the World Baseball Softball Confederation at the WBC finals besides our late WBSC Baseball Technical Commission Chair, Jim Baba. And now it was Shari Reiniger standing there in his place. Just like working as an International Baseball Technical Commissioner at the Tokyo Olympics, and being the first woman to do that, the moment was not lost on her.

Honouring the Ultimate Builder

The Canadian Baseball Network’s Lifetime Builder Award is being named after the ultimate builder of baseball in Canada.

Moose Jaw’s Jim Baba, who passed away in late 2025, has been recognized as the winner for 2026.

Baseball Sask’s Greg Brons shares a few words about his friend, colleague and mentor.

A Hall of Fame Builder

It seems everyone involved in Canadian baseball has a Jim Baba story.

J.P. Antonacci of Canadian Baseball Network takes a look at a few as Baba was named to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

Baba Gets Call to the Hall

Two former Edmonton players and a baseball builder from Moose Jaw are part of the 2026 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame class.

The organization, based in St. Marys, Ontario, unveiled the class of six new inductees on Feb. 5th. Among the honourees are former Toronto Blue Jays centre fielder Devon White; St. Louis Cardinals first base coach Stubby Clapp; long-serving Baseball Canada executive director Jim Baba; Women’s National Team alum Kate Psota; Montreal Expos stalwart Bill Stoneman; and former Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire Paul Runge.

Remembering Jim Baba

He was a Canadian baseball giant.

Jim Baba had a profound impact on the game across Canada and around the globe, regarded as a well-respected and influential leader who served in a variety of roles including executive director of Baseball Canada from 2000 to 2021.

Baba recently passed away at the age of 69 following a long battle with blood cancer, resulting in a tidal wave of tributes from across the baseball world.