The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame announced last week that Jim Baba, a longtime architect of the sport’s development in this country, will be inducted into its Class of 2026.
Baba’s involvement with baseball spans more than three decades, beginning as a coach and manager before he moved into executive leadership roles that shaped the Canadian baseball landscape.
He guided the Canadian men’s national team to gold‑medal victories at the 2011 and 2015 Pan American Games and served as a WBSC technical official at 25 international events between 2002 and 2021.
Technical Leadership
At the time of his passing on 12 September 2025, Baba was serving as Chairman of the WBSC Technical Commission, a role in which he championed the advancement of officiating standards and promoted the growth of women’s baseball worldwide.
Advocacy and Legacy
His advocacy for gender equity helped pave the way for Lisa Turbitt to become the first woman to join the WBSC Baseball Umpire Commission in 2016, and later the first female umpire to officiate at a World Baseball Classic Qualifier in 2022.
Colleagues and athletes alike remember Baba for his teamwork, relentless work ethic, and unwavering commitment to the sport, qualities that defined his career until the very end.