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Baseball Day In Oshawa 2022 was a HUGE HIT

By Admin, 06/19/22, 10:30AM EDT

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Baseball Day in Oshawa started shortly after 8 am with the Minor Tyke/Tyke Mini-tournament. There were three games running at the same time on the Kinsmen Stadium field.

Once the games were completed, there was a free BBQ for all Minor Tyke/Tyke players and coaches.

12:45 pm — Ceremonial first pitch Oshawa Deputy Mayor Bob Chapman, Legion Colour guard and pipes. 

Special National Anthem singer — Brody Nicholson,  10U AAA rep player

1 pm and 4 pm — 2022 Showcase Games. Oshawa Legionaires 16U DH Showcase with a special umpire, 87-year-old Baseball Oshawa Wall of Fame member Jim Lutton. Mr. Lutton umpired the whole game and had to make a few close calls at First Base.

At the end of the third inning, the young ball players were invited to run the bases. It was one of the highlights and capped a great day for the Tykes.

At 8:30 we hosted the BDIO Select Game under the lights. The 11U Selects played Pickering at KInsmen Stadium!

A lifelong resident of Oshawa, known as Mr. Baseball, Jim has been the face of Oshawa baseball for over 60 years.  

As General Manager of the Oshawa Junior Legionaires, Jim enjoyed much success during his 57 years at the helm of the ball club.  

His teams captured numerous titles in the prestigious Leaside Metro Junior League, and have been crowned Ontario Baseball Champions on 6 occasions including an impressive 4 titles plus 2 runners-up finishes between 1999 and 2008.  

They also represented Oshawa and Ontario in 4 Canadian Baseball National Championships.  Jim has been an executive member with the Oshawa Legion Minor Baseball Association (OLMBA), Eastern Ontario Baseball Association (EOBA) and Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) where he has also served as President of each these Associations.  

For 11 years, Jim was a Major League Scout with the Montreal Expos.  Bestowed with many awards, Jim has been named an Honorary and Life member of the OLMBA, EOBA and Baseball Ontario. 

He was honoured with the Royal Canadian Legion Meritorious Life Member Award in 1986.

His dedication to baseball in Oshawa led to the City of Oshawa naming Lakeview Park #1 after Jim in 2012. Now aptly known as Jim Lutton Legion Field.

His contributions also earned him a richly deserved spot in the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. He was inducted into the Baseball Ontario Hall of Fame in 2017.

His #13 was officially retired in 2001.