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Builders

Day, Ross

 (1928 – 1996)

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SPORT | Minor Baseball

POSITION | Executive Member, Coach

YEAR OF INDUCTION | 2009

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
In 1947 Ross, Doug Allin, and Joe Zimmer founded Chatham Minor Baseball Association. With help from Sid Clunis and Joe Carpenter, they enlisted the Kinsmen Club as a sponsor and talked Al Shakleton into being the first president of CMBA. In very short order, this organization became one of the top minor baseball associations in Ontario. As an executive member, Ross was involved in all aspects of the organization but took a very active part in the fundraising and coaching aspects.



For 30 years he ran the bantam house league at Stirling Park, performing virtually all of the required duties from organizing the teams, score-keeping, umpiring, and grounds-keeping. In addition, with the help of Casey Maynard, Don Hinnegan, Bill Swift, and Jack Paul, Ross coached the bantam All Star teams every year. The 1950’s and 60’s were the glory years for Chatham baseball teams as they captured numerous Ontario Championships and became the envy of other provincial organizations. During those years, the bantam teams won 5 OBA Championships under coach Day.



Ross not only taught his players baseball skills, he taught them to be gentlemen and to respect themselves and their opponents. He believed that every boy had the right to play and, without fanfare, personally financed many individuals whose families were unable to pay their way.



He passed away in 1996 from a stroke at the age of 68. Never having married, Ross had devoted his life, outside of work, to his players and to their well-being. He is remembered fondly by those who came in contact with him.​

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