Builders
Zimmer, Joe
(1918 – 1981)
SPORT | Minor Baseball
POSITION | Executive Member, Coach
YEAR OF INDUCTION | 1984
Joe worked tirelessly for Chatham Minor Baseball, Western Counties Baseball, Ontario Baseball, and the Canadian Federation of Baseball, putting in a total of over 30 years beginning in 1946. At one time or another, he served as president of the first 3 associations and represented Ontario in the Canadian Federation of Baseball. Joe also found time to successfully coach the Chatham Midgets in numerous championships throughout the province.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Career
1946 – one of the founders of the Chatham Minor Baseball Association
1946-1954 – convenor of the Chatham bantam houseleague
1955 – became convenor of the Chatham midget houseleague and coach of the Chatham Midget Travel team
1955 – coached Chatham midgets to the first of nine consecutive Western Counties Baseball Association Championships
1955 – coached Chatham midgets to the first of five consecutive Ontario Baseball Association Championships
1962-1978 – executive member of Western Counties Baseball Association
1963 – president of Western Counties Baseball Association
1965-1978 – executive member of Ontario Baseball Association for fourteen years
1968 – chairman for the OBA Convention hosted by Chatham Minor Baseball
1971 & 1972 – president of the Ontario Baseball Association
1972-1976 – represented the Ontario Baseball Association on the Canadian Federation of Baseball
Awards & Recognitions
1970 – received the Service to Mankind Award from the Chatham Sertoma Club for his dedication to his community through his work in minor baseball
1971 – received the La Sertoma Youth Service Award for his work in minor baseball
1975 – received a Special Achievement Award from the Ontario Government in recognition of a distinguished contribution to the field of fitness and amateur sport
Joe died at age 63 in Chatham on June 3, 1981.