Sport: Minor Baseball
Position: Executive Member, Administrator, Coach
Year of Induction: 2003

In 1946 Doug was one of the original organizers of the Chatham Minor Baseball Association and for the next 25 years sat on the executive, ran leagues, and coached travel teams. Doug’s teams were very successful winning many Western Counties Championships and eight Ontario Championships. He also found time to coach tennis and girls’ basketball as well as referee basketball in the late 1940’s. Doug was also involved in politics, serving 10 years as city alderman and 6 as mayor of Chatham. Over the years he has received numerous awards of recognition for his contributions to his community.

Chatham Minor Baseball

• 1946 – one of original organizers of CMBA and over the years held every executive position including president of Minor Baseball
• Began coaching bantams at Stirling Park
• 1951 – 1968 – moved to Kinsmen Park and ran pee wee baseball program, organizing leagues and tournaments and coaching travel teams
• 1957 – 1968 – won 12 consecutive Western Counties Baseball Association Pee Wee Championships
• 1957 – coached first of 5 consecutive Ontario Pee Wee “AAA” Championship teams and then in 1965 won a sixth Ontario Pee Wee Championship
• 1969 – 1971 – coached juvenile travel teams to two Ontario Championships and one runner-up finish

Other Activities

• 1939 – coached junior tennis at age 16
• 1946 – 1953 – coached girls’ basketball winning 6 county championships
• 1946 – 1950 – refereed basketball in Industrial, Girls’, and Men’s Leagues
• 1949 – 1951 – with no outside financial assistance coming into Chatham Minor Baseball, convened fundraisers in order for it to function

Chatham Sports Hall of Fame

• 1984 – called first meeting of Chatham Sports Hall of Fame, was named chairman, and served for 3 years – since the resurrection of the Hall in 1998 until his death, served on the new Board of Directors

Awards & Recognitions

• 1959 – Coach of the year for Chatham Sports
• 1962 – Made an Honorary Kinsmen for Contribution to Amateur Sports
• 1966 – Received Provincial Award for Contribution to Amateur Sports
• Received Sertoma Club “Service to Mankind Award” for Contribution to Amateur Sports
• 1974 – Received Humanitarian Award from congregation of A.M.E. Church for Contribution to Amateur Sports
• 1977 & 2002 – Received Queen’s Medal for Service to Country and Municipality including sports
• 1980 – Received Royal Canadian Legion Certificate of Merit for Contribution to Amateur Sports
• 1978 – Tennis courts by John McGregor S.S. named after him by City of Chatham in recognition of his contribution to sports