Moose Jaw’s Jim Baba is stepping aside as Baseball Canada’s executive director, a position that he’s held for 21 years. 

Baba’s involvement with Baseball Canada dates back to 1990 as a guest coach for the men’s national team. He would go on to become head coach of the team from 1993-1998, 2003, and 2005. 

Baba was the executive director of Baseball Saskatchewan in 2000 but moved on to become the manager of baseball operations for Baseball Canada. He would move on to the role of executive director shortly afterward. 

Under Baba, national teams qualified for the Olympics in 2004 and 2008, and a women’s national program was created in 2004 that currently sits No. 2 in the world. The men’s national team also won gold medals in 2011 and 2015 at the Pan-Am Games under Baba. 

Baba was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009 and he was inducted into the Moose Jaw Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. 

Baseball Canada says a search for Baba’s replacement will begin shortly as he will be transitioning into retirement by the end of the year.