DOUG SUTTON: Local baseball community leader died Monday after battle with cancer.
Thornhill
October 02, 2008 10:23 PM
John Cudmore
Many baseball players in York Region and Simcoe County communities may have never heard of Doug Sutton.
But he knew them.
As registrar for the York Simcoe Baseball Association for nearly two decades, it was Mr. Sutton's responsibility to approve the playing status of every player before he or she stepped on a field.
In some ways, the Thornhill resident was the backbone to baseball in the association.
A longtime volunteer for the Thornhill Baseball Club and YSBA, Mr. Sutton, whose given names were David Michael Edward, died Monday at Hill House Hospice following a battle with cancer. He was 66.
'We'll all miss Doug for the joy that he brought all of us and to the game of baseball. He will be deeply missed.'
John Milton
York Simcoe Baseball Association
“Doug was a great friend to all of us and to the game," association secretary John Milton said in a written statement. “We'll all miss Doug for the joy that he brought all of us and to the game of baseball. He will be deeply missed.”
Even though Mr. Sutton had not been active on the TBC executive in recent seasons, he was more than an interested bystander, often spending hours at Bishop's Cross Park, a few blocks from his home.
“Every year, at the end of the season, he'd still be out there helping line fields or whatever,”Thornhill president Alan Reisler said. “I don't think he was a big Blue Jays fan. He would rather sit in the park and watch a game.”
Reisler recalled his neighbour and long-time friend as a man of principle with great conviction and the ability to make tough calls.
“Everything with Doug was black and white,” Reisler said. “There was never any grey area. He would make a call on something and stick by it.”
Len Silver counted Mr. Sutton as a friend since they met on the ball diamonds more than 20 years ago at their sons' games. Both men went on to serve the Thornhill and York Simcoe programs in varying capacities as baseball cemented their friendship.
“I remember we'd go to Bishop's Cross every Saturday night and throw balls to our kids,” recalled Mr. Silver, who also has served on the York executive for several years.
Baseball Ontario president Don McKnight of Newmarket recalled Mr. Sutton as a diligent worker who helped streamline one of the most difficult and controversial areas of the sport.
“I think he would be the best registrar in Ontario,” McKnight said. “Nothing got by him. He made sure everything was right.
“He was a good friend and did a lot of work for York Simcoe. I don't know where they will find another registrar who is as diligent as Doug.”
Mr. Sutton is survived by his wife, Marlyn (Bobbee), children Michele (Steven Poyner) and Paul (Mary), brothers Gregory (Liz) and Christopher, sister Lynda and two grandchildren.
A funeral service is tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the chapel at the R.S. Kane Funeral Home at 6150 Yonge Street, at Goulding Avenue, south of Steeles Avenue.