Toronto Sun columnist and Canadian Baseball legend Bob Elliott recently released his year-end list of the top 100 most influential Canadians in Baseball. Among the individuals recognized were plenty of household names including Major League executives, players, scouts and Hall of Famers. For the second straight year, Durham College head coach Sam Dempster made the list as he was recognized for his contributions and achievements in baseball.

In 2012, Dempster led the Lords to a final four appearance at the CIBA National Championship for the fourth straight season. Dempster has compiled 314 wins in 21 seasons as head coach of the Lords, including winning a national title in 2011.

Dempster is also the head coach of the Great Britain National team that participated in the World Baseball Classic qualifying round in Regensburg, Germany this past September. The team also returned to the European Championship which took place in the Netherlands.

Dempster was the recipient of the 2011 European Baseball Coaches Association Career Achievement Award, which was presented in Prague. The award was presented to Dempster for his dedication in helping to grow baseball in Europe after being an MLB Envoy Coach in European countries for over 10 years, working at the grass roots level as well as with elite players. Dempster was inducted into the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

Paul Beeston, President and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays, earned top spot in the national poll for the third time in five years.

To view the complete list of the top 100 most influential Canadians in baseball, visit:

http://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/articles/2012-most-influential-canadians-in-baseball/

——-

Bob Elliott was the recipient of the Taylor Spink Award in 2012, which was presented by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America “for meritorious contributions to baseball writing” in Cooperstown at the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College & UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca