Bob Burns, a long-time umpire in Estevan who was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, has died. He was 89.
Burns was born in 1930 on the family homestead in Flintoft District, Saskatchewan. He bought and sold grain in the early 1950s and worked in sales for a vehicle dealership and in retail. He also drove a taxi cab for 10 years.
During this time, he pursued his passion in sports, coaching hockey and baseball, enjoying many successes.
But he became best known in the sports community for his work in baseball.
Known as “The Ump” in the community, he officiated baseball, fastball and softball games throughout southern Saskatchewan well into his 80s. During his time as an umpire, he called numerous provincial and Western Canadian games.
“His fairness and quick comments endeared him to both players and fans,” his obituary stated. “He was instrumental in developing programs to train young officials and was inspirational to all (in) the sport of baseball.”
Burns spent more than 60 years as an umpire, and was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. Back pain forced him to step away from umpiring in 2013, but he continued to be a mentor and a coach for young umpires in the southeast.
He was the umpire-in-chief for Estevan Minor Baseball and the Zone 1 representative for officials with Baseball Saskatchewan from 1993-2015, which he retired from baseball.
Burns helped organize annual clinics in Estevan and other communities to make sure officials were trained and certified. He was also tasked with scheduling officials for Estevan Minor Baseball.
A celebration of life was held May 26 at 1 on Bob Burns Field at Cactus Park in Estevan.
