Jim Ridley * - Builder (Baseball) - Class of 2019
While continuing to play in the Intercounty Baseball League, Jim launched his storied coaching and scouting career. He began as a part-time scout with the Detroit Tigers, before quickly joining the Toronto Blue Jays in 1976 to run the club’s very first tryout camp in Utica, New York.
Jim was the driving force behind the decisions to sign Canadians like Paul Spoljaric, Rob Butler and David Corrente. Jim also served as a coach with the Jays’ affiliate in Medicine Hat from 1978 to 1980.
Jim led the Canadian Junior National Team from 1983 to 1988 guiding them to two bronze medals at the World Junior Championships. He also coached the Canadian Olympic baseball team in 1988 and three years later he managed the Canadian squad at the Pan Am Games.
After 26 years as a scout with the Blue Jays, Jim joined the Minnesota Twins in 2003 in a similar role.
Jim passed away in 2008 and was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.