James Douglas “Doug” Hudlin (1922–2014)
Image courtesy of Barbara Hudlin.
The Alexander family have been playing baseball for decades. Brothers, cousins and nephews all played for the “Brown Bombers“, including Doug Hudlin.
Doug became known as the “Gentleman Umpire”. He worked the Canada Little League Championships five times (1966-67, 1973, 1981, 1987), the Senior Little League World Series in Gary, Indiana twice (1968, 1974) and the B.C. Summer Games in 1988.
As well, Doug was the first non-American umpire invited to work the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., in 1967. Seven years later, he returned to umpire the event, making him the first international umpire ever to umpire at two Little League World Series games. He was a founder and served as first president of the B.C. Baseball Umpires Association, a position he held from 1974 to 1979.
To honour his legacy, the B.C. Baseball Umpires Association presents the “Doug Hudlin Distinguished Service Award” each year to a dedicated and long-serving umpire in the province.
Doug also served as an umpire in the National Little League for over 40 years. To honour this service each year Doug’s niece, Barbara Hudlin, presents the “Doug Hudlin Award” to a junior umpire “who is never late, never misses a shift, and deemed by their peers and the league to always be professional and respectful to players, fans, and coaches.”
Beginning in 2018, “Doug Hudlin Day” is celebrated each year in June in Victoria with a charity baseball game to support “Step Up to the Plate” a program of sports for children who do not have the financial means to participate. This program is supported solely by funds raised at the charity game and by the Hudlin Family.