Also going in with the Class of 2017 is former long-serving Baseball sa国际传媒 president Ray Carter of Nanaimo and the upstart 2015 Pan American Games gold-medallist Canadian team, which included infielder Jesse Hodges of Victoria.
Headlining the Class of 2017 is former Toronto Blue Jays pitching ace Roy Halladay and former Montreal Expos slugger and four-time NL all-star Vladimir Guerrero.
The 21st induction ceremonies take place June 23 in St. Mary鈥檚.
Hudlin, who umpired a generation of Island ball players over four decades, died in 2014 at age 91. He umpired twice at the Little League World Series in 1967 and 1974, the latter also the year Esquimalt-Vic West represented sa国际传媒, and also twice at the Senior Little League World Series in Gary, Indiana.
Hudlin, with his gentle manner, was known for his empathy toward the young players he umpired.
鈥淚n Little League, you鈥檙e the umpire and the coach at the same time,鈥� he once said.
鈥淵ou help and guide youngsters along . . . that鈥檚 part of an umpire鈥檚 job at that level.鈥�
That humanity stretched to the stands.
He would often turn to the mothers of players he had called out, and ask: 鈥淒o you still love me?鈥�
They all still did.
Hudlin once said his greatest thrill in later years was being stopped all over Greater Victoria and asked by people: 鈥淒o you remember me? You used to umpire my games at National Little League, American Little League, Babe Ruth or wherever.鈥�
Nanaimo鈥檚 Carter, meanwhile, was president of Baseball sa国际传媒 from 2000 to 2016 during a time of great innovation and success. He helped establish the Canadian women鈥檚 national team in 2004, now ranked No. 2 in the world, and Challenger Baseball for kids with disabilities.
Under Carter鈥檚 reign, sa国际传媒 won men鈥檚 gold at both the 2011 Guadalajara and 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games and won 11 other international medals.
鈥淩ay Carter was one of the greatest leaders of Canadian baseball,鈥� said Jim Swanson, managing partner of the Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast League.
鈥淗e took Baseball sa国际传媒 from next to nothing to one of the most powerful baseball organizations on the international scene.鈥�
Carter was also president of Baseball sa国际传媒 for eight years and sa国际传媒 Minor Baseball for two years before stepping up into his national role.
鈥淚鈥檓 deeply honoured to be elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame,鈥� said Carter, in a statement.
鈥淭o be inducted with Roy Halladay, Vladimir Guerrero, Doug Hudlin and the Canadian 2015 Pan Am gold medal team is indeed special.鈥�
About Halladay, Swanson said: 鈥淗e might be the greatest pitcher the Blue Jays ever had, even though he did not win a World Series. I think it鈥檚 great that the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame enshrines non-Canadian pros like Halladay and Guerrero who played and contributed here.鈥�
