Joey Votto

Joey Votto’s journey from the fields of Connorvale Park in Etobicoke to becoming one of the most celebrated baseball players in the Major Leagues is a testament to his unparalleled work ethic, unwavering determination, and profound talent.

Born and raised in Etobicoke to parents Joseph and Wendy, Votto’s passion for baseball was ignited at a young age when he first picked up a bat given to him by his parents. His dedication to the sport was evident early on as he spent countless hours honing his skills, whether it was through games of catch with his father or relentless practice sessions at the batting cage.

Votto’s talent and work ethic caught the attention of coaches and mentors throughout his youth, including Bob Smyth of the Etobicoke Rangers and Stath Koumoutseas of Richview Collegiate Institute. Despite initially being overlooked in the MLB draft during his senior year of high school, Votto’s decision to join the Etobicoke Rangers proved pivotal as he continued to develop his game under Smyth’s guidance.

Through perseverance and determination, Votto eventually caught the eye of major league scouts, leading to his selection by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 2002 MLB draft. From there, Votto’s ascent through the minor leagues was marked by consistent excellence, culminating in his major league debut with the Reds in 2007.

Throughout his career, Votto has garnered numerous accolades and achievements, including being named the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 2010. His remarkable skill set, characterized by a quick and powerful swing, exceptional command of the strike zone, and ability to adapt during at-bats, has solidified his status as one of the premier hitters in the game.

Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Votto’s character and integrity have earned him admiration both on and off the field. His dedication to charitable causes, including mental health initiatives for veterans and their families, reflects his commitment to giving back to his community and making a positive impact beyond baseball.

Despite achieving financial success and widespread recognition, Votto remains grounded and committed to continuous improvement. His relentless work ethic and determination to be the best version of himself serve as inspiration to aspiring athletes and fans alike.

As Joey Votto continues to etch his name in the annals of baseball history, his journey from Etobicoke to the Major Leagues stands as a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance, and unwavering dedication to one’s craft.

Carmen Bush

Coach, player, director, and volunteer, the late Carmen Bush had a wide and varied sporting career, but will be remembered most for the enormous impact he had on the lives of countless young athletes – teaching the values of sport, discipline, sportsmanship and teamwork.

Carmen was born in the west end of Toronto in 1912 to Italian immigrant parents. As a boy, he loved sports and organizing them. At the age of 10 he started a league of street teams. By the age of 15, he picked one of those teams and formed the St. Francis Bantams. He was also an outstanding pitcher and even spent a year in Sudbury pitching in the Nickel Belt League.

Carmen became associated with the Columbus Boys Club in the early 1930s… and for more than 40 years was a volunteer, Athletic Director and finally Director of the club. Many sports including boxing, football, hockey and softball teams were managed at the club. He was a coach, official and administrator in many minor sports organizations but his first love was baseball.

Carmen served as secretary-treasurer and registrar of the Toronto Amateur Baseball Association for more than 50 years. He was instrumental in assisting new associations as they formed and grew in the suburbs. He founded the Boys Club League, the old Toronto Minor Baseball Association, the Oldtimers Baseball Association and the Western City Baseball Association.

Carmen was honoured by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985, and named a Life Member of the Ontario Baseball Association in 1996.

Carmen, who passed away on in December of 2001, was a long-time resident of Etobicoke. Ladies and gentlemen, Carmen Bush, inductee into the 2006 Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame.

Alan Waffle

Alan has been the President of the Royal York Baseball League for 21 years.

He has built the organization from a few teams to a massive league involving over 1,000 registered players and over 120 coaches.

Allan also served on the Islington Baseball League Board as a Convenor for the Mosquito division for several years. Over the years, Alan has not only been instrumental in the development of baseball for boy’s baseball in Etobicoke but he has played a key role in advancing girls and women’s baseball within Etobicoke.

Twenty years ago, Alan was instrumental in bringing the Etobicoke girls leagues together at a time when enrolment for girl’s baseball was declining and through his leadership the Etobicoke girls baseball league was established.

In 1997, Alan became President of Islington baseball and once again he was one of the key players in providing the leadership as the Islington Baseball League and Kingsway Baseball League merged to form what is known today as the Royal York Baseball League.

In 1998, Alan became president of the newly formed Royal York Baseball League and during the past 20 years he has made tremendous contributions to the development of baseball in the Etobicoke community.

Through his leadership, he has ensured the growth of baseball at the grass roots level has been protected and at the same time he has supported, fostered, promoted programs and events that are sanctioned and operated at the EBA level and beyond. For the past 20 years, Alan has served on the EBA Board as a dedicated and productive member. He also served in the capacity of EBA treasurer for 11 years.

Most recently, he has been the primary force behind the development of Etobicoke’s newest baseball diamond. Alan worked to obtain a donation from the Jays Care Foundation, along with monies from Humber College, the RYBL and $750,000 from the City of Toronto for the new “field of dreams” diamond which opened in south Etobicoke in 2017.

After 33 years of service Alan continues to work around the clock to provide leadership to the Royal York Baseball League.

Alan has always focused on the lower and entry level baseball player and has developed programs to fund children of lesser means into the league. His honesty and integrity are unmatched, and he has developed a loyal group of volunteers who know he has the best interests of kid’s baseball at heart.

Tony Tedesco

Tony Tedesco is a member of the Humber men’s baseball team—a program in its infancy but has, like most Humber teams, already experienced success.

Tony has been on the team since its inception in 2011 and is entering his second year at Humber. Tony credits athletics with teaching him the importance of respect, perseverance, and hard work, and cites being a varsity athlete at Humber as motivation to always be improving and to achieve the same levels of success as his fellow Hawks.

Tony is set to graduate with a diploma in Recreation and Leisure in April 2013, and hopes to inspire and assist youth through recreation.