The Mitch Ball Memorial Baseball Tournament: Honouring a Legacy

There are few people in the history of Lethbridge whose names would almost immediately conjure up a glowing memory. Even fewer have a tournament bearing their name as an ongoing tribute.

This weekend, from Friday to Sunday, the Mitch Ball Memorial Tournament will be one of the first events to help kick off Lethbridge’s Grand Slam of Baseball Showcase & Festival. This event holds a special place in our hearts as Mitch was a dedicated City of Lethbridge employee who also happened to be an amazing baseball umpire.  

This event, for U9-U12 athletes, brings together players, families and the wider community to celebrate the legacy of a remarkable man and the sport he loved. The tournament is more than a competition: it serves as a tribute to Mitch, whose dedication and passion left an enduring impact on the local baseball community. 

Mitch began his career with the City of Lethbridge in 2002 working as a labourer/operator at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena before moving up to Recreation & Culture Maintenance Coordinator. Mitch had just taken on a new role as Field Risk & Safety Coordinator when he passed away in the spring of 2021 due to complications from COVID-19.   

Mitch was incredibly well respected in the office and on the ball field. He was genuinely kind and compassionate in all he did. To honour his life, a special room within City Hall now holds his name. The Mitch Ball Meeting Room is adorned with photos and a memorial dedication plaque to remember a great co-worker, umpire, father and friend.  

“We love every time someone remembers him and tells us how much they loved and respected him,” says Mitch’s wife, Jana Ball. “It makes my kids proud to be his children. The memorial wall is something that we were very humbled to see happen and love so much.”

Garry Taylor and Andy Carroll were colleagues with Mitch and say he was known not only for his love of baseball but also for his unwavering commitment to public service.

“Mitch was a one-of-a-kind guy,” says Garry. “I worked with him right until he passed away. He was like my rock. He was always calm, no matter what. So very easy going. Lots of times, even now, Andy and I will go: ‘what would Mitch do in this situation?’”                                                                            

“It was a pleasure to work with the guy,” says Andy. “Being the umpire, he could run the show, but he'd just be the guy in the back, just kind of hanging out and enjoying the show as well.”

Both Garry and Andy are happy to see Mitch’s legacy continue through baseball in the community, as well as the meeting room at City Hall.

“It's amazing,” says Garry. “Our office is across from this (meeting) room. I look at that every day.”

As we mark the five-year anniversary of his passing, the annual Mitch Ball Memorial Tournament reminds us of Mitch’s spirit of teamwork and inclusivity. Players of all ages gather to compete, volunteer, and build new friendships – just as he would have encouraged. Through the cheers in the stands and the crack of the bat on the field, Mitch’s memory continues to inspire the community he served so well, reminding everyone that his legacy lives on both in the game he loved and the city he helped shape.

Garry and Andy said Mitch really loved mentoring coworkers, employees and the younger umpires and took great pride when they succeeded.

“He was always so helpful, like always,” says Andy. “Didn't matter what he was doing. It was just always behind you going: ‘hey, yeah, you can do it.’ He was always looking for people with the right temperament, the right people.”

“You can’t go anywhere where someone doesn’t know Mitch’s name, who he was and hear about what a great guy he was,” says Jana.

“Best guy ever,” says Garry.

More information on this weekend’s Mitch Ball Memorial Tournament can be found here.