Beloved baseball duo steps away after decades running London youth team

A London couple is hanging up their baseball gloves after more than two decades helping some of the city’s littlest ballplayers learn the game.

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Husband-and-wife duo Bob and Pat Caron started coaching T-ball in the 1990s so their son would be allowed to play on the team despite being too young. They eventually got involved helping out the London West Tincaps rookie team under head coach Bob Stark, and Bob Caron took over as head coach more than 20 years ago.

Decades since their own two sons aged out of the team for players younger than eight, the duo has remained at the helm, helping to shape the young players as athletes and as people. But that era is about to end.

The couple has decided to step back from the team after the current season ends this month, and they’re looking forward to traveling, Bob said, noting they haven’t had a summer off in 25 years. They’re talking about buying a trailer to go sight-seeing around Canada.

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“It’s time to let the younger guys take over,” Bob said.

Over the decades, Bob dealt with “on-the-field stuff” while Pat handled the work behind the scenes, such as booking hotel rooms for tournaments and managing team finances. She also oversaw the annual Bob Stark tournament, a large event that involves more than 30 teams.

Bob says one of his favorite things about coaching the young players is seeing how much they change over the course of a season, on and off the diamond. “In the beginning of the year, lots of them don’t have baseball sense. Some of them (have) never even played baseball before. Now, they’re catching fly balls very casually. They’re his confidant.”

But the changes are more than on the field, with parents noting how their kids become more independent as the season progresses, he added. “I make them work for themselves and tie their own shoes.”

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Many players who learned the game from the Carons have gone on to play baseball in university and on the London Majors, the city’s semi-pro Intercounty Baseball League team.

Andrew MacRae got involved with the Tincaps as an assistant coach this past year after his joined the team.

He describes the Carons as a “really good duo” that coaches out of their love for the game and working with kids.

“They’re really just kind and loving people that all the parents love,” MacRae said. “It’s a very positive environment that they’re able to create. It’s really something else.”

The team is competing in local playoffs this weekend and the provincial championships next weekend.

“And then we’re done,” Bob said. “We will miss the kids a lot.”

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