John Bain

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-408330

Notes:

John Bain, 88 - Ontario Educator Once Named Baseball MVP Victoria - John Bain, an air force veteran, became one of Ontario's top baseball players after the war before launching a career as an educator. Mr. Bain joined his hometown Galt Terriers of the Intercounty Baseball League in 1946, after serving for four years overseas in the Royal Canadian Air Force. A second baseman known for his speed and a high batting average, Mr. Bain spent five seasons in the semiprofessional league, mostly with Kitchener, leading in such categories as runs scored, triples and stolen bases. After the 1948 season, during which he hit .348, he was named the league's most valuable player. He received as his prize a gift worth about $100. Before the war, he had helped the Galt Pickards win an Ontario juvenile championship in 1937. He began teaching elementary students in Kitchener in 1950. In 1955, he became English master of the Hamilton Teachers' College, later accepting a post as principal of the Toronto Teachers' College. He was named an assistant director in the Ontario education department. Mr. Bain was inducted as an educator and an athlete into the Waterloo County Hall of Fame in Kitchener in 2001. John Bain was born in Galt, Ont., (now Cambridge) on Aug. 16, 1920. He died at Saanich Peninsula Hospital in the Victoria suburb on Jan. 3. He was 88. He leaves two daughters, five grandchildren and a brother. He was predeceased by the former Verna Allen, whom he married in 1946. - Tom Hawthorn, Special to The Globe and Mail

Unidentified Newspaper Obituary

John Bain - b. 1920 - John Bain was born in Galt and began his baseball career with the Galt Pickards Juveniles (Ontario Champions in 1937) and later with the OBAA Senior Welland Nationals of the Niagara District League before World War II. He joined the RCAF in 1942, where he served for four years, including service in England and continental Europe. After the War, he returned to play with Galt in 1946 and Kitchener from 1947 to 1950. In 1946, he led the Intercounty League in runs scored (29); in 1947, he led the League in stolen bases (21) and runs scored (31); in 1948, he led the League in triples (7) and number of hits (52) His batting average was consistently in the 333 to 350 range over his years in baseball. In 1948, he was voted Most Valuable Player in the Intercounty League by team managers and coaches. Bain earned his BA at McMaster University, a teacher's certificate from the Hamilton Normal School, and a BEd from the University of Toronto. He holds an Elementary School Inspector's Certificate. In 1950, he began a teaching career with the Kitchener Board of Education, Elementary Public Schools, serving firstly as classroom teacher, and, later, as Supervisor of English. In 1955, Bain joined the staff of the Hamilton Teachers' College as Master of English. In 1963, he was appointed Principal of the Toronto Teachers' College and, in 1966, was appointed Assistant Director, Teacher Education Branch of the Ontario Department of Education. Bain was married in 1946 to Verna Allen of Galt; they have two daughters and five grandchildren.

Unidentified Newspaper Obituary

John married Verna Allen 1946. Verna was born CA 1920; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]