OBA Celebrates Ed Quinlan and Adam De Caire as 2026 Baseball Canada Award Recipients

CAMBRIDGE, ON – The Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) is proud to congratulate Ed Quinlan of Brighton, Ontario, and Adam De Caire of Mississauga, Ontario, on being recognized with prestigious national honours as part of the 2026 Baseball Canada Awards.

Quinlan has been named the recipient of the 2026 Baseball Canada Lifelong Umpiring Award, while De Caire has earned the Dick Willis Memorial Award for Umpire of the Year.

Both individuals have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to umpiring excellence, mentorship and the continued development of baseball officials across Ontario and Canada.

Ed Quinlan – Lifelong Umpiring Award

For more than three decades, Ed Quinlan has been a driving force in the advancement of umpiring across Canada, leaving a lasting impact on the development, education and evaluation of officials nationwide.

Beginning his umpiring career in Scarborough in the early 1990s, Quinlan quickly established himself as a highly respected official. His on-field accomplishments included assignments at four National Championships, two Canada Games and the 2003 World Youth Championship.

However, Quinlan's greatest contributions have come through his dedication to developing the next generation of umpires.

Serving as Ontario's Supervisor of Umpires from 2001 to 2015, Quinlan made the decision to step away from national and international assignments to focus on mentorship and creating opportunities for other officials.

Over more than two decades on Baseball Canada's Umpires Committee, he played an instrumental role in transforming the national supervision and evaluation program into a competency-based system that continues to guide umpire development today.

His leadership also extended beyond officiating, serving as President of the Ontario Baseball Association from 2019 to 2026.

Quinlan's dedication to education, leadership and the advancement of umpiring has helped shape the standards of officiating across the country.

Adam De Caire – Dick Willis Memorial Award for Umpire of the Year

Adam De Caire has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to umpiring throughout the 2026 baseball season, demonstrating excellence both on the field and through his leadership in developing officials.

As Umpire-in-Chief of the Central Ontario Baseball Association, De Caire provided leadership and guidance across 10 associations while overseeing Level 3 umpire education for approximately 900 Ontario officials.

His commitment to mentorship helped five officials earn invitations to Baseball Canada's National Umpire Program, while his #NoUmpireNoGame campaign promoted greater respect and appreciation for officials throughout the baseball community.

De Caire also enjoyed an outstanding year on the field.

In April, he represented Canada internationally in Puerto Rico during a WBSC Americas women's baseball qualifying series. His exceptional performance continued in August when he earned the prestigious home plate assignment for the gold medal game at Baseball Canada's Men's Championship.

Through his dedication to education, mentorship and officiating excellence, De Caire continues to make a significant impact on the growth and development of umpiring in Ontario and across Canada.

Celebrating Excellence in Ontario Baseball

The Ontario Baseball Association is incredibly proud to see two outstanding Ontario officials recognized on the national stage.

Quinlan and De Caire exemplify the dedication, professionalism and leadership that strengthen the game of baseball. Their contributions extend far beyond the field, helping create opportunities for officials and ensuring the continued growth of umpiring for generations to come.

The Ontario Baseball Association congratulates Ed Quinlan and Adam De Caire on these well-deserved national honours and thanks them for their continued contributions to baseball in Ontario and across Canada.