OBA Mourns the loss of Hall of Famer Bob McKillop

Former Baseball Ontario executive director Bob McKillop died on Saturday at the age of 83. 

His longtime friend and baseball colleague Tom Valcke shared the news on social media on Sunday. 

McKillop had been battling cancer for the past decade. 

“Bob made me a better contributor, man, husband and father,” wrote Valcke on Sunday. “He made me laugh a thousand times over. Rest in peace my dear friend, thanks for the wonderful memories, thanks for always having my back, and I’ll see you on the other side!” 

Born in Toronto on June 1, 1942, McKillop was a multisport athlete during his youth, excelling in football and baseball. He honed his diamond skills in North Toronto and in Leaside before he was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent in 1960. 

He played four seasons in the White Sox organization, primarily as a third baseman, rising as high as Class-A before returning to Ontario to attend the University of Waterloo. 

While at school, McKillop starred at quarterback for the football team for three seasons. In 1968, he was named the University of Waterloo’s Male Athlete of the Year. He graduated with a degree in Physical Education in 1969. 

In 1966, McKillop began playing for the Intercounty Baseball League’s Kitchener Panthers. He was an outstanding two-way player – a catcher and a right-handed pitcher. In that first season with the Panthers, he led the IBL with a 0.93 ERA. At the plate, he would top the circuit in home runs three times.  

“A vivid memory I have of Bob as a player was a night at Labatt Park in London in the mid-70s,” shared Dan Haugh, a longtime baseball volunteer in London, on Facebook. “Bob was catching for the Kitchener Panthers [and] the young pitcher was having trouble finding the strike zone. Bob called time. He headed to the mound stripping off his chest protector, mask and his shin guards on his way to the mound. He called for someone to bring him his fielder’s glove and he went into pitch. An epic Bob McKillop moment!” 

In all, McKillop suited up for 12 seasons with the Panthers and was an eight-time All-Star and four-time league MVP. He served as a player-coach with the club for many years and was part of four championship-winning teams. 

He completed his IBL career with a .340 batting average and a 2.34 ERA. Those numbers earned him a spot on the IBL’s list of Top 100 players in 2018. 

In 1967, McKillop took a short hiatus from the Panthers to play for the first Canadian national baseball team in the 1967 Pan Am Games. 

Throughout his career, McKillop’s leadership abilities shone through as a teammate and coach. He enjoyed a long tenure as the football coach at the University of Waterloo and was heavily involved in the Kitchener Minor Baseball Association.  

For a long stretch, he also served as the executive director of Baseball Ontario. 

For his efforts, McKillop received numerous awards, including being inducted into the University of Waterloo Sports Hall of Fame in 1984, the Waterloo Region Sports Hall of Fame and Ontario Baseball Association Hall of Fame in 2019. 

In 2012, he was honoured with the Kitchener Sports Association Award of Excellence. 

“Bob’s outstanding leadership, excellence and influence on the field continued off the field through his professional and volunteer endeavours,” the Kitchener Sports Association wrote about McKillop for the honour. “He has dedicated immeasurable time and energy as coach, executive, manager, chair and volunteer to numerous associations, teams and events . . . ” 

The Kitchener Panthers paid tribute to McKillop on Sunday. 

"Bob McKillop played a vital role in our franchise's storied legacy, and the impact he made on the Panthers will always be remembered," said Panthers general manager Shanif Hirani in a release. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire McKillop family." 

McKillop passed away five months after his wife, Marg, who he had been married to for 60 years. 

He is survived by his son Bobby and daughter Barbara, three grandchildren Taylor, Jayne and Kaylee and one great-granddaughter, Amelia.