Ollie Sutton
| James Oliver Sutton | |
|---|---|
| Ollie | |
| Died | 1992 |
| Years in Thunder Bay | 1937–1943; 1948–1954; at least 1992 |
James Oliver Sutton was a prominent baseball player in the Lakehead region who was a multi-time batting champion and a local fan favourite. James Oliver Sutton was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1983 as an athlete.[1]
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
James Oliver Sutton was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame on 1 October 1983 in the athlete category for baseball, golf and curling, representing Fort William.[1]
Career
Sutton began his Baseball career at age 15 in Barwick, serving as a pitcher, catcher, and batter. He moved to Fort William in 1937, where he immediately made an impact by recording a .500 batting average during his first season in the city.[1]
In 1938, Sutton declined a professional contract offer from a team in Duluth due to low wages, choosing instead to remain in the Lakehead Senior Baseball League. Primarily playing centre field, he became a dominant force in the early 1940s. He secured three consecutive league hitting titles in 1941, 1942, and 1943. His athletic career was paused in 1944 when he traveled overseas to serve in World War II. Upon returning to the Lakehead in 1948, he resumed his success on the diamond, winning another batting title with a .469 average.[1]
Sutton was chosen for a regional All-Star squad in 1951 to participate in the inaugural game at Port Arthur Stadium against the New York Bengals. During this contest, he recorded a triple to centre field, which stood as the only hit for the local team in a 7-0 loss. He continued his high level of play by winning the league hitting crown again in 1952. The 1953 season proved to be a career highlight, as he earned both the batting title and a selection to the league All-Star team.[1]
Known for his showmanship and aggressive style of play, Sutton was particularly noted for his base-running abilities. He established a local record by stealing home plate five times during a single season. His dedication to the sport was such that he once participated in four games and served as an umpire for a fifth in one day. During his tenure in Fort William, he was a member of at least four championship teams. He retired from competitive Baseball following the 1953 season, later participating in Golf and Curling for recreation.[1]
Residence in the Thunder Bay area (1937–1943; 1948–1954; at least 1992) rests on the following dated evidence. He played baseball in Fort William from 1937 to 1943, returned from war in 1948 and played until his retirement in 1954, and died in the area in 1992.[1]
Honours and achievements
- Recorded a .500 batting average during the 1937 season
- Won three consecutive league batting titles from 1941 to 1943
- Claimed the league batting title in 1948 with a .469 average
- Recorded the only hit for the local All-Star team against the New York Bengals in the 1951 Port Arthur Stadium opening game
- Won the league hitting honours in 1952
- Earned the league batting title and All-Star team selection in 1953
- Set a local record by stealing home plate five times in a single season
- Won at least four local championships during his career[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Ollie Sutton", athlete profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/athlete-profile/8803b1b2-8941-49bd-b501-d86423259ff9 (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.