Tip of the Cap: Greg Hamilton’s Hall of Fame Moment and What It Means to Those He Mentored

Greg Hamilton stepped to the podium to accept the game’s highest Canadian honor. Flanked by fellow 2025 inductees José Bautista, Érik Bédard, Amanda Asay, Arleene Noga and Gerry Snyder, Hamilton’s trademark humility was on full display, even while the crowd delivered an ovation worthy of his four-decade résumé.

A Career Built on Vision and Relentless Work

Hamilton’s story begins in Toronto and Peterborough, through an Ivy League championship at Princeton and then leaps to coaching stops as diverse as Montpellier, France and the University of Maine. By 1996, he had taken the reins of Canada’s Junior National Team, and in 1998 was appointed Director of National Teams a post from which he helped script gold-medal runs at the 2011 and 2015 Pan Am Games, plus two Olympic appearances and five World Baseball Classics.

His Junior National squads earned three U-18 Baseball World Cup medals and produced a parade of big-leaguers: Justin Morneau, Jason Bay, Russell Martin, Josh Naylor, Michael Soroka and more, each quick to credit Hamilton for sharpening their competitive edge while keeping their feet grounded in Canadian roots.

A Personal Note: A Relationship Rooted in Respect

My connection with Greg dates back to 1997, when he was at the University of Maine and recruiting Canadian talent. I was still a young prospect at the time and his honest, direct approach left a mark. We stayed in touch over the years and when I served as Head Coach of the Ontario Youth Team from 2018 to 2022, our relationship evolved into one of mutual professional respect.

We often spoke about player development across the province and, more importantly, the potential of who should be considered for the Junior National Team. Greg valued input from across the country, always seeking what was best for the national program, not just the most polished players, but those with the drive, character and ceiling to represent Canada on the international stage.

For those of us lucky enough to know him, whether as a coach, colleague, or player, his influence goes beyond the box score. His voice helped guide a generation.

Congratulations, Greg. Canadian baseball is better because of you