BASEBALL LEGEND PASSES AWAY

The man know to many as ” Mr Baseball” Gordon Breen has passed away at the age of 92. Gordon was for many years a member of the Holy Cross senior baseball team and was on the first championship team when baseball was revived in 1947.

He went on to play all-star and in 1966 coached Newfoundland to its only National Junior Baseball championship. He was also a member of the St. John’s Baseball Umpires Association. He was inducted into the Newfoundland Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. He is also a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame inducted in 1985.

Gordon Breen was born in St. John’s where he earned the title “Mr. Baseball”. He was a member of 14 St. John’s all-star baseball teams, 12 of which won the provincial championships. He played with Holy Cross in the St. John’s Senior League for 17 years, being on five championship teams. He was elected as most valuable player three times in provincial competition and three times in the St. John’s league. In addition, he was the home run champion twice, R.B.I. leader four times and hits leader three times in the St. John’s league.

In 12 seasons Breen had a batting average of over .300. He coached the Newfoundland Terra Novas who won the Canadian Junior Baseball Championships in 1966. He has served in a variety of executive capacities within St. John’s, provincial and national baseball.

During his school days he played on two soccer championship squads and was a member of Holy Cross senior soccer teams for eight years. He has co-ordinated the Metro Basketball League in St. John’s for 11 years, served as an executive of the Newfoundland and Labrador Amateur Sports Federation for two years and served on the Canada Games Parks Commission. As a bowler he has consistently held an average of over 250 and owns a triple frame score of 1011.

As per his request, Gordon has been cremated and his ashes will be resting at Caul’s Funeral Home, Lemarchant Road on Monday, August 24 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Due to the COVID-19 gathering restrictions, his funeral service will be held for family members only at the Caul’s Memorial Chapel on Tuesday August 25, 2020 at 11 a.m. A link will be provided here in order to watch the service online. He will be laid to rest alongside his wife at St. Kevin’s Cemetery in the Goulds following the funeral.