The Joe Mullins Memorial Baseball Tournament will take place Saturday at Jubilee Field with nine male and four female teams in the mix for bragging rights.
The annual tournament is designed to celebrate the sporting spirit of the late Mr. Mullins by maximizing participation and promoting the growth of baseball among students in Grades 4-6 in the Humber Valley.
Mr. Mullins died in 2002 while serving as deputy mayor of Corner Brook. Mr. Mullins was rushed to the hospital after collapsing in the arena’s penalty box at the Corner Brook Civic Centre during a home game of the Corner Brook Royals where he was the public address announcer.
He was pronounced dead later in the evening.
Mr. Mullins was a talented athlete known for his animated character and jovial nature. He was well respected in the community, from his work as a journalist with CBC to his love for theatre and volunteer service in a number of areas. Mr. Mullins' comedic antics also galvanized his status in the community. Heralded as the best actor in the 1976 provincial drama festival, he was also a member of the travelling comedy troupe Home Brew and was perhaps best known for his portrayal of Uncle Llewellyn — a slapstick outport character who spontaneously appeared at various events over a period of 40 years.
He was also a force to be reckoned with on the sports field. His dancing knuckleball mesmerized and struck out more than 1,000 senior baseball batters over the course of five decades. His feats on the pitcher's mound earned Mr. Mullins an induction to the Newfoundland Amateur Baseball Association's Hall of Fame in 1998. His home is also filled with trophies and memorabilia that mark the many awards and experiences in various sports Mr. Mullins applied himself to through his lifetime.
