James Webster – a friend of kids' baseball

Jeff Green | Jul 17, 2014

James (Jim) Webster, who died earlier this winter, left instructions that anyone who wanted to donate money in his memory should put it towards new uniforms for the children in the Central Frontenac Minor Softball League.

The uniforms were on display this week at a game in Sharbot Lake, worn by the team coached by Leslie Merrigan, who happens to be Jim Webster's niece.

Donating uniforms to teams, and gloves and balls to players is something that Webster did for 15 years or more. He was also a constant presence at games, especially when one of his grandchildren were playing, and, because he brought bubblegum for the kids most of the time, he became known as the gum man.

Webster was tireless in his fundraising efforts for the children. One year he raised over $7000 and had Tim Horton’s donate 5 sets of TimBit uniforms given by Ron and Donna Lemke of Plevna, who continue to donate medallions for all five teams year after year.

Jim Webster's efforts to promote ball extended to working to keep up the ball field in Sharbot Lake, which made him a friend to ball players of all ages in the region but not always of the Central Frontenac Council.

About 12 years ago, Jim lined up contractors and donations to do some major work on the field. They were going to build shelters over the player’s benches, build new bleachers and work on the field itself. It was all set to go when Jim and Brett Harvey, who was then the franchise owner of the Sharbot Lake Valumart, went to get the township’s blessing.

It did not go well. The township was concerned about liability, and balked at the building plans not having an engineer’s stamp and the prospect of volunteers from the men's league doing the work. They said no, and the project was stymied.

A few years after the township purchased and installed new bleachers, but the benches at the park remain uncovered. Unknown parties have mysteriously done some work on the park since then, when the township wasn't looking that closely.

Jim Webster never gave up on baseball in Sharbot Lake, and on the Sharbot Lake ball park.

According to his daughter Marcie, when his family was going through his things this past spring, they found records of all the donations he collected, where all the money went, and a number of brand new baseball gloves, waiting to be given to a young ballplayer in need of a glove.