Bob Boyce
BIRTHPLACE Winnipeg, MB
BORN December 14, 1950
INDUCTED 2017
Bob Boyce was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on December 14, 1950. Boyce umpired junior and senior baseball for over 30 years in the Winnipeg area. He traveled to and from almost all of his games by city transit, which is impressive considering the the sizeable bag of equipment he had to bring with him. Boyce ended up in a leadership position within the baseball community, and he mentored and evaluated many young umpires, some of who went on to umpire at top levels. He was also an umpire assigner, tasked with ensuring every game had a competent umpire present. Boyce was highly respected within the baseball community, and he always tried to do what was best for the players and the sport. When the Northern League umpires went on strike in 1995, Boyce refused to provide replacement ones, instead ensuring that the negations continued in a timely manner. Another time, while umpiring, Boyce broke his thumb, but still finished the game before taking the bus to go get some pain medication.
“To present the induction of an umpire it will be my pleasure, Bob Boyce. This evening I will be presenting to Grant Rodgers, thank you for asking me to present Jacko (Grant) I appreciate it. If you had time to read some of Bob’s bio you probably saw that it said he took a bus, so you can imagine when there is a double header you got your base stuff and you got your plate equipment, that’s a big bag. Over the shoulder, on the bus, pay your fare, and who knows when the last time that equipment got washed…that was Bob. You will notice in there that is says something about him breaking his thumb, you will never guess who the umpire who replaced him for that after a double header, you’re looking at him. After that game I asked a guy Billy how did Bob do and he said I think he has got a broken collar bone, I said did he get to the hospital? And he said that Bobby told him I dont know, I asked him would you like an ambulance or would you like someone to drive you, what would you like me to do, Bobby said nah its okay Billy ill take the bus. Now he did take the bus but he didnt go tot the hospital, he took the portage bus and went to the pharmacy for some medicine. I can stand up here and talk to you about what Bob did for me and all the rest of the guys but I will let Jacko take over, so to count off everyone strike 1 strike 2 strike 3 please welcome to the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame,”
