Gordon Riddell was born in Warren, Manitoba. Riddell began his baseball career with his hometown. He was catcher for the juvenile Warren team when they won the 1957 Winnipeg League title. After an electrical accident ended his playing career in 1964, Riddell coached in Warren and St. James. With Warren, he won the Interlake title in 1975 and developed the Interlake Blazers junior baseball team in that era. He initiated the resurrection of the Optimist Park sports facility when he coached in St. James. While coaching in St. James, he set up local indoor baseball clinics both locally and in America. Riddell was also known for coaching minor hockey and curling, as well as for his volunteer work at major sporting events.
