Allan Simpson inducted into Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame

Kelowna, B.C., native and Baseball America founder Allan Simpson was inducted into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday. Photo Credit: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Baseball America founder and Canadian Baseball Network contributor Allan Simpson has been inducted into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame.

The Kelowna, B.C., native was honoured in the builder’s category, along with regional volleyball pioneer, Hugh Wong, in a ceremony on Thursday morning. Four athletes were also inducted: Robert Dirk, who played 12 years in the NHL, ex-CFLer Chad Folk, former Olympian Heather Mandoli-Alschuler and four-time Special Olympian Tracy Melesko.

Simpson, who was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011, has always had a tremendous passion for baseball. Beginning in 1973, he worked for the semi-pro Alaska Goldpanners, while also serving as the sports editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. He was later appointed the first general manager of the rookie-level Pioneer League Lethbridge Expos.

But Simpson is best known for the revolutionary publication he created out of his garage in B.C. in 1981. When The Sporting News reduced its coverage of the MLB draft, as well as collegiate and minor league baseball, the ambitious Simpson hatched an idea to fill the void.

With no publishing background and limited financial resources, he persevered to write and produce a bi-weekly publication that evolved into Baseball America. He was initially a one-man show, serving as the magazine’s circulation manager, advertising manager and production manager out of his garage in B.C. He would move his family to White Rock, B.C, and establish post office boxes across the border to give the impression that it was an American publication.

The magazine began with 1,500 subscribers, but thanks to Simpson’s tenacity, the readership would climb to over 250,000 and become what’s still considered the baseball bible for prospect and minor league information.

Simpson left Baseball America after 25 years to become vice-president and director of national scouting with Perfect Game USA, the world’s largest baseball event company and scouting service. He remains a highly regarded MLB draft and prospect expert.

He currently resides in Durham, N.C., but he made the trek back to his home province for the Hall of Fame ceremony on Thursday.