Australian Baseball Alumni mourns the passing of Alumni member, umpiring doyen, mentor and friend to many Ian McKenzie, who died

on 23 July after a battle with cancer.

 

A long-time servant of Australian baseball, Ian “Macca” McKenzie was in recent years the State Director of Umpiring with Baseball Victoria and Umpires’ Coordinator for the past nine National Championships. He was Umpires’ Supervisor at MLBAAP for ten years – a totally voluntary role that reflected his enormous contribution to the sport.

 

Of the sixty-five umpires who went through MLBAAP over the decade, twenty-seven have umpired at Australian Baseball League level, fifty-two umpired National Championships, twelve adjudicated at international tournaments and six have gone on to umpire professional baseball. All would doubtless attest to the pivotal role that Ian McKenzie played in their development.

 

Through his engagement as an official at all Australian levels of baseball from international competition through ABL, Masters, women’s, under-aged and grassroots, Ian “Macca” McKenzie was a highly-respected, knowledgeable, approachable and well-liked person who will be fondly remembered by his many friends and acquaintances in the sport.

 

Australian Baseball Alumni extends its condolences to Ian’s immediate and extended family on his untimely passing.