Doug Hudlin

Douglas Hudlin

• Born December 12, 1922 in Victoria, BC CAN
• Died January 5, 2014 in Victoria, BC CAN

Biographical Information

Doug Hudlin was the first non-American umpire to work in the Little League World Series, doing so in the 1967 tournament. He also became the first international umpire to work two LLWS, covering 1974 as well.

Hudlin was a successful amateur softball player as a youth, but his career ended in 1951 when he hurt his back playing soccer. He then turned to umpiring in 1956, concentrating on Little League Baseball. Respected for his fairness, good humor and skill, he was elected as president of the Victoria, BC District Umpires Association in 1963, and then became the founding president of the British Columbia baseball Umpires Association in 1974. That year, he returned to the Little League World Series, becoming the first international umpire to appear twice in the tournament.

He worked numerous national tournaments as well before retiring from umpiring in 1992. While Little League was his main focus, he also worked senior amateur games. After his passing in 2014, the B.C. Baseball Umpires Association created a lifetime achievement award given annually in his honor, the Doug Hudlin Distinguished Service Award.

Away from the diamond, he worked for the city of Victoria and was the founding director of the British Columbia Black History Awareness Society.

He was elected posthumously to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Related Sites

• Tribute page
• Obituary from the Victoria Times-Colonist