A Nova Scotia baseball legend is having his jersey retired.
Jim “Rico” McEachern has worn many hats for the Sydney Sooners. He’s been president, general manager, and even played and coached at the same time, all the way from their 1977 inaugural season until 2001.
Now, for the first time in Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League (NSSBL) history, the league is honouring his 50 years of commitment to supporting and promoting the sport by retiring his jersey league wide.
President of the NSSBL Brad Jacobs said in a press release that although this is the first time the league has bestowed a league-wide number retirement, the decision was an easy one.
“Rico’s legacy is unprecedented, and the unanimous support of our board and the league’s other four teams reflects the respect he has earned across senior baseball in Nova Scotia.” said Jacobs.
In 2009 McEachern returned to the team, and was inducted into the Cape Breton Sport Hall of Fame as a builder.
McEachern then went on to lead the Sydney Sooners to back-to-back league championships as a manager in 2013 and 2014, and earned the team a third title in 2017.
The retirement ceremony will take place on July 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Susan McEachern Memorial Ballfield, right before the Sooners take on the Kentville Wildcats. There is no admission price for the ceremony or game, and the league is encouraging community members to come out and show their support to McEachern and the Sooners.
