Ed Bitz

Builder (1990)

Baseball

Ed Bitz was born in Leipzig, Saskatchewan on November 20, 1929. He moved to Saskatoon in 1961 and the following year became the playing coach of a men's team in the Commercial Baseball League. A dislocated shoulder ended his athletic days but in 1963 he turned to umpiring and he has been doing that for over 25 years. Ed has worked ball games on the local front, the provincial scene, nationally and internationally.

He has conducted many umpiring clinics, and devised the first Saskatchewan official's program. He became the first Softball Canada umpire-in-chief, a position he held from 1972 to 1984, and he officiated at 33 national championships. On four occasions he attended umpire schools in the U.S. and was on hand at seven world championships. His knowledge of the game, and his excellence in officiating has taken him to New Zealand, El Salvador, and China, along with many centres in the U.S. and Canada.

For 27 years Ed was a qualified C.A.H.A. referee. In 1982 he was honoured by Century Saskatoon.

** Deceased