Ex-UBC catcher Cam Firth: “If I may describe this program in a single phrase, it might be excellence. That is how I all the time view this program and Terry (McKaig) has been this program.”
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Terry McKaig has worn many hats for the UBC Thunderbirds’ baseball program.
He was this system founder, getting it began in 1997-98 with important monetary assist from native businessman Mark Hiscott. McKaig was UBC’s head coach by means of to 2015, when he turned over the reins to former Vancouver Canadians first baseman Chris Pritchett.
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And McKaig spearheaded the fundraising that led to the constructing of an indoor observe facility on-campus and the revamping of the stadium that’s steps away. The mixed price ticket was $10 million.
On Saturday, the Thunderbirds retired McKaig’s jersey, pulling the No. 27 that he sported throughout his time within the UBC dugout from circulation. It was a part of this system’s annual alumni weekend.
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“If I may describe this program in a single phrase, it might be excellence. That’s how I all the time view this program and Terry has been this program,” former catcher Cam Firth, a 2015 alum, informed the gang in a speech throughout the retirement ceremony.
“We’ve got 4 a long time now of baseball alums and everyone seems to be again right here as we speak as a result of Terry was significant in our lives. You bought to see 10 or 11 ex-pro guys on the sector as we speak, however we had 60 guys come out this weekend and each one is profitable in their very own proper. That’s as a result of the bar on this program was set excessive from the beginning and that’s due to Terry.”
UBC has had 25 gamers chosen within the Main League Baseball newbie draft. Left-hander Jeff Francis, who went ninth total to the Colorado Rockies and had an 11-year, large league profession, is probably the most notable. Francis had his UBC No. 16 retired in 2019. The 2 retired jersey numbers are displayed on the right-field wall.
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McKaig went into the UBC Sports activities Corridor of Fame final April.
He remained with the T-Birds initially as director of baseball when Pritchett got here on-board. He left in 2021 for a fundraising job with the B.C. Most cancers Basis. He’s since moved to his personal athlete consulting enterprise known as Actuate Company, which assists highschool and college athletes constructing their private manufacturers for Identify Picture Likeness (NIL) sponsorship in addition to school recruiting.
“We’ve had major-league scouts come by means of UBC who’ve mentioned that there usually are not many NCAA Division I applications which have this type of setup,” McKaig mentioned of the indoor facility and stadium again when he was leaving this system in 2021. “It’s a part of why I can stroll away now. We’ve surpassed my desires for this program. I really feel like I’m leaving it in nearly as good a place as potential.”
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