Mr. and Mrs. Baseball

In small communities, we often celebrate outcomes. Wins. Banners. Championships. But the real story of sport isn’t written on scoreboards. It’s written in early mornings at the ball diamond. In countless volunteer hours that go unnoticed, and in the quiet, steady presence of people who simply never stop showing up.

In Prince Edward County’s baseball community, few embody that spirit more fully than John and Jane Allison.

Around Wellington, they’re known as “Mr. and Mrs. Baseball.” It’s an affectionate nickname—but one that barely captures what they’ve built. For decades, John and Jane have been the backbone of local baseball. Not just organizing teams or coaching seasons, but creating a culture—one rooted in commitment, inclusion, and the belief that sport is ultimately about people.

I know this because I was one of their players.

Thirty years ago, they coached me as a nine-year-old. I showed up to learn the basics— how to throw, hit, and play. That 1997 season took us to a tournament in Kamoka, Ontario, where I still remember hearing about the death of Princess Diana. But what stayed with me wasn’t just the moment—it was what they taught us. Show up, respect your teammates and be part of something bigger than yourself.

Those lessons stuck.

Today, I coach my own 10-year-old son. And remarkably, John and Jane are still there. No kids or grandkids in the system—just a continued commitment to the next generation. Thirty years on, they’re still volunteering. Still teaching. Still showing up.

That’s not normal. That’s rare.

Their most visible legacy is the Field of Dreams in Wellington. Today, it’s a vibrant, well-used facility—a place where kids fall in love with baseball, where families gather on summer evenings, and where the community comes together. But facilities don’t appear out of nowhere. They require vision, persistence, and an almost stubborn belief that something better is possible. John and Jane helped rally the community to bring that field to life. And if you drive by on most spring or summer days, chances are you’ll still see John out there on his ATV, tending to it.

This October, that lifetime of dedication will be formally recognized as John and Jane Allison are inducted into the Prince Edward County Sports Hall of Fame—a fitting and well-earned honour.

But even that recognition is only part of the story.

Because their true legacy isn’t measured in infrastructure or a plaque. It’s measured in the hundreds of players who gained confidence, the kids who felt included, and the young people who learned what it means to be part of a team.

For me, it’s reliving those old baseball stories from my childhood with my teammates and looking at the photos in a scrapbook.

Communities like ours don’t thrive because of big, one-time achievements. They thrive because of people who show up— year after year—and invest in others without expecting anything in return.

That’s what the Allison’s have done.

And that’s why “Mr. and Mrs. Baseball” isn’t just a nickname.

It’s a legacy.

COREY@WELLINGTONTIMES.CA

A photo from my scrapbook, roughly 1996. Back row (L-R): Jane Allison and Joe Engelsdorfer. Middle Row (L-R): Adam Allison, Shane Corbin, Ira Hewton, Kolby Parks, TJ Cole, Adam Stead, Jamie Brown. Front Row (L-R): Robert White, Matt Morris, Corey Engelsdorfer and Lisa Hoekstra.