Longtime Barrie Baycats owner and VP Paul Marley passes away

Paul Marley was a founding co-owner and vice president of the Barrie Baycats for two decades. (Source Barrie Sports Hall of Fame)

One of the cornerstones of the Barrie Baycats organization and champions of local sports across Simcoe County has died.

The Baycats organization confirmed the passing of former team co-owner and vice president Paul Marley at the age of 75.

Referred to as a ‘Mr. Everything’ in local sports for more than five decades Marley was inducted into the builders’ category of the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame in 2022 alongside longtime co-owner and president, David Mills. Marley was also inducted as a builder into the Springwater Sports Heritage two years later.

“Paul Marley was a doer - a calm, steady presence, a visionary who was always organizing, helping no matter whether it was the Baycats, his Rotary Club or our Legion Branch.” Mills told CTV News of his trusted friend. “He never wanted recognition. The success that the Baycats have had on the field for two decades is directly tied to the work Paul accomplished quietly behind the scenes.”

Marley, who attended virtually every game since helping found the Baycats in 2001, was instrumental in the construction of the Baycats’ stadium in Midhurst and a baseball team that won seven Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) championships in the two decades Marley and Mills led the organization.

Under their guidance, the Baycats became one of the most successful dynasties in league history, winning six consecutive championships between 2014 and 2019.

Born in Phelpston, Marley was also a multi-sport athlete, coach, and sponsor in hockey and curling. During his years as an athlete, Marley was part of the 1977 Elmvale Merchants championship-winning men’s fastball team, for which he and his teammates were recognized by the Springwater Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 as the only team from Elmvale ever to win an Ontario Amateur Softball Championship.

Marley won two Ontario Minor Hockey Association Junior ‘D’ Championships in the 1965/66 and 1966/67 seasons with Elmvale.

Marley also served as a member of the Elmvale Curling Club for years, as its president in 1984, while coaching local minor hockey and baseball teams for years. Marley was a member of the Barrie Rotary Club and ran Sexton’s Mechanical in Barrie.

“I will miss Paul, 30 years of incredible memories that I will cherish forever, especially the Baycats years. Being inducted into the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame in 2022 with best friend Paul was the ultimate,” said Mills.