Bob Burrows (1995)

Bob Burrows was Victoria's top all round athlete through the 1960's and 70's and was recruited by Seattle State University with a duel sport scholarship in basketball and baseball. Bob played basketball for Team Canada at the 1967 Pan Am Games then turned down a Seattle Super Sonics draft in favour of a professional baseball contract with Kansas City. A pro ball career dream ended in a nightmare with a wild pitch in the face. He went on as the playing-coach of the Scorpions/Data Tech team that, in their 4th season, reached the Canadian Senior "A" Men's final. Bob was voted the M.V.P. He returned to the diamond to play with the Bates softball club, which won four straight national titles between 1975 and 1978. Bob was selected the MVP once and named to the first AII-star team three times. He also set a Guinness World record of 13 home runs and 14 RBI's in those four playoffs. As the Bates player-coach in 1982 and in 83 he smashed home runs during both championship final games and lead his squad to their 5th and 6th Canadian titles. Bob was named Victoria Male Athlete of the Year in 1974 and has since been inducted into the Canadian and B.C. Softball Halls of Fame.