Paul Boutin: An umpire who keeps striking back

By SABRINA BYRNES

At 80 years old, and with 40 years of umpiring behind him, Paul Boutin of downtown Sudbury is still going strong and has no intentions of throwing in the towel just yet.

"It keeps you young," said Boutin about his passion for umpiring.

Boutin has had a love for ball since he was a young boy, attending his father's baseball games with his older brother near their home in Montreal. They would watch their father pitch and practise throwing the ball around with the other players.

It wasn't long before the two of them were playing ball themselves. About the age of 12, Boutin carried on in his father's footsteps and began pitching while his brother played first base in a fastball league.

After moving to Sudbury in 1952, Boutin began working at Inco and joined the shift league playing ball with his co-workers. The team needed an umpire and because of his pitching experience Boutin was a natural candidate to give it a try.

"I knew where the strike zone was," he said.

From his very first game umpiring, Boutin loved every minute of it.

"I never looked back," he said.

Boutin played in the shift league for two years before joining Softball Canada, the governing body for the sport of softball in Canada. He said he loves the action and meeting new people and says it keeps him busy.

"It keeps me occupied, keeps me out of trouble," said the vibrant 80-year old.

Boutin said he has always been involved with sports. He played centre field when he was in his 20s and was also a hockey referee for 15 years, but umpiring is what's keeping him active today.

"I love it. It's in my blood. I'm addicted to it," he confessed.

He said enjoys being around the younger guys and is always friendly with them and smiling, claiming he respects them so they respect him.

Boutin's experience with ball over the years gives him a particular edge.

"I know every trick," he said.

He added that his eyes are "as sharp as ever" and his legs are "still strong."

Although umpiring keeps him active, Boutin has quite the range of activities occupying his time. He sings in three different choirs during the week and also works at Sudbury Regional Hospital in admissions on Fridays. Boutin said he has been recognized by the provincial  government for his 20 years of service.

Mondays are Boutin's day off. The rest of the week the veteran umpire works three to four times on a stand-by list, officiating at games throughout the city. He said he doesn't mind getting the call at the last minute to go out to the games.

"If I didn't have that, I'd be sitting there watching TV," said Boutin
"In the mean time I feel like I'm helping someone."

Boutin said he enjoys every minute of the action, the laughs and the lending of his experience to the new umpires coming in.

"As long as I can...if they want me," he claimed.