​Sold-out Kincardine baseball camp features former MLB player Homer Bush as headliner

Homer Bush has been waiting four years to come to Kincardine for the annual baseball camp, hosted by Kincardine Minor Ball, and finally, this year, the former major baseball player made it.

“I love it here,” he said, standing in Connaught Park, for Day 2 of the camp, Thursday morning. The first day (Wednesday) had to be moved to the arena floor at the Davidson Centre, due to heavy rainfall.

Bush was supposed to be part of the baseball camp before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. The camps were cancelled for a couple of years, but now Bush is pleased to be at the ball park, working with the youth at the seventh annual camp. He also worked with youth at the Clinton Baseball Camp, held Monday and Tuesday.

“I was excited to be part of this camp four years ago, and I’m even more excited now,” says Bush. “I like working with the kids to show them how to move more efficiently. They need to focus on processes – offensively and defensively – then build from there.”

The 51-year-old former Major League Baseball player had eight seasons, from 1997 to 2024, playing second baseman with the New York Yankees and then the Toronto Blue Jays. He has a World Series ring from the win while he was with the Yankees.

Bush said baseball is a rigorous sport and after a couple of hip injuries, he decided to retire.

Born and raised in Illinois, he lived in Texas for a number of years and now lives in Arizona with his wife. His son plays professional baseball and was drafted by the San Diego Padres, the same team that drafted Bush. His daughter lives in Texas.

Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb, who organizes the annual baseball camp, said Bush has an interesting back story. He was one of eight kids and his dad died when he was five. His dream was to get a football scholarship so he could further his education. However, a scout from the San Diego Padres saw him play baseball and he was so athletic, that the team drafted him right there.

Lobb said this year’s baseball camp in Kincardine was the biggest ever, with 152 kids, and 25 youth from minor ball as instructors. The players came from all over southwestern Ontario, including Walkerton, Owen Sound, Hanover, Ripley, Lucknow, Goderich Waterloo, Wingham and Kincardine.

He said the heavy rain on Wednesday meant the camp had to move indoors at the Davidson Centre arena, with the 16 stations set up for the kids to learn. He was pleased to see the improved weather Thursday, with the kids outside playing the game.