Hennesey boys join CBS’ Mr. Baseball in Sports Hall of Fame

Brothers Randy and Rod Hennessey, left, and longtime baseball organizer David Coates, right, are the newest inductees into the CBS Sports Hall of Fame. Tyler Waugh photo

Rod and Randy Hennessey grew up in Conception Bay South in an era when youth sports were shifting from less structured play to more organized recreation.

The brothers were honoured, along with David Coates, with induction as builders into the CBS Sports Hall of Fame on May 25 held as part of the CBS Municipal Awards in a ceremony that celebrated the best of the town’s athletes, volunteers and artists.

The trio of builders were joined by the Queen Elizabeth Regional High School Pioneers Senior Girls Volleyball Team (1993 to 1996) and the 2000 CBS Girls Baseball Team, which were both inducted in the team category.

“It’s a life in sports. I came up as a young guy in the community and a lot of our sports were only starting to evolve back in those days,” Randy Hennessey said after the ceremony, adding participation in many sports was mostly unsupervised until he was 12 or so.

As an athlete, he competed at high levels in soccer, hockey, softball, ball hockey, and table tennis, earning multiple championships and individual honours.

Hennessey also coached at all levels of the Kiwanis Baseball programs and supported provincial athletes at national-level competitions across the country. He also played a significant role in developing community sports in CBS, serving as a coach and mentor across multiple programs and supporting the growth of organized youth and adult sport in the community over many years.

When asked about being inducted on the same night as his brother Rod, he grinned and glanced over at the former all-star hockey goaltender, who was adorned with a flamboyant red Montreal Canadiens blazer for the evening.

“It was great that we got in at the same time. We both got out of the sporting world a little while ago, so it was really nice,” Randy said.

Rod competed in hockey, soccer, ball hockey, and softball over several decades, achieving success at both the provincial and Atlantic levels. He won an Atlantic Junior Hockey Championship, a provincial Intermediate Hockey Championship, and multiple senior soccer league championships in CBS.

He also co-founded the CBS Ball Hockey League in the 1980s and established the CBS 19+ Men’s Slow Pitch League, which continues to operate today.

Rod also served with the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of Canada for nearly 25 years, including 12 years on the national executive and a term as president from 2017 to 2021. He also served as President of the Bowling Proprietors of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Randy said the brothers still golf together.

“We fudge the numbers a little, sometimes. We’re still brothers, so we compete,” Randy said with a small smile on his face.

Coates was credited with making a lasting contribution through decades of volunteer leadership in baseball, hockey, softball, and soccer.

He supported sport at every level, from grassroots development to provincial and national programs, serving as a coach, administrator and leader while focused on athlete development and program growth.

Coates also represented Newfoundland and Labrador at the Canada Summer Games and Baseball Canada championships and has received multiple provincial and national honours for coaching and volunteer service. 

“Across all roles, David has been widely recognized for his commitment to building strong programs, supporting athletes, and strengthening community sport through decades of volunteer service,” read his nomination.

The Queen Elizabeth Regional High School Pioneers Senior Girls Volleyball Team (1993 to 1996) became one of the most successful high school volleyball teams in the province during their era, setting a standard of excellence over several seasons.

Their success included gold medal performances at the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games, multiple provincial titles, and appearances at Eastern Canadian and National Championships. Beyond the results, their legacy is found in their lasting impact on the sport.

“The team helped elevate girls high school volleyball in Newfoundland and Labrador, and many of its members went on to contribute as athletes, coaches, and leaders in their communities,” read their nomination.

The 2000 CBS Girls Baseball Team was credited with making history, being established the same year that the provincial Summer Games introduced girls’ baseball. They went on to capture both the All-Newfoundland Championship and the gold medal at the Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Games, helping to raise the profile of girls baseball at both the local and provincial levels.

“At a time when opportunities for female athletes in baseball were still developing, this team helped open doors, showing that girls could compete and succeed at the highest level,” read the nomination.