Bill would name field after the “Father of Hilo Baseball”

The “Father of Hilo Baseball” will be commemorated with a baseball field at the Dr. Francis F. C. Wong Stadium named after James “Jimmy” Correa.

The Hawaii County Council voted Wednesday in favor of a bill that will name the Ho‘olulu Complex ballfield the “James ‘Jimmy’ Correa Ballfield.”

Correa was a baseball coach at St. Joseph School for 31 years between 1955 and 1986, leading the Cardinals to two state titles. Correa also coached COLT League, in which he took Hilo to two national championships, and played baseball for the Hawaiian All-Stars during the 1950s.

In 1987, the United States Baseball Federation named Correa National Volunteer Amateur Coach of the Year at a convention in Atlanta.

Correa’s sons, Andy and Tom, are also baseball coaches — and his grandson, Kainoa Correa, is an MLB coach.

Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy, said the bill, if passed, will go into effect on June 15, Correa’s birthday, to coincide with other memorial celebrations.