This past week Germantown Baseball League, and the youth sports communities throughout the Memphis and Shelby County area suffered a huge loss with the untimely passing of Todd Eaton. Todd served as an umpire for GBL for the past 10+ years as well as other youth organizations throughout the City of Memphis and surrounding areas.

Todd was a tremendous asset to the Germantown Baseball League. He worked tirelessly umpiring baseball and softball games. Todd always put the players first in everything he did. Todd was not just an umpire, he was a reminder of what our league is all about – his first priority was to make sure the boys and girls that competed in our league had a great experience and he wanted to make them feel important. 

It didn’t matter what the circumstance was, Todd made sure he did his job with the kids in mind. He was honest with the coaches, and quick to tell you he may have missed a close call – in which most times he didn’t. Todd did a tough job with a smile on his face at all times.

Most everyone who has been associated with GBL over the years experienced Todd’s impact on the league on game nights, but most didn’t get to witness his passion for the league behind the scenes. Todd was not just a GBL Umpire. He was an ambassador for our league. He was an umpire, a coach, a mentor and an example to all of us. He always would ask what he could do to make things better for the kids and was always overly appreciative of the opportunity to be a part of GBL.

It is with great sadness, that we have to report his untimely death in the prime of his life. Please remember his wife Gloria and the rest of his family and friends during this difficult time. For those of you who may not know, Todd was the son of former University of Memphis Radio voice “Big” Jack Eaton. Todd loved Philadelphia pro sports teams, but he loved youth sports more than anything.  The number of people he touched over his 25 plus years of working in youth sports is amazing.

As an organization we are determined to continue the legacy that Todd left behind. His impact on our league will certainly continue to move forward, even though we will not have his smiling face on the fields anymore. If you want to do something personally to honor Todd, the family has asked that donations to the Memphis Union Mission would be greatly appreciated. Todd spent a lot of his spare time working with that organization.