Brendan Barker—umpire, groundskeeper, and unofficial cheerleader for Alameda Little League—passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on June 12. He was just 51 years old.
His death stunned and saddened the community.
“He was always there when the league needed him, during fair weather and foul,” League President Ron Matthews wrote on the league website. A slideshow dedicated to Barker’s memory is headed “Forever Our Blue Brendan. Umpire. Mentor. Friend. Legend.”
A celebration of life for Barker was held on Saturday, July 19, at the Alameda Little League fields, so people could share their stories and show how much he was loved and will be remembered. And the league shared a link to an online Kudo Board, where photos and notes about Barker honor his legacy, including his sense of fun.
“Whether it was cracking jokes with coaches and players, greeting everyone with a big smile, a wave, or a hug—Brendan made you feel seen and valued,” one person wrote.
“Brendan’s inappropriate dancing between innings will forever live in ALL lore,” another added.
It’s very clear that Brendan Barker is sorely missed.
The Alameda Post received an email from a member of the community and Little League mom, Tamiko Yuen, suggesting that an article about Barker would mean a lot to Alamedans.
“It can be hard these days to find community, to belong,” she wrote. “There is so much division and hate and discord. When you find that place where you feel seen, feel like you belong, feel like you are a part of something…that’s special.
“That is exactly what Brendan Barker was to so many people in Alameda and beyond. He was the absolute heart and soul of Alameda Little League, the center of a community. A friend, a mentor, and a fierce supporter to all kids and families. Everyone belonged when Brendan was around.”
Her words expressed the deep sadness shared by so many at his loss.
“The community mourns,” Yuen continued. “It is hard to explain just how central Brendan was to the Alameda baseball community. When he passed, I went through videos to try to find a good one of him. In almost every video of my son at bat you can hear Brendan’s words of encouragement in the background, calling balls and strikes, dancing, chatting with folks on the sidelines. He was the ultimate cheerleader. So important to young kids growing into young adulthood.”
Following Barker’s example of service to the community, the Brendan Barker Foundation has been formed to sponsor kids and adults to become umpires. The foundation was formed using donations that were made to Brendan’s family through a GoFundMe after his passing. The family decided to close the GoFundMe account and donate the money to set up the foundation, in order to support the community that he loved.
“There has been an ‘umpire or referee’ shortage in youth sports in recent years,” Yuen explained. “This foundation will hopefully help build up the umpire force locally and give back for many years to come.”
Another effort to honor Barker has come in the form of a petition to name one of the streets under construction near Wood Middle School, where the Little League fields are located, after him. “This effort is being led by Toby Chavez of Neptune Beach Pearl baseball, who is currently collecting signatures for the petition” Yuen added.
And as a happy closing note, Yuen reported that Alameda Little League 11u All Stars won the Little League Section 1 Championships in Woodland, California. The team wore stickers on their helmets in memory of Barker and chanted “Brendan” after the final win, while holding the championship banner.
“This was a huge win for the League, the first Sectional win for this age group in many years, and was dedicated to Brendan’s memory,” Yuen wrote, noting that the team would go on to the Northern California tournament.
In closing, Yuen noted, “People should hear about someone who lived his life in such a positive way, who always gave back, always smiled with a kind word. He’s a wonderful inspiration.”
