Reno Lizzi

Baseball Builder- Special Legends Class of 2025

Born in Coalhurst, Alberta, Reno Lizzi was a lifelong advocate for sport, particularly baseball and fastball, in the Lethbridge region.

A former player and coach, Lizzi founded Lethbridge’s first junior fastball team in 1948 and later played a central role in introducing professional baseball to the city. In 1972, the Lethbridge Lakers debuted in the Alberta Major Baseball League with Lizzi serving as president. But he had bigger dreams. When the Pioneer League approached him about establishing a team in Lethbridge, he rallied a group of local business leaders and worked tirelessly to upgrade Henderson Stadium to professional standards. His efforts led to the arrival of minor league baseball in Lethbridge, first affiliated with the Montreal Expos and later the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That foundation helped launch the careers of future MLB stars such as Andre Dawson, Candy Maldonado, Steve Sax and Ron Kittle, all of whom spent time in Lethbridge before reaching the big leagues.

Beyond baseball, Lizzi was a passionate community leader. He appeared on local sports radio and television panels and contributed to charitable events like the Kinsmen Sportsman Dinner. The dinner became a highlight in southern Alberta, drawing baseball legends including Sandy Koufax, Ferguson Jenkins, Whitey Ford, Joe Garagiola, and Maury Wills, as well as other greats such as Jesse Owens, Jim Brown, Gale Sayers, Rocky Marciano, and even entertainer Rich Little.

In 1984, Lizzi became a founding director of the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted himself five years later. His legacy continues through the Reno Lizzi Bursary/Scholarship Fund, established in 2006 by the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball, which supports young athletes chasing their dreams.

For Reno Lizzi, bringing professional baseball to his hometown was more than an achievement—it was a dream come true.