Derek Mayson Inducted To 2026 Hall of Fame - Athlete Category

Derek Mayson: The Canadian Dynamo

A fixture on the international softball stage for nearly two decades, Derek Mayson stands as one of the most decorated and versatile players in Canadian fastpitch history. Born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, on April 16, 1984, Mayson's journey in fastpitch began at the tender age of five, playing for his first team, the Twins, in 1989. His dedication to the sport was rooted in a strong family foundation, as he was raised on the ball diamond, making his first appearance at the park when he was just 10 days old. His father, Ken, coached him through much of his minor career and served as a titan of the North Shore softball scene. Mayson credits his family—including his mother, Janet, who has always been his biggest fan, and his older brothers, Scott and Brian—as his primary mentors, coaches, and biggest supporters, showing him what was possible in the game.

A Pillar of Team Canada

Mayson achieved his lifelong dream of representing his country, a goal he held since he became aware of the national team. He attended his first national team camp in 2005 at age 21 and officially made his debut for Team Canada at age 22, representing Canada at the 2006 WBSC Americas Qualifier. Mayson quickly established himself as one of the most versatile players in the game, demonstrating a rare ability to balance offense, defense, and pitching. His primary position was third base, but he also excelled as a pitcher and occasionally played first base.
His international résumé is extensive, encompassing numerous medal wins:

• WBSC World Championships / World Cup: Mayson played in at least five World Cups (called World Championships until 2015). He was crucial in leading Canada to Gold in 2015 in Saskatoon, a career highlight he fondly recalls as "Strike three... and the celebration of winning gold". Mayson also earned Bronze medals in 2009, 2017, and 2019, and closed his career with a Silver medal in his final World Cup appearance in 2022.
• Pan American Games: Mayson won a Gold medal with Team Canada at the 2015 Pan American Games. He also won Silver at the 2006 WBSC Americas Qualifier and Bronze at the same event in 2014.

The Slugger’s Legacy

Throughout his career on the World Championship stage (in three tournaments prior to 2022), Mayson maintained a strong .343 batting average, hitting five home runs, driving in 12 runs, and scoring 23 runs. His offensive prowess often shone brightest when the stakes were highest. During the 2014 Pan American Championship, he registered a .467 batting average and a .619 on-base percentage, and at the 2015 Pan American Games, he hit .583 with three RBIs. During Canada's 2015 World Championship Gold medal run, Mayson started at third base in the final and hit 9-21 overall for a .429 average, including one home run and three doubles.

Mayson capped his storied international career with a phenomenal final performance at the 2022 WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup in New Zealand, where he tied for the tournament lead with three home runs across nine games. A particularly memorable game came in Canada's 6-0 win over Australia, where Mayson was praised by both coaches for being "on fire". As the third baseman, he produced Canada's first three runs in the victory. He went 3-for-4, delivering a long double and hitting two towering home runs—a solo shot in the second inning and another home run in the sixth inning—to finish the afternoon with three RBIs and two runs scored. Coach John Stuart gave Mayson a "big shout out" for his performance.

Domestic and Individual Honors

Before his national team tenure, Mayson was recognized for his immense talent at the youth level, earning Top Pitcher honors at the 2003 U19 Men's Canadian Championship (where his team won Silver) and being named Top Batter at the 2005 U23 Men's Canadian Championship (where his team won Bronze).

In Canadian Senior play, Mayson helped the Vancouver Grey Sox win Gold at the 2007 Men’s Canadian Championship, where he was named to the All-Star team and earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the Qualifying round. He repeated the MVP of the Qualifying round award in 2018 as a member of the Sooke Loggers, who won Silver.

After 17 years dedicated to the national jersey, Mayson announced the 2022 World Cup would be his last, noting that representing Canada brought him an "enormous sense of pride" and that while it was bittersweet, he had "no regrets".

His philosophy emphasizes continuous improvement, recognizing fastpitch as a "game of adjustments, both physical and mental," and encouraging young players to "Play a lot and have fun," as those who enjoy the game have the drive to succeed.