But What Do I Know? . . . Bob Uecker, Justin Morneau, Michael Saunders, Alison Gordon

January 19, 2025

By Kevin Glew

Cooperstowners in Canada

Some Canadian baseball news and notes from the past week:

The time I met Bob Uecker

In 2009, as part of a trip I went on with the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to present Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.) with the 2008 Tip O’Neill Award, we stopped at Miller Park in Milwaukee where Brewers general manager Doug Melvin (Chatham, Ont.) and assistant general manager Gord Ash (Toronto, Ont.) gave us a tour. We ended up on the field before the game. Ash introduced us to legendary broadcaster Bob Uecker and someone snapped the above photo. Uecker was as charismatic and charming as I imagined, but also surprisingly potty-mouthed. I wasn’t offended, just surprised. After all, this was the star of Mr. Belvedere. But that foul mouth has been mentioned in many of the tributes I’ve read about him since his death on Thursday at the age of 90. It certainly didn’t alter my opinion of him as a one-of-a-kind baseball icon who transcended his sport. There will never be another one like Bob Uecker. He was Mr. Baseball. He’ll be missed.

Axford pays tribute to Uecker

John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.), who was a reliever for parts of six seasons with the Brewers, shared a moving tribute to Uecker on his X account on Thursday. Here it is (I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing it):

“When I returned to Milwaukee for that one fateful game in 2021, after blowing out my elbow and walking off the mound, I was emotional and unsure of what to do for days. Until one afternoon, Bob and I chatted in the food room at the stadium … he asked what my plan was. I told him my options: surgery and try again or walk away happy with my career.

When I told him I didn’t know what to do, he told me, “No, you do know! No one knows what it’s like to be out there! How much you put in. They’re not like us Axy! People just don’t get it!” He was fired up (there may have been a lot more swearing haha). He kept going. I listened. He was still a player at heart. Every day. He loved the game and the players in it. When he spoke to you on this level, he was your teammate. His emotion, passion, and words that day resonated with me more than anyone or anything else. It lead me to surgery and an 18-month journey just to get out there and pitch one last time. He was right!

In August this past summer, I was fortunate to briefly chat with Bob in the Brewers clubhouse. Still as great as ever and still one of the boys. Laughing it up but also expressing that serious and empathetic side that people outside the clubhouse rarely saw. I’m happy I got that brief moment in time.

Bob was an absolute treasure to the game. I’m so grateful for that conversation in 2021. I’m grateful for the time I got to spend with him in my playing career. Even when I wasn’t playing for Milwaukee he would take the time to catch up on the field before games. I feel lucky to have had such a legendary voice call so many of my moments on the mound. Hearing him say “heeee struck him out!” in those late innings to end a close game felt exhilarating. His excitement during those calls always made me feel larger than life on the mound when I heard them after. Or perhaps he was just happy I finally got out of the heart palpitating jam I put myself in to begin with! Haha. He called me Axy in person … one of the only people in the game to ever call me that! So, in turn, I would call him Uecky! He made you feel special. An undeniable character through and through. Irreplaceable. An immense loss to baseball and the wonderful city of Milwaukee. We’ll all miss him.

Love you, Uecky.”

When Uecker visited Lethbridge in 1972

Ian Wilson, of Alberta Dugout Stories, wrote an excellent article about the time Uecker was a speaker at the Kinsmen Sportsmen’s Dinner in Lethbridge, Alta., in 1972. Not surprisingly Uecker was hailed as one of the “funniest” and “most entertaining” guests in the dinner’s history. And Uecker was in fine, self-deprecating form.

“I’d have an O-for-June, O-for-July and so on. I started a slump in 1962 and it ended in 1967 … the day I got released,” quipped Uecker.

Read the full article here.

Morneau to return to Twins’ TV booth

Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.) will return for his fifth season as the primary analyst on Minnesota Twins’ TV broadcasts. In total, he has been part of the Twins’ TV team for eight seasons. The 2006 American League MVP served as a TV analyst on approximately 70 games for the Twins in 2024. On top of his broadcasting duties, Morneau also serves as a special assistant to baseball operations with the Twins.

Prior to his broadcasting career, Morneau enjoyed an outstanding major league playing career. He suited up for parts of 14 big league seasons with the Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox. Morneau ranks in the top five among Canadian major leaguers in many all-time offensive statistical categories, including third in hits (1,603), RBIs (985), doubles (349) and total bases (2,739) and fourth in home runs (247). For his efforts, he was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020.

Saunders lands new coaching job with the Mariners

After three seasons as an outfielder/baserunning coordinator in the Atlanta Braves’ organization, Michael Saunders (Victoria, B.C.) has accepted a similar position with the Seattle Mariners.

Saunders spent the first six seasons of his big-league playing career with the Mariners from 2009 to 2014, batting .231 with 53 home runs in 553 games. The left-handed hitting outfielder was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on December 3, 2014 and he proceeded to enjoy his finest season in 2016 when he belted 24 homers and played in the All-Star Game. In all, in parts of nine major league campaigns with the Mariners, Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies, Saunders hit .232 with 81 home runs.

After hanging up his playing spikes, Saunders managed the low-A Augusta GreenJackets in the Braves’ organization in 2021 prior to becoming a minor league outfielder/baserunning coordinator.

Wick headed back to Japan

Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, B.C.) will return to the Yokohama Bay Stars in 2025 after winning a Japan Series championship with them last year. Wick was outstanding out of the Bay Stars’ bullpen in 2024, going 5-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 43 appearances. He struck out 64 batters in 58 1/3 innings. It was his first season in Japan.

After being released by the Chicago Cubs in mid-July of 2023, Wick signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays and was assigned to the triple-A Buffalo Bisons where he fanned 38 batters in 21 innings, while allowing just 10 hits in 20 appearances. Prior to that, in parts of five big league seasons with the San Diego Padres and Cubs, Wick registered a 3.82 ERA and collected 20 saves in 146 relief appearances.

Adduci named hitting coach of D-Backs’ High-A team

Jim Adduci (Burnaby, B.C.) has been named the assistant hitting coach of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ High-A Hillsboro Hops. He moves to the D-Backs’ organization after two seasons with the Cubs as the team’s assistant coach, game planning. Prior to his coaching career, Adduci was a left-handed hitting outfielder/first baseman who played parts of 16 professional seasons. He enjoyed his longest tenure in the big leagues in 2018 with the Detroit Tigers when he batted .267 in 59 games. Selected by the Marlins in the 42nd round of the 2003 MLB draft, Adduci enjoyed his greatest success with the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization in 2015 when he hit .314 with 28 home runs and 106 RBIs in 132 games.

Remembering Alison Gordon on her birthday

Trailblazing baseball reporter Alison Gordon would’ve turned 82 today. When she was assigned to cover the Blue Jays for the Toronto Star in 1979, she became the first full-time, female beat reporter in American League history. Born in New York City, Gordon attended Queen’s University and worked for CBC in radio and TV before accepting the position to cover the Blue Jays. While working for the Toronto Star from 1979 to 1983, she had to overcome resistance from some players and opposing teams to gain access to the players in the clubhouse. In her first season, her media credentials were issued to her as “Mr. Alison Gordon.” Her trials and tribulations as a beat reporter are documented in her excellent 1984 book, Foul Balls. After the 1983 season, she left her career as a reporter to write mystery novels and she penned four fiction books in which the heroine, Kate Henry, was a baseball writer who solved murders. Gordon passed away in Toronto in 2015. She was honoured with the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Jack Graney Award posthumously in 2017.

Remembering George Selkirk who died 38 years ago

Former New York Yankees outfielder George Selkirk (Huntsville, Ont.) died 38 years ago today at the age of 79. Dubbed “Twinkletoes” for his distinct running style, Selkirk was arguably the greatest Canadian player of the first half of the 20th century. He is best known as the man that replaced Babe Ruth in right field for the Bronx Bombers. Wearing the Bambino’s No. 3, Selkirk excelled during his nine-year big-league career with the Yankees. His major league resume boasts two All-Star selections, five .300+ seasons, two 100-RBI campaigns and five World Series rings. Following his playing days, Selkirk served as supervisor of player personnel with the Kansas City Athletics in 1957 and as the general manager of the Washington Senators from 1964 to 1969. He was one of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s inaugural inductees in 1983.

Please support my nephew Kalin for the Toronto Maple Leafs Easter Seals Skate

My nephew Kalin Glew is raising money to participate in the Toronto Maple Leafs Easter Seals skate that will take place this Thursday. Kalin is a wonderful, thoughtful and inspirational guy who has cerebral palsy. He has benefitted greatly from the programs offered by Easter Seals. All of the money Kalin raises for the Maple Leafs skate will go to support the Easter Seals programs. You can read more about how your support will make a difference and make a donation to Kalin’s fundraising page here. We originally thought the deadline for donations was January 9, but he can actually raise money right up to the date of the skate.

Trivia Question

This week’s question: Who is the only broadcaster born in Canada to win the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence? Please share your answer in the “Comments” section below.

Last week’s trivia answer

The answer to last week’s trivia question (Outside of Ernie Whitt, who is the only other person to serve as the Canadian senior national team manager at a major international competition since 1999?) was Terry Puhl (Melville, Sask.) at the 2008 Olympics.