Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
Dave Righetti made 13 appearances of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1994 By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada When someone mentions Dave Righetti, you're more likely to remember him as a young left-hander with the New York Yankees who on July 4, 1983 became the first Bronx Bombers pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Don... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada It was the fall of 1975 and it seemed like the stage might be set for Larry Doby to once again make major league history. Doby, who, in July 1947, became the first African-American player to compete in the American League, was a highly respected hitting instructor in the... Continue Reading →
Dave Parker played 13 games for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1991 By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Do you remember when the Cobra was a Blue Jay? No one would blame if you don't. After all, Dave Parker was only a Blue Jay for three weeks 30 years ago. But in that short tenure... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada When you mention Maury Wills to most baseball fans, they reminisce about him as a fleet-footed infielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers. And that only makes sense. The speedy Washington, D.C., native spent almost 12 of his 14 major league seasons in Dodger Blue and was named to five... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Who's the first former Toronto Blue Jays player to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame? That's a question that often stumps Canadian baseball fans. And you can be forgiven if you don't remember Phil Niekro - who's the answer to the question - making three starts... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada His overpowering fastball and late-inning dominance with the Chicago Cubs are the primary reasons Lee Smith was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Today's Game Era Committee in 2019. Some may even remember him as a menacing 6-foot-6, 260-pound closer with the Boston Red Sox... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada It was approaching the middle of May in the 1997 season and the Toronto Blue Jays' offence was sputtering. Joe Carter, in his final season with the club, had belted just two home runs in April. The club had resorted to using aging utility man Juan Samuel as a... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Even some of the most diehard Montreal Expos fans won't remember Hal McRae's 17-month tenure as the club's hitting coach from January 1990 to May 1991, but you can bet that Larry Walker does. In 1990, the Maple Ridge, B.C., native, then a prized young hitting prospect, was one... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada No one would blame you if you don't remember any "Sweet Music" at the SkyDome in 1996. After all, the Toronto Blue Jays finished a dismal 74-88 that season and left-hander Frank Viola (nicknamed "Sweet Music") struggled in all but one of his six starts with the club. Yes,... Continue Reading →
Photo: Getty Images By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada With the New York Mets, Ron Darling was an all-star, a Gold Glove Award winner, a 1986 World Series champion and he's scheduled to be inducted into their Hall of Fame this year. Later in his playing career, he became a key member of the Oakland... Continue Reading →