Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada He may have been the most important hitting coach in Montreal Expos history. Yet, even some of the most diehard Expos fans probably won't remember Mickey Vernon's tenure as the club's batting instructor. When the two-time American League batting champion took over as the team's hitting coach under manager... Continue Reading →
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 →
Larry Doby, who would've turned 100 today, had a special connection with the Montreal Expos and the city of Montreal.
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 →
Kevin Glew takes a deep dive in Ruben Sierra's career and Sierra's mostly forgotten 14-game tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1997.
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 →
