Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
Jackie Robinson played his first season of integrated baseball with the International League’s Montreal Royals in 1946 before breaking Major League Baseball’s colour barrier the following year. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. *Here’s an article I wrote a few years ago and have been updating each year. It has never been more important to... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Norm Sherry, who served as a coach with the Montreal Expos from November 1977 through the 1981 season, passed away on Monday at the age of 89. His family confirmed his death on Wednesday. His son, Mike, told the Associated Press that Sherry died of natural causes at an... Continue Reading →
Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada When the Detroit Tigers won the World Series in 1984, Sparky Anderson became the first manager to win a championship with both an American League and National League (Cincinnati 1975, 1976) club. But while most associate the fiery, white-haired skipper, who would've turned... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Former Montreal Expos second baseman Johnny Paredes passed away on Thursday in Maracaibo, Venezuela after a battle with cancer at the age of 58. Danny Gallagher was the first Canadian reporter to share the news. His death has also been reported in El Nacional. Born on September 2, 1962... Continue Reading →
Jackie Robinson played his first season of integrated baseball with the International League’s Montreal Royals in 1946 before breaking Major League Baseball’s colour barrier the following year. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. *Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jackie Robinson Day, which is normally celebrated on April 15, was rescheduled to today. Here’s an article... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada You wouldn’t believe the stories this retired cabinetmaker can tell you. Like how he hated throwing batting practice to Roberto Clemente, because almost everything the free-swinging outfielder hit went right back “through the box.” Or about how he shared a spring training complex with Jackie Robinson. “Vero Beach (the... Continue Reading →
He didn't quite make the big leagues, but Wally Fiala must have been able to tell some great stories about his professional baseball career. The gritty infielder, whose road to the big leagues was blocked by Brooklyn Dodgers superstars like Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and Gil Hodges, roomed with the spirited and loquacious Tommy... Continue Reading →
When Glenn Mickens raved to a baseball acquaintance about a promising, young outfielder that was playing behind him on the 1954 Montreal Royals, he may have inadvertently inspired a transaction that would change Pittsburgh Pirates history. “Ironically, one of the other scouts that helped sign me, Howie Haak, was now with the Pirates and came... Continue Reading →
Montreal Gazette reporter Dink Carroll referred to Homer "Dixie" Howell as "the prodigal son." The description was apt when you consider that Howell played parts of six seasons, in four separate stints, with the Montreal Royals. No matter where the likeable catcher traveled during his lengthy professional baseball odyssey, his road always seemed to point... Continue Reading →
Former Montreal Royals manager Max Macon could never escape the questions about Roberto Clemente. Was he or was he not part of a conspiracy to try to hide the talents of Clemente in 1954? To provide some background, when Clemente was signed to a $15,000 contract by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954, the big league... Continue Reading →
