Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Two former Toronto Blue Jays pitchers, a highly respected executive from the club's early years and a beloved coach died in 2021. As the end of the year approaches, let's take a moment to remember them. Elliott Wahle, the Toronto Blue Jays’ original administrator of player personnel, shown here... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Omar Malave, who spent more than three decades in the Toronto Blue Jays' organization as a player, coach and manager, passed away yesterday in Dunedin, Fla., at the age of 58. In a brave and heartbreaking post on Twitter, his daughter shared that her father ended his own life.... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Jerry Johnson, who was the Toronto Blue Jays' winning pitcher in their first-ever game, passed away on Monday after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). He was 77. His wife, Susan Trautmann Johnson, announced his death on her Facebook page this afternoon.... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Three players born in Canada were among the finalists for the 2021 Silver Slugger awards, announced by Louisville Slugger on Monday. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) and Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) are finalists at the first base position in the American League and National League respectively, while Tyler O’Neill... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Chuck Hartenstein, a relief pitcher on the 1977 Toronto Blue Jays, passed away on Saturday at the age of 79. The University of Texas Athletics department reported his death on their website on Tuesday. After major league tenures with the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Boston... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Less than 48 hours have passed since the Toronto Blue Jays were eliminated from postseason contention, but the sting of coming so close seems to have resided a little bit in many of the club's fans. Time - even one day - can put a 91-win season into better... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Who has been the Toronto Blue Jays' best starting pitcher in the postseason? It's not Dave Stieb or Jimmy Key, or even Jack Morris, who was signed specifically for his superlative postseason track record. And younger Blue Jays fans might say it's Marco Estrada. But the correct answer would... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Twenty-six years ago today, Tom Henke registered his 300th major league save when he secured the final four outs for the St. Louis Cardinals in their 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYbrLoDljdU In a Canadian baseball fan's perfect world, Henke would've reached that milestone with... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Sports Illustrated writer Phil Taylor once wrote that John Olerud had "a swing so sweet it should be poured on pancakes." That sweet swing, which Olerud perfected with help his from his dad, John Sr. and by reading Charley Lau's book, The Art of Hitting .300, helped Olerud capture... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada The Toronto Blue Jays dealt right-hander John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday in exchange for cash considerations. With the transaction, the Canuck will rejoin the team he began his big league career with in 2009. The Brewers noted in their press release that Axford... Continue Reading →