Kevin Glew catches up with legendary Toronto Blue Jays catcher and national team manager Ernie Whitt who is still "a big deal in Canada."
Toronto Blue Jays legend Ernie Whitt still “a big deal in Canada”
10 things you might not know about Jim Clancy
Kevin Glew shares 10 things you might not know about unheralded longtime Toronto Blue Jays workhorse pitcher Jim Clancy.
Ex-Expos: Whatever happened to . . . Dick Grapenthin?
Dick Grapenthin pitched parts of three MLB season with the Expos. October 27, 2022 By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada After completing his warm-up pitches, a nervous Dick Grapenthin peered in for the sign from future Hall of Famer Gary Carter. Standing in the batter’s box to face him was none other than Atlanta Braves... Continue Reading →
Ex-Expos: Whatever happened to . . . Gary Waslewski?
May 3, 2022 By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Many of the biggest highlights of Gary Waslewski’s baseball career happened when he was pitching in Canada. In 1965 and 1966, he was a key pitcher for the International League’s Toronto Maple Leafs and helped them capture back-to-back championships. In the latter year, he won 18... Continue Reading →
Ex-Blue Jays: Whatever happened to . . . Tom Bruno?
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada After talking to Tom Bruno over the phone for an hour, you almost forget that he’s not Canadian. The easygoing Chicago native, who now resides in Pierre, South Dakota, has fished for walleye in Gravenhurst, Ont., trained hunting dogs in Saskatchewan and, most memorably for us baseball fans, toed... Continue Reading →
Ex-Expos: Whatever happened to . . . Bill Sampen?
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada To say Bill Sampen had an unlikely big league career would be a massive understatement. The former Montreal Expos right-hander grew up in Emden, Ill., a tiny farming community (population 500) and attended an equally tiny high school (approximately 120 students) whose baseball team was managed by the basketball... Continue Reading →
Ex-Blue Jays: Whatever happened to . . . Jeff DeWillis?
Jeff DeWillis in spring training with the Blue Jays in 1986. Photo supplied. By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Jeff DeWillis dug into the batter’s box at Comiskey Park with two outs in the top of the fifth inning with the Toronto Blue Jays trailing the Chicago White Sox 3-2. One of his catching heroes,... Continue Reading →
Ex-Blue Jays: Whatever happened to . . . Boomer Wells?
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada The first "Boomer" Wells to play for the Toronto Blue Jays wasn't given much of an opportunity to excel with the club. And in hindsight, it's hard to understand why. In August 1981, when the 6-foot-5 slugger, whose birth name is Greg, was summoned to the big leagues for... Continue Reading →
Ex-Expos: Whatever happened to? . . . Bill Atkinson
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada There's nothing greater than a mother's love, but it doesn't hurt if she can also teach you how to throw a curveball. Former Montreal Expos right-hander Bill Atkinson can attest to this. It was his mother, Patricia, that not only showered him and his four sisters with love as... Continue Reading →
Whatever happened to? . . . Brian Milner
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Two numbers fuel the legend of Brian Milner in Toronto Blue Jays' lore: 18 and .444. At 18 years old (and 218 days), he remains the youngest player ever to suit up for the club. He accomplished this feat when he was the Blue Jays' starting catcher on June... Continue Reading →