Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · With former slugger Jason Bay (Trail, B.C.) and versatile pitcher Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, B.C.) being inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame together this summer, it got me wondering how Bay fared against Dempster in the major leagues. The answer is not very... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: After 13 long seasons in the minors, right-hander Dustin Molleken (Regina, Sask.) was called up by the Detroit Tigers on Monday. Unfortunately, he did not pitch in a game before the Tigers shipped him back to triple-A Toledo two days later. A 15th round pick... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada He was the Toronto Blue Jays’ first ace. Before there was Dave Stieb, there was Dave Lemanczyk. And few have fought harder to stay on the mound than Lemanczyk, who tossed 11 complete games for a hapless Blue Jays squad in their inaugural season. The strong-willed, 6-foot-4 right-hander pitched... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada He was the first rifle-armed Toronto Blue Jays right fielder. Before Jesse Barfield, Shawn Green, Raul Mondesi and Jose Bautista, there was Steve Bowling. The former University of Tulsa running back was the starting right fielder for the Blue Jays in the franchise’s first game on April 7, 1977.... Continue Reading →
He’s the answer to one of the more challenging Canadian baseball trivia questions. Who is the only person to be in a big league uniform for the first game at Exhibition Stadium and the first game at the SkyDome? The answer is Chuck Hartenstein, who was a member of the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen for... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Believe it or not, after Blue Jays centre fielder Kevin Pillar made an ill-advised dive for a line drive hit by Billy Burns in the eighth inning in Thursday’s game against Oakland that turned what should’ve been a single into a triple, there were... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • After the Toronto Blue Jays traded third baseman Brett Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) to the Oakland A’s as part of the package for Josh Donaldson on November 28, almost every Jays fan I encountered said that they wished the club hadn’t traded Lawrie. My standard... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Gary Woods, who played centre field and batted fifth in the first game in Toronto Blue Jays history, passed away of a heart attack on Thursday at the age of 60. You can read my full obituary on Woods here. The former Jays outfielder... Continue Reading →
My weekly opinions, observations and rants about some Canadian baseball stories (Please follow me on Twitter: @kevinglewsports): A belated congratulations to New Westminster, B.C., native Justin Morneau who belted his 200th career homer off of Cleveland Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin on August 6. The Twins slugger becomes the fourth Canadian to belt 200 big... Continue Reading →
Jesse Jefferson, a right-handed pitcher on the Toronto Blue Jays 1977 squad, has passed away at the age of 62. He died of prostate cancer in his hometown of Midlothian, Va., on Thursday. Selected by the Jays in the 1976 expansion draft, Jefferson was a mainstay on the club’s pitching staff from 1977 to 1980.... Continue Reading →