My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · In a final classy gesture, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons will step aside today to allow Montreal native Russell Martin to manage the team for the club’s final game of the season. The 35-year-old Martin, who has not played since September 3, will... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Justin Smoak, George Kottaras, Cito Gaston
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: The Toronto Blue Jays signed first baseman Justin Smoak to a two-year contract extension on Saturday. The question many Blue Jays fans are asking is why? Though the payout is relatively modest by today’s standards ($4.125 million per season in 2017 and 2018 and a... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Jean-Pierre Roy, Rick Langford, Jeff Francis
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Quebec baseball pioneer Jean-Pierre Roy passed away on Friday at the age of 94 in Margate, Fla. Roy had been suffering from prostate cancer, but his wife, Jeanne Duval Roy, said that he died from complications related to high blood pressure. Born in Montreal... Continue Reading →
August 16, 1989: Larry Walker makes his big league debut with the Expos
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada It was Larry Walker’s first major league game and his opponents were already pitching to him like he was Babe Ruth. At least, that’s what San Francisco Giants first baseman Will Clark told a 22-year-old Walker after he walked for a second time in his big league debut with... Continue Reading →
Former Toronto Blue Jays reliever Frank Wills: 1958 to 2012
For longtime Blue Jays fans, the memory of Tom Henke fanning Orioles pinch-hitter Larry Sheets on September 30, 1989 to clinch the club’s second division title remains vivid. What many have forgotten, however, is that without the four shutout innings supplied by right-hander Frank Wills in relief of Jimmy Key that day, there likely wouldn’t... Continue Reading →