Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: It was 19 years ago today that Maple Ridge, B.C., native Larry Walker became the first Canadian to win a big league MVP Award. The left-handed-hitting slugger captured the National League honour by batting .366 and belting 49 home runs during the 1997 season. He... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: My condolences to the family of Charlottetown, P.E.I., native and ex-big leaguer Vern Handrahan who passed away after a long battle with cancer on Wednesday at the age of 79. One of just three big league players from P.E.I. (George Wood (Pownal, P.E.I.) and Henry... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: Congratulations to Vancouver, B.C., native and ex-Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Scott Richmond for helping the EDA Rhinos capture the Taiwan Series championship yesterday. The 37-year-old right-hander won nine games and hurled 152-2/3 innings for the Chinese Professional Baseball League club and was named the league’s... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: In a Toronto Blue Jays’ lineup in which the two-through-seven hitters are pulling in a combined $86.1 million this season, it was their eighth and ninth batters, Kevin Pillar and Ezequiel Carrera, who are making just over $1 million between them, who came through in... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: If it seems like Russell Martin has hit a lot of clutch, late-inning home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays this season, that’s because he has. Thirteen of the Montreal native’s 19 homers have come in the sixth inning or later. Thirty-two years ago today,... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: Perhaps this is a good omen for the Toronto Blue Jays, who will be attempting to salvage one win out of their series against the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon. Twenty-four years ago today, the Blue Jays registered 10 consecutive hits in the second inning... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: On Tuesday, it was announced that Darryl Sittler will be among the newest inductees to Canada’s Walk of Fame. He’s certainly a worthy honouree, but how can Canada truly have a Walk of Fame without Larry Walker on it? The Maple Ridge, B.C., native is... Continue Reading →
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 →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: Victoria, B.C., native Michael Saunders is the only Canadian player headed to the MLB All-Star Game in San Diego on Tuesday. Garnering 17.7 million fan votes, Saunders defeated the four other “Final Vote” candidates – George Springer, Dustin Pedroia, Evan Longoria and Ian Kinsler –... 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 →