Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
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 →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: If it feels like John Gibbons gets thrown out of a lot of games, that’s because he does get thrown out of a lot of games, at least that’s what the statistics say. Just 45 games into the 2016 season, the Toronto Blue Jays skipper... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: It’s now been confirmed that 2016 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Tony Kubek will not be attending the ceremony on June 18 in St. Marys, Ont. The four other living inductees – Pat Hentgen, Dennis Martinez, Wayne Norton and Howard Starkman – will all... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame opens for its 19th season today. It’s well worth the drive to St. Marys, Ont., to visit the museum which is overflowing with one-of-a-kind artifacts. For more information, click on this link. There’s already a game-used bat from Victoria,... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: I won’t pretend that I really know Chris Colabello, but I do know this, in 29 years of going to spring training in Dunedin and attending Toronto Blue Jays games, I’ve never met a kinder, more generous player. I’ve told this story before, but in... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: Congratulations to Langley, B.C., native Brett Lawrie, who recorded his 500th career hit on Thursday. His milestone hit was a single off of Minnesota Twins reliever Trevor May with two out in the top of the eighth inning in a 3-1 win for the Chicago... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Last Sunday, former Montreal Expos superstar Vladimir Guerrero asked his Twitter followers what cap they would like to see him pictured in on his plaque if he’s elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame (He becomes eligible in 2017). Of the 24,804 votes... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Hall of Fame slugger Willie Stargell would’ve turned 76 today. The Pittsburgh Pirates legend walloped 475 home runs in 21 major league seasons and was particularly potent with the bat against the Expos in Montreal. On July 16, 1969, he became the first player... Continue Reading →
