*Here’s an article I wrote a few years ago and have been updating each year on Jackie Robinson Day. It has never been more important to remember Jackie Robinson than right now. — Kevin Glew. By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada How do you do justice to the most important player in baseball history? That’s... Continue Reading →
Terry Puhl elected to Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Longtime outfielder Terry Puhl (Melville, Sask.) has been elected to the Houston Astros Hall of Fame. Photo: Houston Astros/Twitter By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Melville, Sask., native Terry Puhl has been elected to the Houston Astros Hall of Fame. The Astros made the announcement in a press release on Thursday. The longtime Astros outfielder... Continue Reading →
Brash to be called up by Mariners
Right-hander Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) will be called up by the Seattle Mariners today. Photo: Niagara University Athletics By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Canadian right-hander Matt Brash will be added to the Seattle Mariners’ roster prior to today’s game with the Oakland A’s, according to a report from Ryan Divish, of The Seattle Times.... Continue Reading →
Canadian MLBers you might not have heard of . . . Bob Alexander
Vancouver native Bob Alexander pitched in four games for the Baltimore Orioles in 1955. Photo: The Evening Sun (Baltimore) By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Bob Alexander was the very definition of a journeyman professional pitcher, toeing the rubber for no less than 17 teams in 18 seasons. But the crafty right-hander’s resume does boast... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Hank Aaron, Mike Soroka, James Paxton, Tom Henke
This is a wonderful photo of Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees and Montreal Expos legendary executives Jim Fanning (far left) and John McHale (far right) with Hank Aaron on a special night at Jarry Park in 1974 to celebrate Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's major league home run record. Photo: Courtesy of Montreal Expos Museum... Continue Reading →
Remembering Hank Aaron and his Canadian connections
One of Hank Aaron's Milwaukee Braves' teammates over the years was right-handed pitcher and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ron Piche (Verdun, Que.), shown on the left, with Aaron. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Hank Aaron, Major League Baseball's longtime home run king and one of its... Continue Reading →
Remembering Whitey Ford and his Canadian connections
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Who was Whitey Ford's manager when he recorded the lowest ERA of his professional career? The answer is Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee George Selkirk. The Huntsville, Ont., native was the dugout boss of the class-A Eastern League Binghamton Triplets in 1949 when Ford, then a fresh-faced 20-year-old,... Continue Reading →
Remembering Don Zimmer – Born: January 17, 1931
Please take a moment to remember baseball lifer Don Zimmer who would've turned 89 today. “Popeye” spent 66 seasons in professional baseball as a player, coach, manager and adviser. Best known for his managerial stints with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs and for his tenure as the New York Yankees bench coach, Zimmer... Continue Reading →
January 8, 1991: Fergie Jenkins becomes first Canadian elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame
Twenty-nine years ago today, Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) became the first - and still only - Canadian inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The Canadian pitching legend was elected in his third year of eligibility along with fellow right-hander Gaylord Perry and seven-time American League batting champion Rod Carew. Jenkins grew... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Mike Soroka, Nick Pivetta, Michael Saunders, Tom Robson
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · After consulting with my friends at Alberta Dugout Stories (@ABDugoutStories) and with Alberta baseball expert Ruben Lipszyc, I believe I can safely say that when Calgary native Mike Soroka started against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday that he became the first pitcher born... Continue Reading →