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 two memorable firsts. On April 11, 1955, when he hurled 1-2/3 innings in relief for the Baltimore Orioles againstContinue reading “Canadian MLBers you might not have heard of . . . Bob Alexander”
Tag Archives: Canada
But What Do I Know? . . . Hank Aaron, Mike Soroka, James Paxton, Tom Henke
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: – As you have heard, longtime home run champion and one of baseball’s most important and inspirational ambassadors, Hank Aaron, passed away on Friday at the age of 86. You can read my full obituary and a summary ofContinue reading “But What Do I Know? . . . Hank Aaron, Mike Soroka, James Paxton, Tom Henke”
Remembering Hank Aaron and his Canadian connections
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Hank Aaron, Major League Baseball’s longtime home run king and one of its most important and inspirational ambassadors, passed away on Friday at the age of 86. The Atlanta Braves shared that Aaron died in his sleep. No cause of death has been provided. “Hank Aaron’s incredible talent onContinue reading “Remembering Hank Aaron and his Canadian connections”
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 Whitey Ford and his Canadian connections”
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, ZimmerContinue reading “Remembering Don Zimmer – Born: January 17, 1931”
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 grewContinue reading “January 8, 1991: Fergie Jenkins becomes first Canadian elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame”
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 bornContinue reading “But What Do I Know? . . . Mike Soroka, Nick Pivetta, Michael Saunders, Tom Robson”
But What Do I Know? . . . Larry Millson, Joey Votto, Tim Raines, Don Sutton
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: Longtime Globe & Mail scribe and Toronto Blue Jays beat writer Larry Millson was presented with the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Jack Graney Award by Hall board members John Starzynski and David Morneau in a ceremony between innings during the Blue Jays’ 6-4 winContinue reading “But What Do I Know? . . . Larry Millson, Joey Votto, Tim Raines, Don Sutton”
But What Do I Know? . . . Brett Lawrie, Cito Gaston, Arleene Noga, Pat Hentgen
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: Five years ago, Langley, B.C., native Brett Lawrie was on top of the Canadian baseball world. After recording a .373 on-base percentage and belting nine home runs in his first 43 major league games with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011, the sparkplug infielder wentContinue reading “But What Do I Know? . . . Brett Lawrie, Cito Gaston, Arleene Noga, Pat Hentgen”
But What Do I Know? . . . Tim Raines, Dave Stieb, Kelly Gruber, Eric Gagne
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: One of my favourite spring training stories so far this year is that according to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, Toronto Blue Jays players have taken to calling minor league instructor Tim Raines “HOF” – as in “Hall of Fame.” The Montreal Expos legend was elected toContinue reading “But What Do I Know? . . . Tim Raines, Dave Stieb, Kelly Gruber, Eric Gagne”
