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”
Tag Archives: Canada
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”
But What Do I Know? . . . Mel Stottlemyre, Tim Raines, Larry Walker, Steve Christmas, Rickey Henderson
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: Please send good vibes and strength to Mel Stottlemyre, the father of former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Todd Stottlemyre. In a Facebook post on Friday, the ex-Blue Jays hurler shared that his 75-year-old father is fighting for his life. “Calling all prayer warriors during thisContinue reading “But What Do I Know? . . . Mel Stottlemyre, Tim Raines, Larry Walker, Steve Christmas, Rickey Henderson”
Cooperstowners in Canada: Joe Morgan
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Bill James, baseball’s most influential statistician, ranks him as the greatest second baseman in major league history, and fans that watched Joe Morgan play at Jarry Park would probably agree. In 43 games at the old Montreal ballpark, the 5-foot-7, 160-pound second baseman clubbed seven homers and recorded aContinue reading “Cooperstowners in Canada: Joe Morgan”
Cooperstowners in Canada: Nolan Ryan
It was Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Terry Puhl that saved Nolan Ryan’s fifth no-hitter. Manning right field for the Houston Astros, the Melville, Sask., native took off after a deep fly ball that Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Mike Scioscia clubbed to right-centre off of Ryan in the top of the seventh inning at theContinue reading “Cooperstowners in Canada: Nolan Ryan”
