My weekly opinions, observations and rants about some Canadian baseball stories: This quote from Vernon Wells in Richard Griffin’s article in today’s Toronto Star reiterates why I don’t mind V-Dub being paid $126 million: “I think the most important thing about getting contracts like this is you get to go out and do so... Continue Reading →
Larry Walker should be the second Canadian player elected to Cooperstown
With Pat Gillick being elected by the Veterans Committee, Roberto Alomar likely to be voted in by the writers and longtime Expos broadcaster Dave Van Horne to receive the Ford C. Frick Award, the 2011 National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will have a distinctly Canadian flavor. In his first year on the ballot,... Continue Reading →
Could Canadian Rich Harden be the next Kerry Wood?
He seems to have almost as many stints on the disabled list as he does wins, but there’s no question that when Victoria, B.C. native Rich Harden is healthy, his stuff is electrifying. Returning from yet another injury in September, Harden was dispatched to the bullpen by the Texas Rangers, where he would make two... Continue Reading →
Jesse Crain could become Jays’ first Toronto-born closer
On Jesse Crain’s website (www.jessecrain.net), he writes that one of his favourite mottoes is “Everything happens for a reason.” Well, the fact that the Toronto native is looking to become a closer and the Toronto Blue Jays are looking for a closer should provide a very good reason for him to consider pitching in Canada... Continue Reading →
Canadian Free Agents – Jeff Francis
Vancouver, B.C. native Jeff Francis became a free agent last Wednesday when the Colorado Rockies declined to exercise his $7-million option for 2011. Plagued by shoulder woes for the past two seasons, the Canuck southpaw, whose 55 career victories make him the winningest left-hander in Rockies history, is hoping to stay in Denver. MLB Trade... Continue Reading →
Canadian Mike Gardiner reflects on playing for Sparky Anderson
Mike Gardiner will always be thankful for the 15 days in 1994 that Sparky Anderson made him a big league closer. With ninth-inning fixture Mike Henneman on the disabled list, the Tigers venerable manager called the Sarnia, Ont., native into his office to tell him he would be the interim closer. “Sparky told me not... Continue Reading →
Some Canadian links to the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants
There were no Canadian players on the World Champion San Francisco Giants, but with a little digging, I uncovered that several members of the organization have links to The Great White North: Jeff Mallett, a principal owner of the Giants, was born in Vancouver. The former Yahoo! president has been part of the Giants... Continue Reading →
Intimidating spitballer Burleigh Grimes managed in Montreal and Toronto
In “Baseball’s Fabulous Montreal Royals,” William Brown writes that the media was surprised to discover a clean-shaven, finely dressed Burleigh Grimes at the press conference that officially unveiled the five-time, 20-game winner as the manager of the Montreal Royals in 1939. After all, when Grimes was pitching, he was nicknamed “Ol’ Stubblebeard” because he opted... Continue Reading →
Plenty of Canadian connections on Texas Rangers
They may have released Victoria, B.C. native Rich Harden earlier this month, but several players in the Texas Rangers’ starting lineups on Friday and Saturday have honed their skills in Canada. Here’s a list of the players and their Canadian connections: 1. Michael Young, 3B As I’ve written before, Young was selected by the Toronto... Continue Reading →
The greatest man that Babe Ruth ever knew was a Canadian
Without the love and guidance of a hulking, 6-foot-6 father figure from Nova Scotia, Babe Ruth likely wouldn’t have evolved into a baseball superstar. Throughout his career, The Bambino often referred to Brother Matthias, the Canadian disciplinarian at the St. Mary’s Industrial School in Baltimore, as the greatest man he ever knew. No longer able... Continue Reading →