Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
Jim Fanning is Canadian baseball royalty. The ebullient former Montreal Expos manager, who turned 84 in September, remains active in Canadian baseball circles. With over 60 years in professional baseball as a player, manager, executive, ambassador and most recently a fill-in analyst on Blue Jays’ radio broadcasts, the amiable Fanning, who resides in London, Ont.,... Continue Reading →
As a new year approaches, it’s a good time to look back and savour the memories of some of the Canadian baseball legends that we lost in 2011. Here are obituaries of the legends that passed away in the second half of the year: Dick Williams, July 7 Elected to the National Baseball Hall of... Continue Reading →
My weekly opinions, observations and rants about some Canadian baseball stories (Please follow me on Twitter: @kevinglewsports): It’s been a sad year for those of us who have fond memories of the 1981 Montreal Expos team that lost to the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Right-hander Charlie Lea became the third member... Continue Reading →
Charlie Lea, the only Montreal Expo to toss a no-hitter at Olympic Stadium, died at his home in Collierville, Tenn., on Friday. Reports indicate that the 54-year-old, former all-star died of a massive heart attack. Lea, who had been working as a radio analyst with the Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate), was interviewed... Continue Reading →
After he broke Lou Brock’s stolen base record on May 1, 1991, Rickey Henderson famously anointed himself “the greatest of all-time.” With such conceit, it seems fitting that Henderson would share a birthday with Jesus. Though most recall the cocky stolen base king as an all-star with the Oakland A’s, Blue Jay fans will remember... Continue Reading →
He’s the only Montreal Expo to toss a no-hitter at Olympic Stadium. And more than 29 years later, Charlie Lea, now an analyst on Memphis Redbirds’ (St. Louis Cardinals Triple-A affiliate) radio broadcasts, still remembers the game vividly. “I walked four guys, so it wasn’t like it was a perfect game,” he reflected modestly, in... Continue Reading →