My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Congratulations to Montreal Expos superstar Pedro Martinez, long-time standout Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Lloyd Moseby and Canada’s premier baseball historian Bill Humber who will be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on June 16 in St. Marys, Ont. The Canadian ball hall... Continue Reading →
September 10, 1965 – Fergie Jenkins makes his major league debut 55 years ago today
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Fergie Jenkins can’t recall if he walked or ran to the mound when he was called in from the bullpen to make his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies on September 10, 1965 - 55 years ago today. “I don’t know how I got there,” writes Jenkins in... Continue Reading →
Cooperstowners in Canada: Rube Waddell
He was born on Friday the 13th and he died on April Fools’ Day. That somehow seems fitting for Hall of Fame pitcher Rube Waddell, who was one of baseball’s most colourful and impulsive characters, not to mention the American League’s top left-handed pitcher during the first decade of the 20th century. In parts of... Continue Reading →
The story of the Canadian who lost his batting title to Honus Wagner
He finished one single shy of baseball immortality. And Canadian Roy “Doc” Miller wouldn’t have even needed that hit if the Chicago Cubs hadn’t protested the first game of a doubleheader against Honus Wagner and the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 30, 1911. Despite Wagner’s 0-for-4 performance, the Pirates had secured a 1-0 victory in that... Continue Reading →
Part 2 – Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to enshrine Staub, Melvin, Cormier and Team Canada
*Courtesy of http://www.baseballhalloffame.ca **Please note this is part 2 of a two-part post. Doug Melvin Doug Melvin, born August 8, 1952, is Chatham, Ontario’s second-most famous baseball man, behind Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins. The Milwaukee Brewers general manager since 2002 had a brief pitching career in the minor leagues from 1972 to 1978 with... Continue Reading →
Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer, Ron Stead, passes away
Intercounty League pitching legend, Ron Stead, has passed away at the age of 75. He died at 6:15 p.m. ET last night after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in London, Ont., in 1936, Stead grew up in Toronto close to Maple Leaf Stadium. “Where I lived in Toronto was right behind the Maple... Continue Reading →
How did Fergie Jenkins perform on Canada Day?
Devoting a blog entry to the greatest Canadian ever to play in the big leagues is the best way that I can think of to celebrate Canada Day. Chatham, Ont., native, Fergie Jenkins, signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in the early ’60s, but it wasn’t until the Chicago Cubs acquired him in 1966 that he... Continue Reading →
Top Canadian Baseball Stories of 2010 – Part 2
Here’s part two of my look back at the top Canadian baseball stories of 2010 (in no particular order): Ex-Expos broadcaster Dave Van Horne wins Ford C. Frick While Jays fans lobbied for Tom Cheek to win the Ford C. Frick Award, it has to be considered a victory for Canadian baseball that longtime Expos... Continue Reading →
Canadian baseball family mourns loss of Gene Dziadura
News release from Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame: http://www.baseballhalloffame.ca Chatham, ON - It would be a disservice to simply label Gene Dziadura as the scout who signed Canadian baseball icon and Hall-of-Famer Fergie Jenkins. The proud native of Chatham, a regular attendee at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremony, passed away Tuesday... Continue Reading →