My weekly Canadian baseball news column discusses Josh Naylor, Matt Brash, Nick Pivetta, Ron Taylor and Hank Aaron.
But What Do I Know? . . . Josh Naylor, Matt Brash, Nick Pivetta, Jordan Romano, Ron Taylor
Barfield to join Bell, Moseby in Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
February 1, 2023 By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada When Jesse Barfield was 13, he was sitting in the upper right field bleachers at Comiskey Park watching the Chicago White Sox with his friends, when he leaned over to them and said, “You know one day I’m going to be playing right out there.” “And... Continue Reading →
Former Expo Nate Colbert passes away at 76
January 10, 2023 By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Nate Colbert, a former Montreal Expo and three-time National League All-Star, passed away on January 5 at the age of 76. The San Diego Padres, whom Colbert enjoyed his most success with, shared the news of his death on social media on Thursday night. Colbert died... Continue Reading →
Phillies sign Rob Thomson to two-year extension
Photo: Philadelphia Phillies/Twitter October 10, 2022 By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada The Philadelphia Phillies have signed Canadian manager Rob Thomson to a two-year contract extension. The announcement came two days after the Corunna, Ont., native led the Phillies to a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in their Wild Card Series. The Phillies will... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Stubby Clapp, Nick Pivetta, Jason Dickson, Rod Black
Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.). Photo: Twitter My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: -In a surprising move, the St. Louis Cardinals dismissed manager Mike Shildt on Thursday due to "philosophical differences." The Cardinals won 17 games in a row in September to secure the final National League Wild Card spot before the... Continue Reading →
Remembering the last game at Exhibition Stadium 32 years ago today
The scene after George Bell clubbed a walk-off home run for the Toronto Blue Jays in their final game at Exhibition Stadium 32 years ago today. Photo: YouTube By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada It was a dramatic and fitting end for the Toronto Blue Jays at Exhibition Stadium. Thirty-two years ago today, on an... Continue Reading →
He played for the Blue Jays? . . . Dave Righetti
Dave Righetti made 13 appearances of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1994 By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada When someone mentions Dave Righetti, you're more likely to remember him as a young left-hander with the New York Yankees who on July 4, 1983 became the first Bronx Bombers pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Don... Continue Reading →
Remembering Hank Aaron and his Canadian connections
One of Hank Aaron's Milwaukee Braves' teammates over the years was right-handed pitcher and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ron Piche (Verdun, Que.), shown on the left, with Aaron. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Hank Aaron, Major League Baseball's longtime home run king and one of its... Continue Reading →
He played for the Blue Jays? . . . Ruben Sierra
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada It was approaching the middle of May in the 1997 season and the Toronto Blue Jays' offence was sputtering. Joe Carter, in his final season with the club, had belted just two home runs in April. The club had resorted to using aging utility man Juan Samuel as a... Continue Reading →
He played for the Blue Jays? . . . Frank Viola
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada No one would blame you if you don't remember any "Sweet Music" at the SkyDome in 1996. After all, the Toronto Blue Jays finished a dismal 74-88 that season and left-hander Frank Viola (nicknamed "Sweet Music") struggled in all but one of his six starts with the club. Yes,... Continue Reading →