Gaylord Perry and Fergie Jenkins forged a fast friendship when they pitched together on two mediocre Texas Rangers teams in 1975 and 1980. And when you stop to think about it, it's easy to understand why these two pitching legends hit it off. Both were workhorse right-handers whose goal in every start was to toss... Continue Reading →
Some Canadian baseball trivia on Canada Day
The Toronto Blue Jays are going all out to celebrate Canada’s birthday today. Players will don special red jerseys and caps, there will be a street festival outside the Rogers Centre and the club will honour armed forces members. As Bob Elliott points out in his annual Canada Day column, this year's game is extra... Continue Reading →
Cooperstowners in Canada: Tony La Russa
Tony La Russa used to be a Mountie. No, not that kind of Mountie, although the legendary skipper, who will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 27, does have a law degree. What we're referring to, however, is La Russa's 1968 season with the Oakland A's Triple-A Vancouver Mounties. The... Continue Reading →
April 24, 1977 – Remembering Fergie Jenkins’ first start at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada It seems fitting that the greatest Canadian pitcher was the first hurler to toss a shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays. On April 24, 1977, Fergie Jenkins, toeing the rubber for the Boston Red Sox, dominated the Jays for nine innings in front of 29,303 fans at Exhibition Stadium.... Continue Reading →
Some Canadian All-Star Game Trivia
A Canadian has been selected to play in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game for the 16th consecutive season. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who grew up in Etobicoke, Ont., will bat cleanup for the National League in tonight’s Midsummer Classic at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Vancouver native Dave McKay, who was the... Continue Reading →
Some trivia about Canadian Blue Jays for Canada Day
The Toronto Blue Jays are going all out to celebrate Canada’s birthday on Sunday. Players will don special red jerseys, there will be a street festival outside the Rogers Centre and the club will honour armed forces members and Olympians. This patriotic fervor makes me think of all of the Canadian players that have suited... Continue Reading →
Canadian baseball community mourns Gary Carter
The first image you saw when you visited Baseball Canada’s website on Friday was a photo paying tribute to Gary Carter. It’s a testament to the legendary Expo’s enduring impact on baseball in this country that our national baseball body has chosen to honour Carter, who played his last game in the big leagues in... Continue Reading →
Statement from Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame about Gary Carter
"Gary Carter took the tough hops and thanked God for the compliment. He was an inspiration to Canadians and fans beyond our border, on the field, off the field, and throughout his final battle in our world against the demon of cancer. No matter what pitch was thrown at him, it was like 'Kid' just... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? … Albert Pujols, Omar Vizquel, Corey Thurman
My weekly opinions, observations and rants about some Canadian baseball stories (Please follow me on Twitter: @kevinglewsports): My favourite Tweet this week came from D.J. Short of NBC Sports on Wednesday when he wrote, “Sources: Albert Pujols submitted the winning bid for Yu Darvish.” Lost in the Yu Darvish madness this week was... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? … Charlie Lea, J.P. Arencibia, Dave McKay
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 →