By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Many longtime Canadian baseball fans can recall the Toronto Blue Jays defeating the Chicago White Sox 9-5 in snowy conditions at Exhibition Stadium on April 7, 1977 in their first regular season game, but how did the team fare in its first spring training contest? Well, that contest took... Continue Reading →
Tag: Dunedin
But What Do I Know? . . . Joey Votto, Rheal Cormier, Bo Naylor, Dave McKay
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: – In case you haven't heard, Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) has tested positive for COVID-19 and has left the Cincinnati Reds training camp. The Reds shared the news on Wednesday. The Canadian slugger had gone 4-for-9 in four Grapefruit... Continue Reading →
Whatever happened to? . . . Brian Milner
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Two numbers fuel the legend of Brian Milner in Toronto Blue Jays' lore: 18 and .444. At 18 years old (and 218 days), he remains the youngest player ever to suit up for the club. He accomplished this feat when he was the Blue Jays' starting catcher on June... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Joey Votto, Jordan Romano, Fergie Jenkins, Damaso Garcia
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · “I’m not thinking about baseball right now, if I’m honest. I’m just trying to take it moment by moment and look after the people closest to me.” That’s what Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) told Sridhar Pappu for... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Dustin Molleken, Dalton Pompey, Russell Martin, Mickey Mantle
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Veteran right-hander Dustin Molleken (Regina, Sask.) has signed with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican Professional League for the 2020 season. This will be the right-hander’s 18th professional campaign. The 35-year-old Molleken informed me, however, that he will pitch for Canada... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Tony Fernandez, Russell Martin, Justin Morneau, Gary Carter
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · I was heartbroken to wake up to the news this morning that Toronto Blue Jays great and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Tony Fernandez has passed away at the age of 57. I wrote an article about the Blue Jays great here. My... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Vladimir Guerrero, Tim Raines, Justin Morneau
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Last Sunday, former Montreal Expos superstar Vladimir Guerrero asked his Twitter followers what cap they would like to see him pictured in on his plaque if he’s elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame (He becomes eligible in 2017). Of the 24,804 votes... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Willie Stargell, Troy Tulowitzki, Bartolo Colon
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Hall of Fame slugger Willie Stargell would’ve turned 76 today. The Pittsburgh Pirates legend walloped 475 home runs in 21 major league seasons and was particularly potent with the bat against the Expos in Montreal. On July 16, 1969, he became the first player... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Al Rosen, Andrew Albers, Shawn Camp
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • The first spring training game I ever went to was in Dunedin, Fla., on March 20, 1987. The Cincinnati Reds were playing the Toronto Blue Jays and I was an eager 13-year-old with an autograph book. I was shy, but I stood above the... Continue Reading →
1954 Montreal Royals Team Photo . . . Jack Cassini
Jesse Owens is the only person that could beat Jack Cassini in a foot race. At least that's what the former Montreal Royal told the Arizona Republic in an interview in March 2008. "I could hit, and I could run like hell," Cassini told the paper. The ex-big leaguer was 88 when he made this... Continue Reading →