On Valentine's Day, Kevin Glew highlights five noteworthy, big league Valentines.
Baseball’s best “Valentines” on Valentine’s Day
He coached for the Montreal Expos? . . . Mickey Vernon
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada He may have been the most important hitting coach in Montreal Expos history. Yet, even some of the most diehard Expos fans probably won't remember Mickey Vernon's tenure as the club's batting instructor. When the two-time American League batting champion took over as the team's hitting coach under manager... Continue Reading →
He coached for the Expos? . . . Larry Doby
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada It was the fall of 1975 and it seemed like the stage might be set for Larry Doby to once again make major league history. Doby, who, in July 1947, became the first African-American player to compete in the American League, was a highly respected hitting instructor in the... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Ellis Valentine, Adam Hall, James Paxton, Oscar Judd
My Valentine's Day card for you. By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: – Happy Valentine's Day to you! Former Montreal Expos outfielder Ellis Valentine is the most talented player with the last name “Valentine” to suit up in the big leagues. This five-tool talent, who... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Blue Monday: The Expos, the Dodgers and the Home Run that Changed Everything, by Danny Gallagher
“It still hurts.” That’s the response you’ll get from Montreal Expos fans like myself when you mention “Blue Monday” because those sinister words force us to relive the events of Monday, October 19, 1981. It was on that chilly fall day that the Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers played the fifth and deciding game of... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Ellis Valentine, Sean Nolin, Oscar Judd
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Happy Valentine’s Day to you! Former Montreal Expos outfielder Ellis Valentine is the most talented player with the last name “Valentine” to suit up in the big leagues, but here’s a list of the some of the other “Valentines” that have competed in the... Continue Reading →
Baseball’s best “Valentines” on Valentine’s Day
Spitting and scratching are associated with baseball more often than love. But we, as baseball fans, do tend to wax romantic about our game, and its leisurely pace has inspired more than its share of trivia contests. One of my favourite pastimes is to dream up all-theme teams. For example, an “All-Fruit” baseball squad might... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? … Scott Diamond, Ernie Whitt, Chuck Diering
Some Canadian baseball stories from the past week (Please follow me on Twitter: @kevinglewsports): Guelph, Ont., native Scott Diamond has jumped out to a commanding lead in the online voting for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Tip O’Neill Award. The Minnesota Twins lefty, who won 12 games and posted a 3.54 ERA this... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? … Gary Carter, Tim Wakefield, Aaron Laffey
My weekly opinions, observations and rants about some Canadian baseball stories (Please follow me on Twitter: @kevinglewsports): I’m hoping that the Toronto Blue Jays are planning some sort of tribute for Gary Carter for their home opener or for when the Mets (May 18 to 20) or Nationals (June 11 to 13) come to... Continue Reading →
From my Sympatico.ca Blog – MLB’s best “Valentines”
Happy Valentine’s Day to you! So who is the best Valentine to play in the big leagues? It is Bobby? Ellis? Fred? Corky? Or maybe Joe? Here’s a link to my ranking: http://www.thecheapseats.ca/2012/02/major-league-baseballs-best-valentines.html P.S. I also discovered an early 20th century player named Slim Love. By sheer coincidence his name is the title of my... Continue Reading →