Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · In a final classy gesture, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons will step aside today to allow Montreal native Russell Martin to manage the team for the club’s final game of the season. The 35-year-old Martin, who has not played since September 3, will... Continue Reading →
A Canadian will be playing in the MLB All-Star Game for the 21st time in the past 22 Midsummer Classics. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who grew up in Etobicoke, Ont., will be a reserve for the National League in Tuesday’s all-star showdown at Nationals Park in Washington. With his selection this year, Votto... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · It was 41 years ago today that the Toronto Blue Jays began assembling their first team via the 1976 Major League Baseball Expansion Draft. With their first pick, the Blue Jays selected Bob Bailor from the Baltimore Orioles. Bailor proceeded to bat .310 in... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Friday would’ve been New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle’s 86th Birthday. In 1951, Mantle’s rookie season, the 19-year-old outfielder was slumping badly when the Yankees demoted him to the triple-A Kansas City Blues in mid-July. The Blues were managed by Huntsville, Ont., native and... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · It’s good to know that Etobicoke, Ont., native Joey Votto is not only a Hall of Fame calibre player, but a Hall of Fame guy. You’ve probably read about Votto’s relationship with Walter “Superbubz” Herbert, a six-year-old fan with neuroblastoma. Votto had met with... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Thanks to the baseball card above, every time I watch the Cleveland Indians play I feel like Bryn Smith is also somewhere in the team’s dugout. This is a 1982 Topps Future Stars card that features then Montreal Expos prospects Terry Francona (now Indians... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: The best line I heard about home plate umpire Vic Carapazza’s questionable strike zone that led to the ejections of Edwin Encarnacion, John Gibbons and Russell Martin in the Blue Jays’ 19-inning loss to the Cleveland Indians on Canada Day came from Sportsnet hockey blogger... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • My 2015 New Year’s resolutions include drinking less pop, being better organized and giving up trying to understand Brett Lawrie’s Twitter feed. #Imofficiallymiddleaged. • Today would’ve been the 107th birthday of Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer George Selkirk. Dubbed “Twinkletoes” for his distinct running... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Sudbury, Ont., native Farhan Zaidi was named the general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers last week to become the sixth Canadian to be named a big league GM. The others are George Selkirk (Huntsville, Ont., Washington Senators, 1964 to 1969), Murray Cook (Sackville,... Continue Reading →
*Writer's Note: This is an updated version of an article that I've published previously on this blog. He’s Canada’s Mr. October. But even though George Selkirk earned five World Series rings during his nine-year career with the New York Yankees, the vast majority of baseball fans in Canada and the U.S. don’t know who he... Continue Reading →