Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
Babe Ruth, who hit his only regular season minor league home run in Toronto, was born on this date in 1895. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Some Canadian baseball news and notes: -Congratulations again to former Colorado Rockies ace and London, Ont., resident Jeff Francis who was elected... Continue Reading →
Doug Frobel (Ottawa, Ont.) made his MLB debut 39 years ago today. By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: – Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Robbie Ray was voted the American League's Pitcher of the Month for August, but Port Hope, Ont., native Cal Quantrill also garnered... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • When Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) doubled off of right-hander Buck Farmer in the third inning of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 8-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers on August 13, he became the 13th Canadian to collect 1,000 hits in their big league career. He also... Continue Reading →
Courtesy of Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame St. Marys, Ont. – On September 5, 1914, a 19-year-old Boston Red Sox pitching prospect stepped up to the plate in the sixth inning and belted a three-run home run off of Toronto Maple Leafs hurler Ellis Johnson at Hanlan’s Point Stadium on Toronto Island. Few thought much... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • With his victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday, Richmond, B.C., native James Paxton has won the first six decisions of his big league career. Surprisingly, this is not a Canadian record. Toronto, Ont., native Jesse Crain won the first 11 decisions of his... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • In case you missed it, Scarborough, Ont., native George Kottaras signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays last Thursday. The Canadian catcher was released by the St. Louis Cardinals on July 29 after the club signed veteran backstop A.J. Pierzynski. Kottaras,... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: - To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth’s first professional home run which he hit at Hanlan’s Point Stadium on Toronto Island on September 5, 1914, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame is selling limited edition prints (numbered to 714 and shown above) that... Continue Reading →
It was an optimistic Canadian named J.J. Lannin who secured the rights to Babe Ruth for the Boston Red Sox. Orphaned at age 14, Lannin had migrated from Quebec City to Boston in search of work in the 1880s. According to Bob Elliott’s groundbreaking book “The Northern Game,” the ambitious Lannin landed a job as... Continue Reading →
