Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
Here are five more interesting facts I learned at the Canadian Baseball History Conference at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, Ont., this weekend.
He played on a World Series-winning team with Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra and pitched for Hall of Fame managers Connie Mack and Casey Stengel. However with the way umpires check pitchers for substances today, Ralph Buxton, the man sometimes referred to as the “Pine Tar Baby,” would’ve been in trouble. But that’s all part of the story of this little-talked-about right-hander, who in 1938 became the first player born in Saskatchewan to compete in the major leagues.
Jeff Heath. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Fate and, some would say, karma, attempted to humble Jeff Heath. For no matter what the brash, broad-shouldered Canadian-born slugger did on a professional baseball field – and much of it was remarkable – he always seemed to be overshadowed. It’s... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Today is International Women’s Day and I’m blessed to have many strong women in my life as friends, colleagues and relatives. I’d especially like to pay tribute to my mother Glenyce Glew. She has been a tremendous role model and a source of unconditional... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Congratulations to Calgary, Alta., native Mike Soroka who has been named to the National League All-Star team. With his selection, he becomes the third Canadian to be named to the All-Star team in their rookie season, joining Jason Dickson (Miramichi, N.B.) in 1997 and... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: Everyone from Hall of Famers Dave Winfield and Frank Thomas to former Montreal Expos teammates Warren Cromartie, Vladimir Guerrero, Cliff Floyd and Tim Burke to current Blue Jays like Kevin Pillar offered their congratulations to Tim Raines via Twitter after he was elected to the... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Adding intrigue to 24-year-old lefty Matt Boyd’s start with the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday is that he’s reportedly the type of prospect that the Philadelphia Phillies covet in a deal for closer Jonathan Papelbon. Boyd, who allowed four runs in 6-2/3 innings in... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • On a New York Mets broadcast in 1988, Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner said, “On this Father’s Day, we’d like to wish all you fathers out here a Happy Birthday.” So to paraphrase Kiner, Happy Birthday and Happy Father’s Day to my wonderful dad,... Continue Reading →
Don Johnson, who pitched parts of five minor league seasons with the International League's Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1950s, died of kidney failure in Portland, Ore., on February 10 at the age of 88. Though his wild and hard-drinking ways sometimes overshadowed his on-the-field performance, Johnson managed to pitch in parts of seven big... 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 →