Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
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: • It’s been an eventful week for Montreal native Russell Martin. On Monday, the Pittsburgh Pirates extended a one-year, $15.3-million qualifying offer to him and two days later, he was named the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year at the catching position. Martin, who’s coming... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada You wouldn’t believe the stories this retired cabinetmaker can tell you. Like how he hated throwing batting practice to Roberto Clemente, because almost everything the free-swinging outfielder hit went right back “through the box.” Or about how he shared a spring training complex with Jackie Robinson. “Vero Beach (the... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • George Shuba, who played parts of three seasons with the Montreal Royals (1946, 1951, 1956), passed away on Monday in Youngstown, Ohio at the age of 89. The 5-foot-11 outfielder spent his entire professional career in the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. And though he competed... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • When John Mayberry Jr. doubled in the 10th inning for the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, he became part of the first father-and-son combination to appear in a game for the club. His father, of course, manned first base for parts of five seasons... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: - How different would Derek Jeter’s career have been if the Montreal Expos had selected him in the 1992 MLB amateur draft? The Expos had the opportunity to choose Jeter with the third pick overall that year but instead opted for left-handed pitching prospect B.J.... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: - With this year’s Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in the books, I’ve started to look ahead to 2015. Next year will be Fredericton, N.B., native Matt Stairs’ first year of eligibility and the Canuck slugger, who belted 265 career homers (second-most by... Continue Reading →
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: - Sixty-five years ago this past Sunday, Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Justin Jay Clarke passed away in River Rouge, Mich., at age 66. His death came exactly 47 years after he authored one of the most amazing performances in professional baseball history. A product... Continue Reading →
He didn't quite make the big leagues, but Wally Fiala must have been able to tell some great stories about his professional baseball career. The gritty infielder, whose road to the big leagues was blocked by Brooklyn Dodgers superstars like Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and Gil Hodges, roomed with the spirited and loquacious Tommy... Continue Reading →
Montreal Gazette reporter Dink Carroll referred to Homer "Dixie" Howell as "the prodigal son." The description was apt when you consider that Howell played parts of six seasons, in four separate stints, with the Montreal Royals. No matter where the likeable catcher traveled during his lengthy professional baseball odyssey, his road always seemed to point... Continue Reading →
