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 →
But What Do I Know? . . . Rusty Staub, Braden Halladay, Jackie Robinson, Nick Pivetta
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · Please send positive thoughts to Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer and Montreal Expos great Rusty Staub who is reportedly in critical condition in a West Palm Beach, Fla., hospital. Bill Madden of the New York Daily News reports that the 73-year-old baseball legend has... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Larry Walker, Erik Bedard, Fergie Jenkins, Gary Carter
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · For baseball writers on the fence about whether Larry Walker deserves their Hall of Fame vote, I offer this tweet from Ryan Spaeder (@TheAceofSpaeder on Twitter) that was sent out on Tuesday: “No player in baseball history has more career home runs (383) and... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Larry Walker, Rob Thomson, Alison Gordon, Fergie Jenkins
. My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · The primary knock against Larry Walker’s case for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame has been that he played his home games at Coors Field for 10 seasons. So I thought I would compare Walker’s career road on-base plus slugging percentage... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Roy Halladay, Paul Calvert, Leo Durocher, Larry Walker
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · A big thank you to Andrew and Elena North for the time and effort they put into organizing the second annual Canadian Baseball History Symposium in St. Marys, Ont., this weekend. Yesterday was chock full of fascinating presentations about everything from Canadian baseball during... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Roy Halladay, Rob Thomson, Joey Votto, Pat Hentgen
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · In wake of Roy Halladay’s tragic death this week, it was disheartening to see so many people on social media debating his Cooperstown candidacy. Should this really matter right now? This is not the time for us to offer our opinions, our judgments and... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . George Selkirk, Bob Emslie, Stubby Clapp, Andrew Albers
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 →
But What Do I Know? … Joey Votto, George Selkirk, Terry Puhl, Al Widmar
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 →
But What Do I Know? . . . Terry Francona, Brad Mills, Joey Votto, George Selkirk
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 →
But What Do I Know? . . . Stubby Clapp, George Gibson, Joey Votto, George Kottaras
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: · It’s been 83 years since there’s been a full-time Canadian manager in the major leagues. That was when London, Ont., native and Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer George Gibson served as the dugout boss for the Pittsburgh Pirates. But that drought may end soon.... Continue Reading →