Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada To say Bill Sampen had an unlikely big league career would be a massive understatement. The former Montreal Expos right-hander grew up in Emden, Ill., a tiny farming community (population 500) and attended an equally tiny high school (approximately 120 students) whose baseball team was managed by the basketball... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Jerry Johnson, who was the Toronto Blue Jays' winning pitcher in their first-ever game, passed away on Monday after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). He was 77. His wife, Susan Trautmann Johnson, announced his death on her Facebook page this afternoon.... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Former Montreal Expos closer Mike Marshall passed away on June 1 at the age of 78 from complications from Alzheimer's disease. The Los Angeles Dodgers reported his death on their Twitter account after being notified by Marshall's daughter Rebekah. Marshall died in hospice care in Zephyrhills, Fla. Durable, outspoken... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: - It was 31 years ago today that Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and 2020 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, B.C.) made his major league debut. Batting sixth and playing right field for... Continue Reading →
On Jesse Crain’s website (www.jessecrain.net), he writes that one of his favourite mottoes is “Everything happens for a reason.” Well, the fact that the Toronto native is looking to become a closer and the Toronto Blue Jays are looking for a closer should provide a very good reason for him to consider pitching in Canada... Continue Reading →