My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: The 1982 Topps Montreal Expos Future Stars card (pictured above) showcases Terry Francona and Brad Mills together on their first Topps baseball card. Both played for the Expos’ only playoff team in 1981 and 35 years later, Mills is serving as Francona’s bench coach for... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . John Scott, George Kottaras, Cole Armstrong
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Happy 64th Birthday to John Scott, the first player to walk to the plate in a major league game for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jackson, Miss., native struck out to lead off the bottom of the first inning in the Blue Jays’ inaugural... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Colby Rasmus, Kevin Pillar, Russell Martin
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • Just when I wake up feeling everything is right in the sports world, I find out that Tie Domi has a best-selling book and Colby Rasmus will make $15.8 million in 2016. • Kevin Pillar’s Gold Glove snub makes me think that it’s time... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Tony Gwynn, George Kottaras, Kirk McCaskill
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: • When I was leafing through some old baseball cards, I stumbled upon a 1991 Upper Deck Tony Gwynn card (above). This card pictures Gwynn signing autographs at the SkyDome in Toronto prior to the 1991 all-star game. I can’t think of a better way... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? . . . Russell Martin, Daniel Norris, Dick Teed
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 →
Canadian connections to the MLB All-Star Game
A Canadian will be playing in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game for the 17th consecutive season. Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who grew up in Etobicoke, Ont., will start at first base for the National League in Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic at Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y. Toronto-born reliever Jesse Crain, who has posted... Continue Reading →
But What Do I Know? … Adam Lind, Mark Teahen, Sparky Anderson
My weekly observations about stories around the baseball world from a Canadian perspective (Please follow me on Twitter: @kevinglewsports): - Struggling ex-Toronto Blue Jays ace Ricky Romero - who was dropped from the club's 40-man roster on Saturday - could draw inspiration from Adam Lind, who, just over 12 months ago, was similarly removed from... Continue Reading →
Tom McKee, first TV voice of the Toronto Blue Jays, dies
Tom McKee, a member of the Toronto Blue Jays inaugural TV broadcast team, died on Monday at age 76. He passed away at the Southlake Regional Hospital in Newmarket, Ont., after a lengthy illness. Best known to baseball fans for his work on Jays’ telecasts – first on camera and later as a producer –... Continue Reading →
Tony Gwynn recorded his 3,000th hit in Montreal
When Tony Gwynn slashed a single into centre field in the first inning on August 6, 1999 at Olympic Stadium, he became the first - and still only - player to register their 3,000th hit outside of the United States. The sparse crowd of 13,540 rewarded the eight-time batting champ with a lengthy standing ovation... Continue Reading →
Ripken the star of the 1991 All-Star Game in Toronto
With three Blue Jays and two Expos participating and Fergie Jenkins throwing out the first pitch, the 1991 All-Star Game had a distinctly Canadian feel. Fittingly, the contest’s winning pitcher was Blue Jay Jimmy Key, while Expos hurler Dennis Martinez shouldered the loss in an exciting match-up in front of 52,383 fans at SkyDome on... Continue Reading →