Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
My weekly observations and notes about some Canadian baseball stories: Just a reminder that the annual Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction festivities begin this Thursday with a home run derby and celebrity slo-pitch game starting at 6 p.m. at Rotary Field on the Hall of Fame grounds in St. Marys, Ont. Admission to the... Continue Reading →
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 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 →
His first professional baseball contract was signed in a quintessentially Canadian setting. New Brunswick native Billy Harris was competing in a hockey tournament in Buchans, Nfld., when Brooklyn Dodgers scout Bill O’Connor secured the stocky 19-year-old’s signature on a piece of paper. Although the five-foot-seven Harris was a standout stickhandler, it was his right arm... Continue Reading →
My weekly opinions, observations and rants about some Canadian baseball stories (Follow me on Twitter: @kevinglewsports): I still feel that Blue Jays fans are too harsh on Edwin Encarnacion, but I have to admit they are very clever. With his two errors at first base in Wednesday’s game, witty Jays supporters have taken to... Continue Reading →
Earlier this week, I wrote about Walter Alston’s successful tenure as manager of the Montreal Royals, before he became a legendary skipper with the Dodgers. “The Quiet Man,” as he was sometimes dubbed, would pilot the Dodgers for 23 seasons, leading them to four World Series titles and seven National League pennants. But Alston isn’t... Continue Reading →
My weekly opinions, observations and rants about some Canadian baseball stories: It’s difficult for me to separate the person from the player. Vernon Wells is a good man. He was arguably the greatest community ambassador the Blue Jays have ever had. During his tenure in Toronto, the sure-handed outfielder proved to be much classier... Continue Reading →
One trivia question that I like to ask my fellow Canadian baseball junkies is, how many players, managers or executives are members of both the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (CBHFM) and the National Baseball Hall of Fame? With Pat Gillick and Roberto Alomar set to be honoured in Cooperstown this summer, the answer to... Continue Reading →
Mike Gardiner will always be thankful for the 15 days in 1994 that Sparky Anderson made him a big league closer. With ninth-inning fixture Mike Henneman on the disabled list, the Tigers venerable manager called the Sarnia, Ont., native into his office to tell him he would be the interim closer. “Sparky told me not... Continue Reading →
"It wasn't easy for him to do, but a humble and witty Sparky Anderson delivered in spades when he was enshined in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 with Sherry Robertson and John Haar. His accomplishments in the Major Leagues speak for themselves, but Sparky's legacy in Canada will never be forgotten. After playing six of... Continue Reading →