Kevin Glew’s Canadian Baseball History Blog
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada After talking to Tom Bruno over the phone for an hour, you almost forget that he’s not Canadian. The easygoing Chicago native, who now resides in Pierre, South Dakota, has fished for walleye in Gravenhurst, Ont., trained hunting dogs in Saskatchewan and, most memorably for us baseball fans, toed... Continue Reading →
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 There's nothing greater than a mother's love, but it doesn't hurt if she can also teach you how to throw a curveball. Former Montreal Expos right-hander Bill Atkinson can attest to this. It was his mother, Patricia, that not only showered him and his four sisters with love as... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada In the first inning of his major league debut, a nervous 21-year-old Larry Landreth peered in for the sign from his catcher Gary Carter. Glowering back at him from the batter's box was reigning National League batting champion Bill Madlock - an intimidating right-handed hitter nicknamed "Mad Dog."... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada In college, he played third base and hit like Mike Schmidt, but as a pro, thanks to his golden arm and hard sinker, he pitched like Mike Timlin. But the fact that Bob File played in the major leagues at all is almost a miracle. Born in 1977 and... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada As Scott Brow peered in at Kansas City Royals legend and three-time batting champion George Brett in the first inning of his major league debut, he remembered his game plan. The studious Toronto Blue Jays right-hander, who had already recorded two quick outs, had been asked by a media... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Balor Moore says he pitched in so many Canadian cities during his professional baseball career that he’s likely eligible to receive monthly social security payments from Canada. “It wouldn’t be big money, but it would pay for my golf,” joked the now 65-year-old Texas native, who not only toed... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada Thirty-eight years before David Price was dominating batters for the Toronto Blue Jays, another left-hander from Vanderbilt University was mowing down hitters out of the bullpen in the club’s inaugural season. Mike Willis, a 1972 Vanderbilt graduate, tossed 2-2/3 scoreless innings and recorded a save in his first major... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada He was the Toronto Blue Jays’ first ace. Before there was Dave Stieb, there was Dave Lemanczyk. And few have fought harder to stay on the mound than Lemanczyk, who tossed 11 complete games for a hapless Blue Jays squad in their inaugural season. The strong-willed, 6-foot-4 right-hander pitched... Continue Reading →
By Kevin Glew Cooperstowners in Canada He was the first rifle-armed Toronto Blue Jays right fielder. Before Jesse Barfield, Shawn Green, Raul Mondesi and Jose Bautista, there was Steve Bowling. The former University of Tulsa running back was the starting right fielder for the Blue Jays in the franchise’s first game on April 7, 1977.... Continue Reading →
