Gallagher: Norman second Black manager hired by IBL team in 60 years
When the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers of Ontario's Intercounty Baseball League appointed Dan Norman July 19 as their first manager for their expansion season of 2024, little did they know he was a rare hire.
Through research and conversations with league officials, Canadian Baseball Network writer Danny Gallagher determined that Norman is only the second Black person to be named a manager of any IBL team in 60 years.
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ICYMI - Elliott: Memories of McGriff, Cooperstown HOFer
In honour of Fred McGriff’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame today, we thought we would re-run this column about the former Blue Jays slugger that Bob Elliott wrote back in December.
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ICYMI - Elliott Flashback: Scott Rolen much, much more than a gold glove
In honour of Scott Rolen’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame today, we thought we would re-run this column about the sure-handed third baseman and ex-Jay that Bob Elliott wrote back in 2010.
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BWDIK: Julien, Naylor, Paxton, Soroka, Votto, Wick
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Joey Votto, Edouard Julien, Josh Naylor, James Paxton, Rowan Wick and Michael Soroka.
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Glew: Tosca, McGriff’s first pro manager, reflects on HOFer’s early years
“In 1981, his first professional season in the New York Yankees’ organization, a 17-year-old Fred McGriff batted .148 and failed to homer in 29 games for their Rookie Ball Gulf Coast League (GCL) affiliate.
His manager in that campaign was Carlos Tosca, who wasn’t particularly worried about his teenage first baseman’s numbers.”
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Glew: Ducey to be in Cooperstown this weekend for McGriff, Rolen
Rob Ducey (Cambridge, Ont.) is headed to Cooperstown this weekend to celebrate the induction of two friends and ex-teammates.
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Glew: Stratford’s Aitcheson was McGriff’s teammate 39 years ago
It’s safe to say that Kevin Aitcheson saw Fred McGriff belting moonshot home runs long before almost all of us did. The Stratford, Ont., native and former Toronto Blue Jays outfield prospect played with McGriff in Double-A in Knoxville in 1984, nearly three years before the 2023 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee clubbed the first of his 493 major league homers
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Gallagher: Former Expo Dan Norman named manager of IBL's Chatham Barnstormers
Former Montreal Expos outfielder Dan Norman has been appointed manager of the new Chatham-Kent Barnstormers entry in Ontario's Intercounty Baseball League.
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Glew: Pivetta strikes out 13 in relief to set Red Sox and Canadian record
Junior National Team alum Nick Pivetta (Victoria, B.C.) set a Canadian major league record and a Boston Red Sox franchise record when he struck out 13 batters in relief on Monday.
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Whicker: Could Dave Roberts rise to level of LA managers Alston and Lasorda?
“Whenever something goes wrong in Dodgerland, the fan base lays it at the once-nimble feet of Dave Roberts, the manager.
This is not unusual in baseball or any other professional sport, of course. What is unusual is that Roberts catches so much flak in a place where things so seldom go wrong.”
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Glew - BWDIK: Bucci, Guerrero Jr., Julien, Paxton, Soroka, Votto
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Joey Votto, James Paxton, Michael Soroka, Edouard Julien and Nick Bucci.
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Glew: Guardians' Naylor brothers make history with HRs in same inning
Bo Naylor and Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) made baseball history on Friday night when they homered in the same inning for the Cleveland Guardians to become the first Canadian brothers to go deep for the same major league team in the same inning.
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Whicker: College ball has Olerud award for 2-way men, will majors have an Ohtani award?
The best two-way player in college baseball is honoured with the John Olerud award each year. Canadian Baseball Network columnist Mark Whicker suggests there might soon be a similar Shohei Ohtani award in Major League Baseball.
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Elliott: 2023 Draft Blog Day II
Elliott: 2023 Draft Blog Day II
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Elliott: 2023 Draft Blog, Day I
Bob Elliott dedicates his annual MLB Draft Day blog to Adam Loewen (Surrey, B.C.) and his late wife, Lynda.
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2023 MLB Draft - Each top Canadian drafted 1985-2022
A list of the top Canucks selected in the annual MLB draft since 1985.
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BWDIK: Brash, Julien, Naylor, Ridley, Stieb, Votto
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Myles Naylor, Josh Naylor, Jim Ridley, Dave Stieb, Joey Votto, Edouard Julien and Matt Brash.
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Seven top prospects to attend MLB draft
Seven amateur players are among the guests scheduled to attend the opening night of Major League Baseball’s 2023 Draft on Sunday, July 9th at Lumen Field in Seattle.
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Glew: New Jack Graney mural unveiled in St. Thomas
A new mural of former major league outfielder and legendary broadcaster Jack Graney was unveiled in his hometown of St. Thomas, Ont., last week.
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Fun facts and firsts, some Canadian MLB draft trivia
With the 2023 MLB draft set to begin Sunday, Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew offers some fun facts and firsts about Canadians in previous drafts.
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