Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and longtime big league slugger Matt Stairs (Fredericton, N.B.) was back in Okotoks, Alta., this weekend as a celebrity guest at the Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star Game at Seaman Stadium. It was his third straight year of sharing his hitting wisdom at and before the event. Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew caught up with him for a one-on-one interview.
Read MoreThe Philadelphia Phillies have signed outfielder Dante Nori (Toronto, Ont.) who they selected 27th overall in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Read MoreThe Los Angeles Dodgers have designated left-hander James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) for assignment.
Read More“Popcorn flew around Josée Tellier at Olympic Stadium like a snow shower in May.
It was launched back and forth by her restless fourth grade classmates who weren’t paying attention to the Montreal Expos on the field below.
But Tellier was. She had a deep passion for the game even then, a passion that is still evident 38 years later in the way she talks about the game and in her career choice. Baseball is her love, and art is her outlet. She’s been creating baseball art pieces out of her home in Montreal since 2019.
In fact, it’s creating that art that saved her three years ago — specifically, a Yogi Berra baseball card.”
Read MoreCanadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Fergie Jenkins, Michael Soroka, Bob Elliott, Joey Votto, Abraham Toro and Carlos Delgado.
Read MoreLongtime Montreal Expos scout and former minor league manager Pat Daugherty passed away on Thursday at the age of 89. Canadian Baseball Network writer Danny Gallagher remembers him.
Read MoreTravis Bazzana, the top pick in this year’s MLB draft, and his Oregon State Beavers teammates spent 10 days training at the Seaman Stadium Complex in Okotoks, Alta. last fall. Ian Wilson, from Alberta Dugout Stories, wrote about it.
Read MoreTwo more Thunderbirds have earned their opportunity to go pro, as UBC ace Sean Heppner and fireballer Vicarte Domingo have both been selected in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft. Heppner was taken in the 12th round, 355th overall, by the Cleveland Guardians. Domingo was chosen in the 19th round, 570th overall, by the San Diego Padres. The two pitchers are the 32nd and 33rd players in program history drafted to or signed by an MLB team.
Read MorePurdue catcher Connor Caskenette (Duncan, B.C.) was drafted by the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.
Read MoreRight-hander Cohen Achen (Calgary, Alta.) was selected in the 14th round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday.
Read MoreCurrent Junior National Team catcher Nathan Flewelling didn’t wait long to hear his name on day two of the Major League Baseball Draft as the Tampa Bay Rays used their third-round selection (94th overall) on the Red Deer, Alta., native.
Read MoreGrand Canyon senior outfielder Tyler Wilson, who is the son of former big leaguer Steve Wilson (Victoria, B.C.), was picked by the New York Yankees in the eighth round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Monday.
Read MoreAll-American pitcher LP Langevin (Quebec, Que.) became the second Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns player in as many days selected in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft when he was a fourth-round (No. 105 overall) selection on Monday by the Kansas City Royals.
Read MoreWith the 2024 MLB draft set to begin Sunday, Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew offers some fun facts and firsts about Canadians in previous drafts.
Read MoreCanadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses the MLB draft, Nick Pivetta, Michael Soroka, Josh Naylor, Cade Smith and Tim Raines.
Read More“Yet there is one baseball rule that gets broken every day and by virtually every player, coach and manager. Disobedience is rampant, and not only are the rule-breakers never punished, they're never caught. They defy and disobey the rule with a sort of unwritten impunity. The illegal practice is far too widespread. Rigid enforcement and suspensions would wipe out the rosters of every team. We speak of Major League Baseball Rule 4.06, the most fractured, least-honoured, oft-overlooked law in the MLB rule book.
Rule 4.06 states: “Players in uniform shall not address or mingle with spectators, nor sit in the stands before, during, or after a game. No manager, coach or player shall address any spectator before or during a game. Players of opposing teams shall not fraternize at any time while in uniform.
Haha! Rule 4.06 gets battered and broken before and after each game, whether it's signing an autograph or tossing a ball into the stands. Opposing players, usually a baserunner and an infielder, break the rule each time they talk on the field, even if they're just comparing the amount of zeros in their new contract extensions.”
Read MoreThe Milwaukee Brewers, who are known for selecting Canadians in the MLB draft, will make four selections on the first day of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, which begins on Sunday.
Read More“Jim Leyland was like your first favorite car.
It started like a dream every morning. But all the miles were hard.
He managed 11 years in the minor leagues. His first stop was Bristol, in the Appalachian League. He was “stylin,’’’ as he recalled, with a new pair of white shoes that he unfortunately placed on the top of the hot water heater in the clubhouse.
Pretty soon they were bubbles.
“And I paid 40 bucks for those suckers, too,” Leyland said. He was 26.”
Read MoreA list of the top Canucks selected in the annual MLB draft since 1985.
Read MoreCleveland Guardians slugger Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) has been selected to the American League squad for the MLB All-Star Game that will take place on July 16 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.
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