Kennedy: Hoynes shares fond memories of grandfather who was “Babe Ruth of hockey”
“Years ago while quenching his thirst at some forgotten oasis in Cleveland, Ohio, Paul Hoynes, veteran “beat writer” for that city's Guardians major-league baseball team, noticed an intriguing photograph on the wall.
The image depicted eight tuxedo-clad men who sat at the head table of the “1928 Champions of Sport Banquet” in New York City. Hoynes's chest swelled with pride when he spotted a familiar face among such luminaries as baseball's Babe Ruth, heavyweight champ Gene Tunney, tennis titan Bill Tilden, Olympic champion swimmer (and later Hollywood's original Tarzan) Johnny Weismuller, and others from the so-called "Golden Age of Sports." Bookending the top row with the Sultan of Swat and standing just behind the golfer Bobby Jones is New York Rangers great Bill Cook, the National Hockey League team's first captain who that year spearheaded the upstart “Broadway Blueshirts” to the Stanley Cup in just their second year in operation.
Picking out Cook from the octet of sports heroes, Hoynes grinned and thought: “Well, look at that, it's Daddy Bill.”
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Naylor avoids arbitration, signs $10.9 million deal with D-Backs
Canadian slugger Josh Naylor signed a one-year, $10.9-million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday to avoid arbitration.
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BWDIK: Caissie, Cormier, Hudlin, Oldis, Quantrill, Smith
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Owen Caissie, Cade Smith, Cal Quantrill, Jeff Fassero, Doug Hudlin and Bob Oldis.
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ICYMI - Elliott: Remembering John Sullivan
Today would’ve been Toronto Blue Jays legendary and much-loved coach John Sullivan’s 84th birthday. We thought we would re-run this article that Bob Elliott wrote about Sullivan the day after Sullivan passed away in 2023.
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Glew: Sutherland scored Expos' first run, scouted Gwynn, Pedro, Piazza
Gary Sutherland, who scored the first regular season run in Montreal Expos’ history, died on December 16 at the age of 80. Sutherland later scouted future Hall of Famers Tony Gwynn, Pedro Martinez and Mike Piazza.
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Whicker: Healthy Francona ready for managerial comeback with Reds
“Terry Francona measures his years by waking moments. No anesthesia? No problem..
He just got through a year without surgery. The fact that he wasn’t around baseball for that year doesn’t seem to have gotten through. At his first opportunity, Francona jumped back into the manager’s chair. He is the new boss of the Cincinnati Reds, an organization that needs to wake up.”
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Glew: Remembering Roberto Clemente on the 52nd anniversary of his death
When Roberto Clemente’s plane carrying relief supplies to Nicaragua crashed 52 years ago today, down with it went the hearts and spirits of the thousands – including many in Canada and Montreal – that Clemente managed to touch during his short life.
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BWDIK: Bay, Caissie, Martin, McCaskill, Naylor, White, Upham
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Josh Naylor, John Upham, Devon White, Russell Martin, Jason Bay and Kirk McCaskill.
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Shushkewich: Versatile Young to be prepared for whatever role Mets have for him
INF/OF Jared Young (Prince George, B.C.) signed with the New York Mets in early December. Canadian Baseball Network writer Tyson Shushkewich spoke to the slugger about his decision to head to the Big Apple.
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Glew: A (Steve) Christmas Story, plus holiday birthdays
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew shares a (Steve) Christmas story and highlights some former major leaguers born on December 25.
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R.I.P. Gary Sutherland, original Montreal Expo
Gary Sutherland, an original Montreal Expo, died on December 16 at the age of 80. Canadian Baseball Network writer Danny Gallagher remembers Sutherland.
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Guardians deal Josh Naylor to Diamondbacks
The Cleveland Guardians have traded Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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R.I.P. Rickey Henderson
Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder and Major League Baseball’s all-time stolen base king, Rickey Henderson, has died at the age of 65.
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McFarland: Soroka bets on himself with one-year deal with Nats
Calgary Redbirds and Junior National Team alum Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) has chosen to bet on himself with his recent one-year, $9-million deal with the Washington Nationals, writes Joe McFarland, of Alberta Dugout Stories.
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Soroka signs with Nationals
Calgary Redbirds and Junior National Team alum Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) has signed with the Washington Nationals.
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Canadians in pro baseball: 2024-25 off-season transactions tracker
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew is attempting to document all of the transactions involving Canadians in the pro ranks this off-season.
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Mets sign Young
The New York Mets have signed INF/OF Jared Young (Prince George, B.C.) to a major league contract.
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Expos Fest sells out in 52 minutes
Expos Fest sold out in record time, reports Canadian Baseball Network writer Danny Gallagher.
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BWDIK: Henke, Jenkins, McKay, Morneau, O'Neill, Pivetta, Stairs
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses Nick Pivetta, Tyler O’Neill, Dave McKay, Justin Morneau and Tom Henke.
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Shushkewich: Sabrowski reflects on rookie MLB season, prepares for 2025
“Stepping onto the mound at Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals, left-hander Erik Sabrowski doesn’t remember much from the moment that made him a Major League Baseball player with the Cleveland Guardians.
“Nothing can prepare you for the rush of jogging to the mound from a big league bullpen,” said Sabrowski, speaking to the Canadian Baseball Network. “I don’t remember much from what Vogt or Bo (Naylor) said to me in the moment but after I went through my warm-up pitches, I looked towards second base and saw Bobby Witt Jr. and stared down (Yuli) Gurriel in the batter’s box and just started to get to work.”
It’s a moment many baseball players dream of but only few get to experience. For Sabrowski (Edmonton, Alta.), it was a moment that was years in the making. “
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