Glew: Expos “big part” of new Canadian ball hall inductee Martin’s childhood
“When Russell Martin was growing up in Montreal, his father used to take him to a handful of Expos games at Olympic Stadium each year.
The price for a hot dog at the Big O was a little steep, so his dad, who made a living as a busker playing his saxophone in Montreal subway stations, often packed sandwiches.
“My dad was a great storyteller, and he would make up these stories like, ‘Here comes Russell Martin at the plate. There’s a shot deep to right field.’ He would make up stories about me hitting homers in the games,” recalled Martin. “He kind of helped me create this visual that I could get there someday.”
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Shushkewich: Dykxhoorn takes Claude Pelletier award, as top arm in foreign ranks
Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions ace Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.) has won the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2023 Claude Pelletier Award, as the top Canuck pitcher in the independent or foreign pro ranks.
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Verge: Cade Smith wins CBN's Wayne Norton Award, as top minor league pitcher
Abbotsford Cardinals alum and Cleveland Guardians pitching prospect Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.) has been named the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2023 Wayne Norton Award winner, as top Canadian pitcher in the affiliated minor league ranks.
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Fitzpatrick: National team pitching legend Heisler elected to the Canadian ball hall
On the international stage, no one has represented Canadian baseball more than Rod Heisler. The left-handed hurler from Moose Jaw, Sask., made a record 14 appearances in international competitions for Canada, dating back to his first Amateur World Series in 1978. For his efforts, Heisler was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
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Shushkewich: Martin savors Canadian ball hall honour
“Sitting in a golf cart fielding questions from numerous journalists via a conference call, newly elected Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Russell Martin was in good spirits as he reflected on his career.
He answered questions about all aspects of his playing career, from competing in youth baseball in Montreal to catching Greg Maddux in his early days with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The four-time major league All-Star even discussed his post-career coaching aspirations.
“I have loved my experiences with the coaching at the recent World Baseball Classic and with the Blue Jays, although I haven’t coached too much since my playing days,” reflected Martin from his cart. “I have three little girls at home that need their dad but once they get older, I definitely can see myself getting into coaching more.”
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Antonacci: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame honour beyond Birnie’s dreams
For his more than seven decades in baseball in Toronto as a player, coach, executive and umpire, Howard Birnie has been elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. He described the honour as “beyond my dreams” in a conference call on Tuesday.
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Verge: Stephenson becomes first Women's National Team player elected to Canadian ball hall
“Her impact on Canada every time she took the field was so profound, one Ashley Stephenson gracing the lineup card wasn’t enough.
A roster full of Stephenson’s — that’s what you hoped for, said former longtime Women’s National Team Manager Andre Lachance. Her competitiveness, reliability, and passion x9. (Or 20.)
“She was the type of player that you wish you had 20 of them on your team,” said Lachance, who managed the Women’s National team for 15 years.”
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BMOC Week II: Bourgeois, Graham, Facchini, Macleod, Pare, Robertson, Shepherd
Canadian Baseball Network writer Matt Betts highlights the top performances by Canadians in the U.S. college ranks from the past week in his latest “Big Man on Campus (BMOC)” column.
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Martin, Key, Stephenson, Heisler, Godfrey, Birnie to be inducted into Canadian ball hall
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s class of 2024 will consist of six new inductees.
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Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week: Francesco Barbieri
Francesco Barbieri (Brampton, Ont.) had six hits in three games for the Ave Maria University Gyrenes to earn Canadian Baseball Network College Player of the Week honours.
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Palmegiani invited to Blue Jays' big league spring training
Vauxhall Academy and Junior National Team alum Damiano Palmegiani is one of 19 internal non-roster players the Toronto Blue Jays have invited to their major league spring training camp.
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Shushkewich: From Warrior to Ragin' Cajun, Langevin ready to battle D1 hitters
After an outstanding season with the Wabash Valley Warriors in 2023 that earned him CBN All-Canadian College First Team honours, ABC alum L.P. Langevin (Quebec, Que.) has joined the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns and is ready to do battle with NCAA Div. 1 hitters. Canadian Baseball Network writer Tyson Shushkewich recently spoke with the young right-hander.
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Dawgs re-sign Sanchez
The Okotoks Dawgs have re-signed infielder Ricky Sanchez.
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BWDIK: Brigden, Fryman, Hall, McKay, Miller, Paxton, Peters
Canadian Baseball Network editor Kevin Glew’s weekly “But What Do I Know?” column discusses James Paxton, Adam Hall, Trevor Brigden, Dave McKay and Woodie Fryman.
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Teeple: Guerrero's arbitration hearing illustrates economic divide between pro sports, average family
Devon Teeple, of The GM’s Perspective, writes that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays haggling over a couple of million dollars in an arbitration hearing further illustrates the “stark economic divide” between professional sports and the average family.
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Ottawa Titans sign Rivera
The Ottawa Titans have signed veteran infielder Laz Rivera.
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Goldeyes sign Emery
The Winnipeg Goldeyes have signed catcher Rob Emery.
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Welland Jackfish to take on Quebec Capitales in champion vs. champion game
The Welland Jackfish will host the 2023 Frontier League champions Quebec Capitales for a preseason game at Welland Stadium on May 6.
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IBL's Hamilton Cardinals re-sign Lawson
The Intercounty Baseball League’s Hamilton Cardinals have re-signed veteran right-hander Brett Lawson (Burlington, Ont.).
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Goldeyes sign Adam Hall
Great Lake Canadians and Junior National Team alum and former Baltimore Orioles prospect Adam Hall (London, Ont.) has signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes.
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