Stephen Harper Visits St Marys
This afternoon, Prime Minister Stephen Harper spent 45 minutes in St Marys. He stopped in at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame before leaving for Stratford. There Harper and his family attended this year's musical at the Stratford Festival 'Oliver' where this photo was taken. The visit was called a vacation trip and the Prime Minister did not speak to reporters.
With Harper not talking the Kitchener TV station interviewed local farmer Allan Slater who showed up at the Hall of Fame with a black umbrella with a peace message written on it. A member of the Christian Peacemaker Team,
Slater was in Iraq earlier this year.
Columnist Dissents on Lasorda's Induction
Richard Griffen's column in the Toronto Star in Sunday's paper was headlined
'Why Mr. Lasorda shouldn't be in our hall of fame'. He begins by congratulating Canadian inductees, Ron Stead, Ron Hayter, and the late Larry McLean, then writes about Tommy Lasorda that 'unlike his well-nurtured public image, he's in reality a mean-spirited, egocentric, homophobic bully who has done nothing for Canadian baseball.'
I have no problem with Griffen's characterization of Lasorda but if being a nice guy were the criteria for being inducted then 'richly deserving Canadian inductee' Larry McLean would have no chance. McLean was a drunk who brawled on and off the field and at age 39 was shot dead in a Boston speakeasy.
Rob Edney Performs
This weekend St Marys Ontario Councillor Rob Edney will be performing at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Councillor Edney who runs a music store on Queen Street, St Marys voted to
give the CBHF $800,000 in May 2004.
Stratford Nationals
The Stratford Nationals of the 88-year-old Intercounty Baseball League play their home-opener against the Guelph Royals this Saturday.
Nationals Stadium is at the interesection of Romeo Street and Norfolk Street, Stratford, Ontario. Tickets are $5 adult $3 kids.
The team moved to Stratford from St Thomas in 2004. Last November the team was bought by Shawn and John Gillespie of Lucan who changed the name from the Storm to the Nationals in recognition of the Canadian National Railway's historical importance to Stratford.
Hours of Operation
386 Church Street South, St Marys, Ontario
May: Weekends Only: Sat. 10:30 - 4 pm. Sun. 12 - 4 pm.
June 1st to Mid-October: Daily 10:30 -4 pm. Sun. 12 - 4 pm.
Adult $7.50, Senior $6.00, Child (aged 6-16) $3.75, Family $15.00
Bring the Slim-fast Tommy Lasorda
Its rumoured that Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's CEO Tom Valke has been told to lose a few pounds before Tommy Lasorda shows up in St Marys, Ontario in June. For years because of Lasorda's personality people were willing to overlook that he was fat. Valke is not as likeable and he is just plain fat. Let's hope Valke loses those pounds, there is still 2 months to go before the induction weekend. Just in case Lasorda should bring those slim-fast shakes.
Tommy Lasorda Named to Canadian Baseball Hall
Baseball manager Tommy Lasorda has been named to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, St Marys, Ontario for his 9 years as a pitcher with the International League's Montreal Royals 1950-1955 and 1958-1960.
He made brief major league appearances with the Dodgers in 1954 and 1955 and with the Kansas City Athletics in 1956.
Lasorda was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1997 as a Manager.
UPDATE: Not everyone thought Lasorda's inclusion in the Hall of Fame was warranted. See
Columnist Dissents on Lasorda's Induction
