Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Stephen Harper Visits St Marys

2006-08-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

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

2006-06-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

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

2006-06-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-09T06:52:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-11T18:58:00.000-07:00

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

2006-03-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

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

Harry Porter 'Rube' Vickers (1878-1958)

2006-02-20T17:46:00.000-08:00

Rube Vickers is the only major league player born in St Marys, Ontario. October 5, 1907 he was the pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics in a no-hit game against the Washington Senators. The game ended 4-0 called after the 5th inning.

Vickers was born in St Marys in 1878 and died at age 80 in Bellville, MI.

He pitched 3 games for the Cincinatti Reds in 1902 and 4 games for the Brooklyn Superbas (Dodgers) in 1903. In 1905 and 1906 Vickers played for the triple-A Seattle Rainers of the Pacific Coast League, winning 39 games and throwing 518 innings in the 1906 season. Back in the majors 1907 to 1909 he pitched 81 games and compiled a record of 41 wins 25 losses for the Athletics.

St Marys Heritage Fair

2006-02-08T07:01:00.000-08:00

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame will be an exhibitor at the St Marys Heritage Fair taking place at the Friendship Centre, 317 James St S, St Marys, Ontario on Friday, February 24, 7:00-9:00 pm. There will be no admission charge.

St Marys Cement

2006-01-18T05:24:00.000-08:00

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame is located next to St Marys Cement. Recent photos of the quarry are at Beetle's Camera

Fundraiser

2006-01-12T07:21:00.000-08:00

Larry Walker and Orlando Hudson will take part in a meet and greet at the St Marys Ontario Community Centre Sunday night at 6. Tickets for the event are $25 in advance.

39-year-old Walker was born in Maple Ridge, British Columbia and played for the Montreal Expos (1898-1994) Colorado Rockies (1995-2004) and St. Louis Cardinals (2004-2005). His last game was at the 2005 National League Championship Series. 9 November 2005 the Cardinals declined to pick up a one-year $15 million option on his contract.

Orlando Walker has played 4 seasons. A couple of weeks ago the Toronto Blue Jays traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Before visiting St Marys, Walker and Hudson will be in Kitchener. The following day they will be in London, Ontario for the Sports Celebrity Dinner and Auction at the London Convention Centre.

Dave Cunningham

2005-12-31T10:09:00.000-08:00

The home riding of the CBHF (Perth-Wellington) in the upcoming Canadian election has David Cunningham running for the Liberals. He states that one of his accomplishments is being a former Governor of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. He is a Scot, a former auto part manager and until recently worked processing chickens for Cargill. He may be qualified to be in the Canadian Parliament but did that make him qualified to vote who got in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame?

December 2005 biography

Update: 24 January 2004 David Cunningham came a distant second in the federal election - Perth-Wellington (Ontario) Election Results

Photo of the Museum

2005-12-10T08:59:00.000-08:00

The converted farmhouse that houses the museum, as seen last summer.

Adam Ford

2005-12-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

The earliest recorded description of a baseball game was written by Dr Adam E Ford (1831-1906). He wrote a letter in 1886 to Sporting Life in which he described in detail a game he witnessed 4 June 1838 at Beachville, Ontario against neighbouring Zorra. Ford would have been about 7 in 1838 and there is some question how he could have remembered all the specifics he provided.

Ford was one of the first medical doctors in St Marys, Ontario and mayor in 1878-79. He lived at 157 Queen St W, St Marys which is still standing. In 1879 he was investigated in the posioning of his friend Robert Guest. Guest was the secretary of the St Marys Temperance Association and died within hours of drinking in Ford's office. A closed door coroner's inquest chose not to charge Ford but his reputation was ruined and in 1880 he moved to Denver, Colorado. Ford had a history of alcohol and drug problems and died virtually destitute on May 17, 1906.

Officers of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

2005-11-23T08:15:00.000-08:00

Ben Waghorn, Chairman
- St Marys, Ontario lawyer, Waghorn Stephens deYoung & Grose

Charlie Hammond, Vice Chairman
- St Marys, President, Rotary Club of St Marys

Lorne Eedy, Secretary
- former publisher of the St Marys Journal Argus

Michael J Davies, Treasurer

Ronald Blake, Director
- St Marys, Ontario Chartered Accountant

Brad Gregus, Director
- Engineer

Margaret King, Director

Anthony H Little, Director
- London, Ontario lawyer in the firm Little and Jarrett

Dick MacPherson, Director
- St Marys, Ontario store owner

Bob Stephens, Director
- St Marys, Ontario lawyer, Waghorn Stephens deYoung & Grose

Tom Teahen, Director
- Toronto lawyer, Ontario Ministry of Labour

As of December 2004, Source: Government of Canada, Canada Revenue Agency

$800,000 gift

2005-11-22T20:05:00.000-08:00

25 May 2004 the town council of St Marys Ontario (population 6293) committed $800,000 to the expansion of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame by passing the motion:

Be it hereby resolved that the town council for the Separated Town of St Marys 'approve in principle' support for the CBHFM 'Phase Two' development to include financial support to a maximum of eight hundred thousand dollars ($800,000)

The motion was supported by councillors Dave Cunningham (former director CBHF), Rob Edney, Marg Luna, Bill Osbourne, Bruce Symons and Gerry Teahan (former director CBHF and father of current director Tom Teahan). Mayor Tony Winter voted against the motion.

Model of Expos Ballpark Destroyed

2005-11-21T20:38:00.000-08:00

A model of the proposed Expos Labatt ballpark in downtown Montreal was given to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. It was destroyed by vandals on April 27, 2005. Access to the model was gained by removing plywood which was nailed over a rear door.

The Washington Nationals are planning a stadium similar to that proposed for Montreal. Washington Post has an article.

Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Expansion Plans Forum

2005-11-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

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