This year could be the biggest year for talent the Canadian Hall of Fame has every seen.
Former Blue Jays and Expos fill the list, as St. Marys and London will be playing a part over the induction weekend. A festival which starts today ( June 11) and lasts until Saturday.
This weekend has many exciting moments says Director of Operations with the Hall of Fame, Scott Crawford.
“Our celebrity home run derby. We have team Canada, hitting home runs not only over the fence but the light posts and trees in the outfield. Right after the home run derby we have our inductee celebrity ball game where the inductees get on the field and play a little bit of ball.”
London will play a big part in the Festivities Friday morning. Over the past four years they have done their “salute to Canadian Baseball breakfast” at the London Convention Center. Here Crawford says the inductees will get a chance to relive their careers with the public.
“Basically we get the guys up on stage, the inductees plus Fergie Jenkins (Only Canadian in Baseball Hall of Fame), they talk about their careers, their life style we have a Q and A with them. Its a great fundraiser for the Hall of Fame itsa great event to hear the inside stories from the inductees.”
For the first time St. Marys will be having a street festival, on Saturday. Basically its a Blue Jays kids family party in downtown, with 6 Blue Jays alumni there signing autographs.
The players will be inducted on Saturday at 1pm.
Inductees-
Carlos Delgado- .280 BA, 473 HR, 1512 RBI (2 time All-Star and 3 time Silver Slugger)
Matt Stairs- .262 BA, 265 HR, 899 RBI (Holds MLB record for most Pinch hit Home Runs with 23)
Corey Koskie- .275, 124 HR, 506 RBI
Felipe Alou- 691 wins as Montreal Expos Head Coach over 10 years
Bob Elliott- Sports Writer, has been writing about baseball in Canada since Expos Home Opener in 1978
