Must-see action from the ice.

Happy 22nd Birthday to Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Brandon Barriera! He was the Blue Jays' first-round pick in 2022. #BlueJays

27 years ago today, Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, B.C.) signed a six-year, $75-million contract extension with the Colorado Rockies.

18 years ago today, the Milwaukee Brewers signed John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) as a minor league free agent. P.S. That worked out really well.

There have been a lot of great Canada World Baseball Classic cards produced over the years, but if I had to pick my favourite, it would be this. Thanks to my friends Kelly Sage and Scott Crawford for hunting this one down for me.

Hall of Fame outfielder Wee Willie Keeler was born on this date in 1872. He batted .341 and had 2,932 hits in 19 MLB seasons, but he spent his final pro season with the Eastern League's Toronto Maple Leafs. He batted .277 in 39 games with the Leafs. He died in 1923.

28 years ago today, the courageous and trailblazing Larry Doby was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Following his playing career, Doby was a hitting coach for the Montreal Expos from 1971 to 1973 and again in 1976.

Please take a moment to remember former Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Jefferson who would've turned 77 today. He died in 2011. Career Highlights: - Led Jays with 211 2/3 IP, 9 CGs in 1978 - Pitched 12 innings on May 23, 1978, still a Jays' record - Hurled 217 innings, 8 CGs in 1977

Please take a moment to remember Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and Montreal native Allan Roth who passed away 34 years ago today at the age of 74. In 1947, he became the first statistician ever hired by an MLB team when he was brought on board by the Dodgers.

Happy 69th Birthday to former Montreal Expos infielder Skeeter Barnes! He played 19 games for the Expos in 1985. And I have to say, being able to use Skeeter Barnes' name in a post is a great way to start the day.

Who are Canada's all-time pitching leaders at the World Baseball Classic? I did some research to find out: is.gd/F4USMv

I see Terry Puhl (Melville, Saskatchewan)!

When you're an orchestra conductor there's more musicians than you can shake a stick at RS

I’ve now watched this clip of Delroy Lindo hugging Michael B. Jordan 6 times. And it’s still not enough.

During spring training in the late 80s, my teenage self would've had my head buried in these MLB preview magazines right about now.

Former New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and London, Ont., native Frank Colman was born on this date in 1918. While with the Yankees, he roomed with Yogi Berra. He passed away in 1983.

Happy 61st Birthday to former Atlanta Braves slugger Ron Gant! He had back-to-back 30-HR, 30-SB seasons for the Braves in 1990 and 1991, which inspired me to buy almost every one of his 1988 Fleer rookie cards.

Mel Ott was born on this date in 1909. His MLB resume: - .304/.414/.533 - 511 HRs - 1,860 RBIs - 1,708 walks - 896 Ks - 11-time All-Star - 6-time NL HR champ *Not elected to HOF until 4th year on ballot *Also, he was only 5-foot-9, 170 pounds.

Team USA's gold medalists Hilary Knight, Megan Keller, Jack and Quinn Hughes joined Connor Storrie during his SNL monologue. #SNL #TeamUSA

My weekly Canadian baseball news and notes column discusses: -Tyler O'Neill -Tyler Black -Matt Brash -Brock Dykxhoorn -Chris Barnwell🎂 -Wayne Granger -Blake Hawksworth🎂 -Vladimir Guerrero -Joey Votto You can read it here: is.gd/OmWJ17

Happy 53rd Birthday to Eric Lindros!

Please take a moment to remember former Medicine Hat and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kenny Robinson who died in a car accident 27 years ago today. He was just 29.

Happy 75th Birthday to former Montreal Expos outfielder/pinch-hitter Jim Wohlford! He batted .265 in 318 games over parts of four seasons with the Expos from 1983 to 1986.

53 years ago today, the Montreal Expos traded Carl Morton to the Atlanta Braves for Pat Jarvis.

Please take a moment to remember former Montreal Royals player and Montreal Expos coach and broadcaster Duke Snider who passed away 15 years ago today at the age of 84.

Happy 58th Birthday to former Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays slugger and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Matt Stairs (Fredericton, N.B.)! All-Time Canadian MLB ranks: - 1,895 games (3rd) - 265 HRs (3rd) - 23 pinch-hit HRs (1st) - 294 doubles (4th) - 899 RBIs (4th) - 717 walks (4th)

42 years ago today, the Montreal Expos traded Al Oliver to the San Francisco Giants for Fred Breining and Max Venable.

He caught Len Barker's no-hitter vs. the Blue Jays. He caught Dennis Martinez's perfect game for the Expos. He also made the final out for the Yankees when the Blue Jays clinched their first division title in 1985. Happy 73rd Birthday to Ron Hassey!

I did some research to uncover who are Canada’s single-tournament statistical leaders among hitters at the World Baseball Classic. is.gd/GqU4FV

After talks intensified last week, Jays now have a $3 million deal with Scherzer via Shi. @jonheyman.bsky.social was first on agreement. From what I heard last week, the Blue Jays will take it slowly with Scherzer. They aren't about to rush him onto an opening day roster. Could be weeks into season

Happy 49th Birthday to former Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Josh Towers! His 2005 season with the Blue Jays: - 33 starts - 13 wins (tied for team lead) - 208 2/3 IP (led team) - 112 Ks (second on team) - 2 CGs - 3.71 ERA

91 years ago today, after a "down" season in 1934, Babe Ruth was released by the New York Yankees. Ruth's "down" 1934 season: - 125 games - .288/.448/.537 - 22 HRs - 84 RBIs - 104 walks *He was 39 in 1934.

11 years ago today, the Toronto Blue Jays signed two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana as a free agent. Photo: Toronto Blue Jays

Who are Canada’s all-time World Baseball Classic statistics leaders? I had trouble finding this info, so I did the research myself. Here you go: is.gd/UqZaY6

Happy 52nd Birthday to Shannon Stewart! His resume (with all-time Blue Jays' ranks in brackets): - 907 games - .298 batting average (5th) - 1,082 hits (7th) - 222 doubles (6th) - 595 runs (7th) - 166 SBs (5th) - .365 OBP (9th)

23 years ago today, former Toronto Blue Jays slugger Joe Carter, longtime Angels right-hander Kirk McCaskill (Kapuskasing, Ont.) and the courageous and inspirational Vancouver Asahi team were elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

Happy 72nd Birthday to former Toronto Blue Jays catcher Bob Brenly! He played 48 games for the Blue Jays in 1989.

Please take a moment to remember Hall of Fame third baseman Ron Santo who was born on this date in 1940. He passed away in 2010. Here he is with longtime Cubs teammate Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.).

21 years ago today, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame announced its 2005 induction class, which consisted of former Montreal Expos ace Steve Rogers, former Toronto Blue Jays ace Dave Stieb and longtime national team trainer Doc Younker.

25 years ago today, two of my all-time favourite centre fielders were traded for each other. The Los Angeles Dodgers traded Devon White to the Milwaukee Brewers for Marquis Grissom.

Happy 53rd Birthday to Canadian national team legend, former MLB infielder, current St. Louis Cardinals coach, and newly elected Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer, Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.)!

49 years ago today, the Toronto Blue Jays acquired Ron Fairly from the Oakland A's for Mike Weathers and cash considerations. Fairly proceeded to lead the first-year Blue Jays in home runs (19) and doubles (24) and become the first Blue Jay to be selected to the All-Star Game.

Honus Wagner was born on this date in 1874. In his honour, I present this photo of him at Labatt Park in London, Ont., for a Pittsburgh Pirates exhibition game on Aug. 29, 1941. The photo was uncovered from the London Free Press archives by Stephen Harding and David Mendham.

Happy 70th Birthday to Hall of Famer Eddie Murray! He was the best power-hitting switch-hitter of my '80s childhood. He batted .282 with 13 home runs in 65 games for the Baltimore Orioles while playing at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium.

Happy 54th Birthday to former Montreal Expos outfielder Rondell White! In parts of eight seasons with the Expos, he batted .293 with 101 home runs in 742 games.

Elston Howard was born on this date in 1929. Before becoming the first Black player on the Yankees, he honed his skills with the International League's Toronto Maple Leafs in 1954. That season he won the IL’s MVP Award when he batted .330 with 22 home runs and 109 RBIs. He died in 1980.

Happy Birthday to longtime Toronto Blue Jays executive and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Howard Starkman! Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Q: What pitcher registered the first regular season win in Montreal Expos' history? A: Don Shaw, who recorded the win in relief in the Expos' first game, an 11-10 win over the Mets. He turns 82 today. Happy Birthday to him!

16 years ago today, Matt Stairs (Fredericton, N.B.) signed with the San Diego Padres. The Padres would become the 12th MLB team Stairs would play for. This broke Todd Zeile's record for most different MLB teams played for by a position player.

Happy 85th Birthday to former Montreal Expos infielder Ron Hunt! In 1971 with the Expos, he was hit by 50 pitches. That's the most pitches a player has been hit by in an MLB season since 1896.