A couple of notes from the Baseball Canada Awards banquet on Saturday night: -Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) will return as a coach for Canada at the WBC. -Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) will serve as Canada's 3B coach at the WBC.

17 years ago today, Rickey Henderson was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. He became the fourth former Toronto Blue Jays player to be elected, joining Phil Niekro, Dave Winfield and Paul Molitor.

Eight years ago today, the Toronto Blue Jays signed Josh Donaldson to a one-year, $23-million contract. At the time, it was the largest contract ever for an arbitration-eligible player.

43 years ago today, former Vancouver Mounties and Baltimore Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Robinson batted .331 with six home runs and 30 RBIs in 42 games for the Mounties in 1959.

Happy 56th Birthday to Nigel Wilson (Ajax, Ont.)! FUN FACT: He was the Florida Marlins' first pick in the 1992 MLB Expansion draft. The Marlins selected him from the Blue Jays.

This week’s Canadian baseball news and notes column is devoted to the Baseball Canada National Awards banquet that was held on Saturday at the Marriott hotel at Rogers Centre. Read it here: is.gd/zUvwQM

Tough news for Team Canada: #Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman has pulled out of the World Baseball Classic for personal reasons. He was going to DH for Canada. Jordan Romano also out. Good news: SP Jameson Taillon, C Liam Hicks, IF Tyler Black are in. Baseball Canada’s Awards Banquet is tonight!

37 years ago today, Paul Beeston (Welland, Ont.) was promoted to the position of president and chief operating officer (COO) of the Toronto Blue Jays. Article below is from the Toronto Star.

Please take a moment to remember former Philadelphia A's ace, Canadian war hero and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Phil Marchildon (Penetanguishene, Ont.) who died 29 years ago at the age of 83. His 1947 season with the A's: - 35 starts - 19-9 - 3.22 ERA - 276 2/3 IP - 21 CGs

42 years ago today, the Toronto Blue Jays signed right-hander Dennis Lamp to a five-year contract.

Happy 91st Birthday to former Red Sox left-hander Ted Bowsfield (Vernon, B.C.)! FUN FACTS - He is the oldest living Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee to have played in MLB. - In 1958, his rookie season, he went 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA in four starts against the Yankees.

Please take a moment to remember Willie McCovey who would've turned 88 today. He passed away in 2018. I credit his 1980 O-Pee-Chee card back (on the right below) for sparking my interest in baseball statistics. 1980 was the first year my brother and I collected cards.

42 years ago today, former Montreal Royals pitcher and Montreal Expos broadcaster Don Drysdale was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Three years ago today, the Toronto Blue Jays signed first baseman Brandon Belt to a one-year, $9.3-million contract.

30 years ago today, the Montreal Expos acquired Rheal Cormier (Cap-Pele, N.B.) from the Boston Red Sox, along with Ryan McGuire and Shayne Bennett, in exchange for Wil Cordero and Bryan Eversgerd.

50 years ago today, San Francisco Giants owner Horace Stoneham agreed to sell the club to a Toronto group headed by Labatts, Howard Webster and CIBC for $13.25 million. The deal was soon quashed by the courts and the Giants were sold to Bob Lurie who kept them in San Francisco.

47 years ago today, the Toronto Blue Jays selected Mark Eichhorn in the second round of the MLB January Draft as a shortstop. Yes, Eichhorn was originally drafted as a shortstop (See article below).

16 years ago today, Vladimir Guerrero signed a one-year, $5.5-million contract with the Texas Rangers. He proceeded to bat .300 with 29 HRs and 115 RBIs in 152 games in 2010. For his efforts, he won a Silver Slugger Award and received the Edgar Martinez Award, as the AL's top DH.

46 years ago today, ex-Montreal Royals slugger and former Montreal Expos coach and broadcaster Duke Snider was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Happy 67th Birthday to former Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Otis Nixon! FUN FACT: He is the only player to steal 50 bases in a season for both the Expos (1990) and the Blue Jays (1996).

Please take a moment to remember former Montreal Expos slugger Bob Bailey who passed away eight years ago today at the age of 75. His 1970 season with the Expos: - .287/.407/.597 - 1.004 OPS - 28 HRs - 84 RBIs - 77 runs - 72 walks - 4.4 WAR

Blue Jays, Ernie Clement avoid arb with a $4.6 million contract for 2026 per source

In Canadian baseball news, Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) has been traded to the Miami Marlins, while Jameson Taillon has confirmed he will pitch for Canada at the World Baseball Classic. I wrote about them: is.gd/Nbo5uf

Blue Jays have also avoided arbitration with Daulton Varsho on a one-year, $10.75 million deal per source Joel Sherman was on this one

Happy 33rd Birthday to Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman!

35 years ago today, Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) became the first Canadian to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

12 years ago today, former Toronto Blue Jays DH Frank Thomas was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Happy 45th Birthday to former Colorado Rockies left-hander, Baseball Canada alum and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Francis (North Delta, B.C.)! FUN FACT: His 17 wins with the Rockies in 2007 are tied for the second-most in a season in franchise history.

39 years ago today, the Toronto Blue Jays re-signed catcher Ernie Whitt to a three-year contract. He had been a free agent after nine seasons with the Blue Jays.

47 years ago today, the Montreal Expos signed free-agent reliever Elias Sosa to a five-year contract. His 1979 season with the Expos: - 62 relief appearances - 8-7 record - 1.96 ERA - 96 2/3 innings - 77 hits - 59 strikeouts - 18 saves - 3.1 WAR

Glenn Hall has died. Known as Mr. Goalie, he was one of the greatest goalies in NHL history. In his NHL career he won the Calder, was a 13-time All-Star, won three Vezinas, the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe. His 502 consecutive games remains a record for goalies.

In spring 1989 the Seattle Mariners with long time Calgary Cannon Edgar Martinez and rookie Ken Griffey Jr played an exhibition game against the AAA Cannons. I'm the 6 yr old in the front with my dad and Edgar signing my Panini book. #cardsky #Mariners #baseball #MLB #thehobby

Happy 43rd Birthday to Edwin Encarnacion! All-Time Blue Jays ranks: - 239 HRs (3rd) - .522 SLG (4th) - .878 OPS (4th) - 27.2 oWAR (5th) - 477 walks (5th) - 679 RBIs (6th) - 445 extra-base hits (7th) - 593 runs (8th) - 1,904 total bases (8th)

Happy 50th Birthday to former Dodgers closer Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.)! Career Highlights: -187 MLB saves (most by a Canadian) -55 saves in 2003 (most by a Canadian in a season) -Saves in 84 straight opportunities (MLB record) -2003 NL Cy Young Award -3-time All-Star

Happy 37th Birthday to Baseball Canada alum and former big league pitcher Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.)!

Q: Who was the only Montreal Expos pitcher to register 20 wins in a season? A: Ross Grimsley, who had 20 wins in 1978. He turns 76 today. Happy Birthday to him!

Former big league left-hander James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) will become the 14th member of Baseball Canada's Wall of Excellence on Saturday. Here are 15 things you might not know about him: is.gd/4s26hZ

Note to self: If you're looking for something terrible online, you'll find it. Please stop doomscrolling, Kevin.

Happy 35th Birthday to Toronto Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman! FUN FACT: His 793 strikeouts with the Blue Jays are the seventh most in franchise history. He has registered that number of Ks in just four seasons.

16 years ago today, Andre Dawson was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He'd become the second player to be inducted pictured in a Montreal Expos cap on their plaque. The first was Gary Carter in 2003.

28 years ago today, Jeff Zimmerman (Kelowna, B.C.) signed with the Texas Rangers as an amateur free agent. He pitched for the independent Winnipeg Goldeyes in 1997. He faxed his resume to 30 MLB teams. The Rangers were the only one to respond. He was an AL All-Star in 1999.

11 years ago today, former Montreal Expos pitchers Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

49 years ago today, the Toronto Blue Jays signed Bob Oravec (Toronto, Ont.) as an amateur free agent. The right-hander became the first 🇨🇦 signed by the club. He'd pitch three seasons in the organization. In 1978, he went 5-1 with a 3.78 ERA with Medicine Hat. Photo: Sault Star

Surfing is something I could never get on board with RS

Don Mattingly joins Phillies as bench coach. Phillies manager Rob Thomson: “Having known Don for years and having worked closely with him in New York, I know that his knowledge of the game and his character make him a great addition.”

Nine years ago today, after eight seasons with the Blue Jays, Edwin Encarnacion officially signed a three-year, $60-million contract with Cleveland. A month earlier, the Jays offered him a four-year, $80-million contract. When he turned it down, they signed Kendrys Morales.

Happy 63rd Birthday to former Montreal Expos left-hander Jeff Fassero! FUN FACT: He holds the Expos' record for most strikeouts in a season by a left-handed pitcher (I’m not including Washington Nationals pitchers) with 222 in 1996.

Please take a moment to remember former Montreal Expos third baseman Ryan Minor who would've turned 52 today. He played his final 55 MLB games for the Expos in 2001. He passed away in 2023.

27 years ago today, the Boston Red Sox signed left-hander Rheal Cormier (Cap-Pele, N.B.) to a minor league contract. Cormier made the Red Sox out of spring training and proceeded to post a 3.69 ERA in 60 relief appearances for them in 1999.