❤️

I was a Hartford Whalers fan growing up. I am an Ottawa Senators fan now. So, let me just say if the Hurricanes decide to wear their Whalers jerseys (I saw many in the stands yesterday), there's going to be an issue.

My weekly Canadian baseball news and notes column discusses: -Michael Soroka -Nick Pivetta -Josh Naylor -Liam Hicks -Otto Lopez -Jared Young -Tyler O'Neill -Spike Owen Please read it here: is.gd/qeUPmU

Former major leaguer and longtime umpire Ossie Chavarria has been elected to the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame. I wrote about it: is.gd/I4vW1Q

80 years ago today, Jackie Robinson made his integrated professional baseball debut with the International League's Montreal Royals. He went 4-for-5 with a home run and two stolen bases in the Royals' 14-1 win over the Jersey City Giants at Roosevelt Stadium.

19 years ago today, left-hander Rheal Cormier (Cap-Pele, N.B.) made his final MLB appearance. He entered the game for the Cincinnati Reds in the eighth inning and pitched the final inning and a third in a Reds' 7-2 loss to the Houston Astros.

#OTD Eight years ago, the Atlanta Braves signed Jose Bautista to a minor league contract. He belted two home runs in 12 games with the Braves. Photo: USA Today

Third baseman Ty LaForest (Edmundston, N.B.) was born on this date in 1917. He batted .250 in 52 games for the Boston Red Sox in 1945. Sadly, he passed away when he was just 30 of a heart ailment caused by pneumonia.

Happy 36th Birthday to former Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Henderson Alvarez! FUN FACT: In 2012, he led Blue Jays pitchers with 187 1/3 innings pitched.

Happy 75th Birthday to former Montreal Expos second baseman Doug Flynn! He batted .240 in 334 games in parts of four seasons with the Expos from 1982 to 1985.

My tribute to Marquis Grissom, one of the most exciting players in Montreal Expos history, on his 59th birthday: is.gd/W5NcGs

Rest in peace, Garret Anderson. My condolences to his family. He played parts of three seasons (1993 to 1995) with the Vancouver Canadians prior to starring with the Angels.

My tribute to Marquis Grissom, one of the most exciting players in Montreal Expos history, on his 59th birthday: is.gd/W5NcGs

Just when you think the world is going to shit, you read a story like this: www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/...

National Baseball Hall of Famer MLB debuts on Apr. 17: 1947 - Duke Snider 1951 - Mickey Mantle 1955 - Roberto Clemente 1956 - Luis Aparicio 1956 - Don Drysdale 1956 - Whitey Herzog 1956 - Frank Robinson 1965 - Jim Palmer

71 years ago today, Roberto Clemente made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Batting third and playing right field, he went 1-for-4 in the Pirates' 10-3 loss to the Brooklyn Dodgers at Forbes Field. He singled off Johnny Podres in his first at bat for his first MLB hit.

75 years ago, Mickey Mantle made his MLB debut with the New York Yankees. Batting third and playing right field, he went 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI in the Yankees' 5-0 win over the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. His first MLB hit was a single to left field in the sixth.

Need some inspiration? 81 years ago today, Pete Gray, who only had one arm, made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Browns. He went 1-for-4 in the Browns' 7-1 win over the Detroit Tigers at Sportsman's Park. He went on to bat .218 in 77 games for the Browns that season.

Tonight's late night card from my collection. Time: 12:38 a.m. #cardsky

Happy 59th Birthday to Marquis Grissom! FUN FACT: His MLB leading 78 stolen bases with the Expos in 1992 is a total that has only been equaled by one player since. Jose Reyes had 78 steals for the New York Mets in 2007.

39 years ago today, Fred McGriff belted his first MLB home run with the Toronto Blue Jays. Batting seventh and DHing, McGriff socked a three-run home run off Boston Red Sox right-hander Bob Stanley in the Blue Jays' 10-5 win at Exhibition Stadium.

57 years ago today, Bill Stoneman threw a no-hitter for the Montreal Expos against the Philadelphia Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium in just the ninth game in Expos' franchise history. Stoneman walked five and struck out eight in the contest that the Expos won 7-0.

23 years ago today, Reed Johnson made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays. After Josh Phelps singled with one out in the ninth inning against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Johnson pinch ran for him. Johnson was forced out when Eric Hinske hit a grounder to second base.

A quote that pops into my head every time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. steps to the plate:

22 years ago today, Jason Frasor made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays. In his first of a franchise record 505 pitching appearances, Frasor entered the game in the fifth inning and didn't allow a run in 1-2/3 innings in the Blue Jays' 11-2 loss to the Orioles.

59 years ago today, John Upham (Windsor, Ont.) made his MLB debut with the Cubs. He entered the game in the ninth and allowed a single to the Pirates' Manny Mota, the only batter he faced. The Pirates later won 6-5. P.S. Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) started for the Cubs.

46 years ago today, Dave Stieb pitched a complete-game, six-hitter for the Toronto Blue Jays in their home opener, an 11-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Exhibition Stadium. Roy Howell led the Blue Jays' offence with three hits, three runs and two RBIs.

29 years ago today, the Detroit Tigers released Vince Coleman. You read that right. Vince Coleman once played for the Tigers. He played six games for them in 1997. I have zero recollection of this. Visual evidence:

21 years ago today, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Reed Johnson tied an MLB record when he was hit by three pitches in a game. Johnson also had a single and two RBIs to help the Blue Jays to an 8-0 win over the Texas Rangers at Ameriquest Field.

When my great uncle was a kid, he wrote to Jackie and got the sweetest signed card and personal note. Class act ❤️

On Jackie Robinson Day, and on the 79th anniversary of Robinson breaking MLB’s colour barrier, I'm proud to know that we, as Canadians, helped him alter the history of his sport and inspire social change. I wrote about it: tinyurl.com/28bjwbdt

"I owe more to Canadians than they'll ever know. In my baseball career, they were the first to make me feel my natural self." -- Jackie Robinson #JackieRobinsonDay

A relatively recently discovered photo of Jackie Robinson with the Montreal Royals. #JackieRobinsonDay

Jackie Robinson's stats with the International League's Montreal Royals in 1946: -124 games -.349/.468/.462 -.930 OPS -113 runs -8 triples -92 walks, 27 strikeouts (!) -40 stolen bases -Royals won Junior World Series #JackieRobinsonDay

“This is the city for me. This is paradise.” Jackie Robinson about Montreal and the reception he received in the city, after winning the Junior World Series in 1946 with the Montreal Royals.

Rachel Robinson reflecting on the 1946 season she spent in Montreal with her husband, Jackie, in an interview with the Globe and Mail in 2013:

Jackie Robinson talking about his 1946 season with the Montreal Royals in a 1964 CBC interview:

"I owe more to Canadians than they'll ever know. In my baseball career, they were the first to make me feel my natural self." -- Jackie Robinson #JackieRobinsonDay

I’m Oscar. I eat dandelions. Today I barked at a fly.

Former Montreal Expos catcher Tom Nieto died on March 27 at the age of 65 in Zephyrhills, Fla. My condolences to his family. I wrote about him: is.gd/gzZDQV

My baseball friends and I often have discussions about stuff like who is the greatest pitcher you have ever followed for their entire career? My answer is always Greg Maddux. He turns 60 today. Happy Birthday to him!

47 years ago today, Youppi! made his debut as the Montreal Expos mascot.

I remember when Greg Myers was a top catching prospect in the Blue Jays' organization in the mid-80s. I also remember when he came back to the Jays as a grizzled 37-year-old veteran in 2003 and batted .307 with 15 HRs. This makes me feel old. Happy 60th Birthday to him!

57 years ago today, the Montreal Expos played their first home game at Jarry Park. It represented the first regular season MLB game played outside the U.S. The Expos beat the Cardinals 8-7. Mack Jones' three-run HR in the first was the first HR in an MLB game on Canadian soil.

Happy 66th Birthday to the second Canadian ever to play for the Toronto Blue Jays and all-around great guy Paul Hodgson (Marysville, N.B.)!

"A man of great gentleness and dignity." - Elston Howard's plaque in Monument Park He made his MLB debut 71 years today to become the first African American player in New York Yankees' history. He honed his skills with the IL's Toronto Maple Leafs in 1954.

62 years ago today, Vern Handrahan (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) made his MLB debut. He tossed 1 1/3 innings in relief for the Kansas City A's and allowed two runs to the Detroit Tigers at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers won the game 7-3.

49 years ago today, Jerry Garvin became the first Toronto Blue Jays pitcher to record a complete-game win. Garvin limited the Detroit Tigers to three runs on six hits, while striking out 10, to lead the Blue Jays to a 5-3 victory at Exhibition Stadium.

Happy 56th Birthday to former Atlanta Braves left-hander Steve Avery! P.S. Anyone looking for a huge lot of his rookie cards? These were supposed to put me through university. 😆

27 years ago today, Jeff Zimmerman (Kelowna, B.C.) made his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers. He entered the game for the Rangers in the seventh and proceeded to strike out four batters in 1 2/3 scoreless innings to help the Rangers to 15-6 win over the Mariners.