2009 Most influential Canadians in Baseball
*Paul Beeston (Welland, Ont.) was named the most influential Canadian for the second successive year.
By BOB ELLIOTT
Once again Canadians showed their influence in the baseball world in 2009.
Whether it was in Grosseto, Italy in September as a team assembled by Greg Hamilton wore red and white uniforms to the podium, collecting a bronze medal at the World Cup.
Or, in Philadelphia, Boston or Los Angeles on the post-season stage.
Or, perhaps inside the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel on Oct. 3 in Baltimore, when Blue Jays president Paul Beeston fired general manager J.P. Ricciardi, ending an eight-year run without a post-season appearance.
Beeston hired Montreal native Alex Anthopoulos as the fourth GM in franchise history.
It was talk show host Bob McCown of The Fan, who Beeston finally listened to on the GM situation, which should make the broadcaster the most influential voice in baseball.
McCown came to Toronto in 1953 and has his original "landed immigrant" status, which at that time didn't require renewal. He went to school here, worked here other than four years in the 1980s when he was in Las Vegas and has lived here all his life.
However, under our strict guidelines, McCown is not eligible for our list since official Canadian citizenship paper work is a must. This also rules out Ernie Whitt and Dave Van Horne.
All of which means for the second consecutive year Paul McGill Beeston, who attended the University of Western Ontario (winless against the Vanier Cup Queen's University Golden Gaels in 2009) is our choice as the most influential Canadian on our third annual list of baseball movers and shakers.
We have apples, oranges -- and a few lemons -- who exerted influence, be it good or bad, on the industry or their teams.
Our top-to-bottom list, with 2008 and 2007 rankings in brackets:
1. Paul Beeston, CEO Blue Jays (1, 10)
After an exhaustive search of GTA golf courses, while interim CEO, looking for his replacement, the Welland, Ont. native looked in the mirror and hired himself Oct. 27. Rogers Communications gave him a three-year contract. Beeston added the Maple Leaf logo to Jays uniforms and put one on every page of the media guide. Now, pre-game video on the Jumbotron salutes Canadian players. Beeston and scouting director Jon Lalonde ended the Milwaukee Brewers' five-year run of drafting the most Canadians when they selected nine last year. It would have been more impressive had the Jays signed more than one. Beeston was one of 14 people named to commissioner Bud Selig's advisory committee on ways to improve the game. Suggestion No. 1 from here: Put a team in Montreal.
2. Greg Hamilton, director of national teams, junior coach, Baseball Canada (2, 1A)
The international scene could not have been worse in March: a thrilling, one-run loss to Team USA and an embarrassing 6-2 elimination loss to Italy. In September, at the World Cup in Italy, a team of minor-league Canucks finished third -- our first medal since entering the competition in 1965. No one evaluates as many players, putting together two national teams, plus the juniors and next season's Mizuno camp for high schoolers. The Peterborough, Ont. native deals with GMs, farm directors, pitch counts, pitching coaches and agents. Hamilton can be found at his Ottawa office until after 11 most nights. It's a surprise a big-league club has not hired him as a farm director even though one also-ran GM candidate in 2008 wanted to do so.
3. Alex Anthopoulos, GM, Jays (37, 22)
It wasn't so much the 75 wins the got Ricciardi fired, but a minor league system that one veteran scout describd as being "as deep as a second-year expansion team". Anthopoulos came up with a way to fix the foundation by hiring scouts and development people. The Jays will have 69 full-time scouts next season, compared to 27 in 2007 under Ricciardi. They had 92 in 1992 under Pat Gillick. Instead of scouting a half dozen major league teams, each pro scout will be responsible for two organizations from the majors down through its affiliates all the way to Class A. All five area cross checkers will have five amateur scouts below him. Jays are the only team with this unique approach. Former Expos' scouting director Gary Hughes, now of the Cubs, and Gillick have lauded the approach. Said one scouting director: "You have no idea how many people are hoping his plan works, it will be Money Ball in reverse." Plus, Anthopoulos wound up with three former No. 1 draft picks for Roy Halladay and another for Brandon League.
4. Doug Melvin, GM, Milwaukee Brewers (7, 3)
The Brewers were short of arms, due to injuries after losing C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets, falling from 90 wins to 80. Melvin signed closer Trevor Hoffman, who saved 37 and acquired Felipe Lopez, a hit machine in the lead-off spot. After firing pitching coach Bill Castro Aug. 12, he hired revolutionary pitching coach Rick Peterson which is either going to be very, very good, or very, very bad. Dealt Bill Hall to Seattle and the Brewers had to pay most of the $10 million remaining on his contract, including $7.15 million for 2010.
5. Pat Gillick, senior adviser to president, Philadelphia Phillies (3, 5)
Helped GM Ruben Amaro and the Phillies return to the Series. Gillick won in 2008 -- the first by a Canadian running a U.S. based club. He became a Canadian in November of 2005 after living in Toronto since 1976. Was in on four of the Phillies first five June draft selections. Led the Jays, Orioles, Mariners and the Phillies to post-season play 11 times in 20 seasons, finishing second in his division four times. He was in the midst of that Halladay deal as a former GM of all three clubs. The Jays, Orioles and Mariners are 0-for-33 combined attempting to make post-season play since he left.
6. Justin Morneau, first baseman, Minnesota Twins (4, 7)
The former MVP from New Westminster, B.C. and Jason Bay take turns text messaging each other. "Looks like I moved ahead in the Tip O'Neill race," one will type. In December, Bay won the O'Neill award, presented by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Morneau won in 2006 and in 2008. Morneau speaks his mind (As in: "Keep Joe Mauer." As in: "Why wasn't there a singer for the Canadian anthem rather than canned music at the all-star game?" As in explaining who to blame in the WBC: "the hitters"). He says, on this list, Hamilton should be No. 1. Morneau enters the second year of a six-year $80-million US extension and is Canada1s most popular player.
7. Tony Viner, president, Rogers Media (11, -)
Viner talked Beeston into taking the CEO job on a full-time basis. Besides the Jays, Rogers Centre, Sportsnet and The Fan, a number of areas fall under the Rogers Media umbrella and those budgets cross Viner's desk. He also approves the Jays' payroll, which at this time is anyone's guess for 2010. Viner and Nadir Mohamed, Rogers Communications CEO signed off on the $6 million to complete the Halladay deal.
8. Dan Shulman, broadcaster, ESPN (29, 21)
The Thornhill, Ont. resident was voted national play-by-play man of the decade by Sports Illustrated, ahead of Joe Buck and Jon Miller. Not bad for someone whose humble beginnings in the business came on the late, late, late show on The Fan. Much of the acclaim for his work results from hoops, but he still does his ESPN Wednesday TV games, radio on the Sunday Night Game of the Week as well as being The Fan's best baseball analyst. Has been described as the Jays' worse loss on the free-agent market. Ever.
9. Keli McGregor, president, Colorado Rockies (19, -)
The former Colorado State Hall of Fame tight end and Denver Bronco was considered as the next president of the Jays. His father, Brian, grew up in St. Lambert, Que. and played for the Montreal Alouettes (1959-61). Keli's grandfather, Edwin, was in the Canadian infantry and was wounded in The Battle of Cassino, Italy, during World War II.
10. Jerry Howarth, broadcaster, Jays (14, 12)
He paints pictures from on high alongside analyst Alan Ashby each night. He sells the game and has never wavered, whether the franchise had 95 or 75 wins. The Etobicoke resident became a Canadian citizen in April of 1994. He estimates he's worked 4,424 regular-season games and has become the voice of the franchise, educating and entertaining.
11. Claude Delorme, VP stadium development, Florida Marlins (6, 9)
A few years ago the talk was the Marlins would move due to attendance woes. Now, they have applied to host the 2015 all-star game, three years after their new stadium is slated to open. He predicts an economic impact $65 million from the all-star game. The Sturgeon Falls, Ont. was responsible for getting approval and hiring a contractor for the stadium. Ground breaking took place July 18. Builders Hunt/Moss hope to have the $640 million, 37,000-seat domed stadium finished by March 2012.
12. Rob Thomson, third base coach, New York Yankees (13, 36)
The Yanks' first season at new Yankee Stadium was his first coaching third base -- and he did so in an aggressive manner -- in the Bronx. The Corunna, Ont. native waved home 915 runners and shook a bunch of hands. He enters his 21st year with the Yanks and now has five Series rings, the first four as minor-league field co-ordinator.
13. Walt Burrows, Canadian director, MLB Scouting Bureau (10, 6)
The Brentwood Bay, B.C. resident evaluated players from coast to coast, scouted major leaguers before the WBC and instructed at MLB's scout school. Only Murray Zuk (San Diego Padres) of Souris, Man. and Claude Pelettier (New York Mets) of Ste-Lezare, Que. have worked Canada longer. A team's area scout traditionally may see one or two of his players drafted. This June, Burrows had 42 drafted. Canada ranked 11th of 53 draft areas (50 states, plus Puerto Rico, D.C. and Canada), one behind 10th-place Tennessee.
14. Larry Walker, former NL slugger, coach Team Canada (17, 11)
As a Jupiter, Fla. resident he's a part-time coach with the Cardinals but that didn't prevent the Maple Ridge, B.C. product from spending three weeks as hitting coach for Team Canada in Sweden and Italy at the World Cup. One night at dinner, players were flipping grapes in the air and catching them in their mouth. Cole Armstrong of Surrey, B.C. hurled a grape and accidently hit Walker in the eye. Walker, or Sir Larry as Canucks respectfully called him, showed next day wearing a protective eye patch with gauze sticking out faking a serious eye injury. Armstrong stepped ever-so-gingerly into the cage with Walker throwing batting practice. Canada's greatest position player was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
15. Jeffrey Royer, general partner, Arizona Diamondbacks (18, 8)
His family was a founding investor in the Diamondbacks. The Toronto resident committed $160 million over a 10-year span to the team. He grew up in Wisconsin a fan of Warren Spahn and sits on the board of directors with Shaw Communications. He could shoot up the charts should Shaw become the next owner of the Jays.
16. Wayne Norton, scout, Mariners (41, 53)
Not many scouts can match Norton. Port Moody, B.C.'s best signed five of Seattle's top 10 prospects, according to the highly-respected Baseball America: No. 2 Michael Saundersof Victoria, B.C, who spent time with the M's in 2009, No. 4, Phillippe Aumont of Gatineau, Que.; No. 5, Italy's Alex Liddi, who hit .345 with 23 homers and 104 RBIs at class-A High Desert; No. 8 Tyson Gillies of Langley, B.C. voted best outfield arm in the system and No. 10 Dutch outfielder Greg Halman. Would lefty Cliff Lee be in Seattle without Norton? Both Aumont and Gillies went to the Phillies in the Cliff Lee deal.
17. Fergie Jenkins, Hall of Famer (15, 17)
Canada's only Hall of Famer lives in Phoenix, but the national treasure can be found at celebrity golf tourneys from St. Catharines to Vancouver. The 284-game winner has been presented with Order of Canada from the Governor General and has his own World Signature Series Wines by Rockway Glen Estate Winery. "Ah waiter, we're having trouble deciding between the Fergie Jenkins Hall of Fame Cabernet Merlot 2006 and the Fergie Jenkins Hall of Fame Vidal 2007."
18. Sam Holman, owner, Sam Bat (12, -)
Maple bats were the centre of a 2008 storm after 2,232 broke, 756 in multiple pieces from July to September. But MLB did not ban maple bats, only set stricter guidelines for manufacturers in 2009. The Ottawa resident was at the top of the maple bat curve when it began in 1996 and is on top again: signing a deal with iSports CO. LTD in Japan and landing contracts with home run derby king Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun endorsing the RB8 model.
19. Jason Bay, left fielder, New York Mets (35, -)
Signed a four-year, $66 million deal with the Mets, with a vesting option based on plate appearances which could bring the total worth to five years at roughly $80 million. It is the sixth richest deal ever for a left fielder. The Canadian Hall of Fame voted Bay the winner of the O'Neill award for a third time in December. He won back-to-back in 2004-05. Not bad for the best second baseman on the National Junior Team in 1996.
20. Jeff Mallett, part owner, San Francisco Giants (21, 14)
The Victoria, B.C. native is a partner under owner Peter Magowan. The former president and chief operating officer of Yahoo Inc. from 1995-2002 lives in San Francisco. Besides the Giants, he also owns a portion of AT&T Park, the Bay Area's regional sports cable TV network and 25% of class-San Jose. He's also an advisor to Steve Nash Enterprises.
21. Ryan Dempster, Chicago Cubs (16, -)
A picture of the Gibsons, B.C. native was booed at the Rogers Centre after he declined to pitch in the WBC and was knocked by Langley, B.C.'s Aaron Guiel of the Yakult Swallows, for leaving Canada's starting staff hamstrung. Dempster was the Cubs No. 1 man in starts (31) and innings (200), despite the fact his daughter, Riley was born April 1 with DiGeorge syndrome. Riley then had surgery May 11 to ease breathing and allow her to swallow. He is a loyal supporter of Baseball Canada program, raising almost $35,000 with his tours and tickets of Wrigley Field. Next set up for grabs go Jan. 16 at the annual Baseball Canada banquet and fund raiser in the Northern Lights Ballroom of the Renaissance Hotel in Toronto. The packages include a trip for four to Chicago to see a four game series at Wrigley Field, three night hotel stay, two restaurant meals, Cubs bat boy for a game, pre-game batting practice and clubhouse tour with Dempster and autographed jerseys. For more info, see the Baseball Canada website. 22. Russell Martin, catcher, Los Angeles Dodgers (32, -)
What do those Expos fans root for and follow? Montreal's all-star, No. 1 with a bilingual bullet. He wears J Martin on his uniform, a tribute to his mother, whose maiden name isJeanson. Born in East York and raised in Chelsea, Que. he has followers everywhere. Martin hit .250, his lowest mark by 30 points, yet he helped his Dodgers return to post-season play.
23. Gord Ash, assistant GM, Brewers (27, 20)
The Toronto native is Melvin's right-hand man, handling contract talks and keeping his finger on the pulse of the team. Under Ash and Melvin the Brewers were Canada's team in the June draft, selecting more Canadians than any other team for five years in a row until 2009 when they were second. The Brewers had the most Canucks in their minor-league system (16), one more than the Jays. He is also a minority owner of the Milwaukee Admirals hockey team.
24. Dave McKay, coach, St. Louis Cardinals (23, 35)
The Vancouver first base coach and original Jays infielder is in his 14th season with the Cards and his 24th under manager Tony La Russa. When McKay speaks in organizational meetings, the Cards listen. And now Mark McGwire is back with McKay and LaRussa. The Three Amigos together again as they were with both the A's and Cards.
25. Farhan Zaidi, Director of Baseball Operations, Oakland A's (-, -)
Born in Sudbury, Ont., his family moved to the Philippines after his father took a job with the Asian Development Bank. The No. 3 man in the A's operation behind Billy Beane andDavid Forst, still has relatives in Calgary and Toronto. He did his undergraduate work at MIT and has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California-Berkeley, not a normal path for a front office man. Zaidi read an on-line posting for the baseball operations analyst position in December of 2004, submitted an application online, interviewed a couple of days before Christmas and began work in 2005.
26. Allan Simpson, Perfect Game cross-checker (22, 13)
Who is the best player in North America for the draft? High schooler or collegian? Simpson has the answer. The Kelowna, B.C. native is the national co-ordinator for the scouting service which college recruiters and most pro teams depend on year round. He founded Baseball America and now his site rates the best best players in every age group and the top 16-to-18-year-old teams. 27. Mike McRae, coach, Canisius College (26, 49)
The Niagara Falls, Ont. native made Canisius a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference power, losing to the Marist Red Foxes in the tournament final. After going 4-43 in 2004 the Griffs were 36-22 in 2009. He did so with a Canadian-heavy roster. He had 12 going into this spring, after Windsor's Kevin Mailloux, an American Baseball Coaches Association Northeast Region and All-Canadian First Team selection signed with the Mariners. This spring's class of Simcoe's Sean Jamieson, and Drew Pettit of Pelham, Ont. join Shane Davis of Belmont, Ont., Guelph's Mike Goemans, Montreal's Perry Silverman, Mississauga's Branson Joseph, Shayne Willson of Surrey, B.C., Nathan Linesman, of Ariss, Ont., Mississauga's Billy Martin, Benson Merritt of Smithville, Ont., Kitchener's Brian Burton, Chris Cox of St. George, Ont., Mississauga's Ian Choy and Josh Marshall, of Saskatoon, Sask. Newcomers in the fall include Brian Bardis of St Constant, Que., Alex Tufts of Kentville, N.S. and Shane Zimmer of St. Albert, Alta.
28. Joey Votto. first baseman, Cincinnati Reds (54, -)
The Etobicoke, Ont. slugger finished in the top five in the NL in 2009 in: average (.322, to rank fifth), on-base percentage (.414, fourth), slugging (.567, fifth) and OPS (.981, third). Not a bad season for Bob Smythe's prized protege, who missed 31 games to an inner-ear infection and depression after the death of his father. He went on a rehab and in his first game back at the Roger Centre handled his issues, answering all questions.
29. Dr. Ron Taylor, Jays club physician (31, 30)
Arms, legs and elbows. One night the Leaside doctor and former two-time World Series hero is looking at an appendage of a millionaire inside the Jays clubhouse. The next, a teen-ager trying to make the Ontario Youth Team at the S.C. Cooper sports medicine clinic at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Taylor sees one and all, guiding them back to health.
30. Jacques Doucet, broadcaster (30, 39)
His Expos have been gone for five years, yet his 34 years of broadcasting are not forgotten. The French-language voice of the Expos, finished second in on-line fan balloting for the Ford Frick Award with 5,183 votes in 2009, behind the late Tom Cheek (5,930). Both are now eligible for consideration by the selection committee to be named to baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in the media wing for contributions to broadcasting excellence.
31. Doug Beeforth, Sportsnet (34, 24)
The president of Sportsnet oversees production of 100 Jays games. Sportsnet has a new play-by-play man in Buck Martinez, which will be his 22nd season with the Jays, as a player, broadcaster or manager. Beeforth, Rick Briggs-Jude and Beeston brought Martinez back.
32. Brett Lawrie, second baseman, Milwaukee Brewers (9, -)
The Langley, B.C. product, a graduate of the Langley Blaze program was drafted and signed -- for a $1.7 million US bonus -- in 2008 with Milwaukee, yet didn't play his first pro game until April at class-A Wisconsin. He was busy with the World Juniors in Edmonton and the Bejing Olympics in 2008. Lawrie hit 13 homers and knocked in 65 runs in 118 games before being promoted to double-A Huntsville. Lawrie is the top-rated prospect of the 122 Canadians in the minors, according to Baseball America.
33. Phil Lind, vice-chairman, Rogers Communications (20, 19)
Lind and Beeston represents the Jays at ownership meetings. He obtained a broadcasting license from the CRTC for a baseball channel, whether it be the MLB Network or the Canadian Baseball Network. Still gets points for convincing the late Ted Rogers to purchase the Jays.
34. Andrew Tinnish, scouting director, Jays
The Ottawa native does not have the experience of former scouting directors like Bob Engle, Wayne Morgan, Tim Wilken or Chris Buckley, but seeks the same results. Will do so with more resources than those given to former scouting director Jon Lalonde. When Rod Barajas signs elsewhere, he'll have nine picks in the first three rounds.
35. Jim McKean, MLB umpire supervisor (33, 16)
The former Saskatchewan Roughrider and Montreal Alouette was an excellent ump in his day. After 29 years in the majors, the Montreal native monitors progress of umpires, from balls and strikes, to safe and out calls reporting to Mike Port. It's a great series for Beeston when McKean comes to town to sit in his box and tell stories.
36. Tim Hallgren, scouting director, Dodgers. (39, 23)
Hallgren's father, Arnie from Victoria, was the first B.C. born player on a 40-man roster (Boston Braves, 1953). Born in Clarkston, Wash., he's been with the Dodgers five years after 17 with the Rangers. Credit to Hallgren after the Dodgers drafted Cambridge's Jeff Hunt in the 15th round and gave him a $150,000 bonus.
37. Ray Carter, president, Baseball Canada (38, 29)
The Tsawwassen, B.C. resident in his 10th year as president. Carter was instrumental in putting together the team of Jim Baba, Greg Hamilton and Andre Lachance, which helped lead into this golden era of Canadians in the majors.
38. William Humber, Historian (52, 34)
The Toronto native has written about Canadians in baseball, spoken about them in St. Marys and taught about the game in his pre-spring training college classes. His passions are Canadiana and baseball. 39. Ellen Harrigan, assistant director, administration, Dodgers (48, 43)
The Agincourt native is busy as GM Ned Colletti's top aide. Involved in everything from signing a quarter of the Dodgers' 40-man roster, and day-to-day administration, contract language, to schmoozing Hollywood types to get donations to add to the Dodger wives' gift bags which they gave to visiting wives during post-season play. She is a former GM with the class-A St. Catharines Blue Jays.
40. Charlie Wilson, director, minor league operations, Jays (97, 65)
The Toronto native was promoted after Dick Scott was fired in October. The new GM is concentrating on improving player development under Doug Davis, Mel Queen, Mel Didier and Wilson. Wilson has been with the Jays since 1993. In 2003, he was named the manager of minor league operations -- a position he held for six years.
41. Tom Valcke, CEO, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (41, 32)
The man responsible for retaining historical artifacts coast to coast is relentless raising funds and the museum's profile. He also served as technical commissioner in Tokyo during the WBC and is a part of the IBAF technical commission. A third hat he wears is coach of the OBA Peewee B champion St. Marys Cement Company which beat Orillia to end a drought of more than a half-century since a St. Marys team won an OBA title.
42. Jonah Keri, ESPN (64, -)
The Montreal writer produces like Tony Perez as he: has his own site jonahkeri.com, writes for ESPN, is a tweeting sensation, has become part of the Tim Raines Cooperstown lobby, is a blogging demon and is penning a book on the Tampa Bay Rays. In his spare time he's a father of two new borns.
43. Ron Tostenson, special assignment scout, Cubs (60,-)
The Kelowna, B.C. native was let go by the Mariners as a national cross-checker and quickly hired by the Cubs with a large portfolio. Tostenson will cover Canada, help out as a cross-checker before the draft, cover Japan and Latin America when the need arises and will go in on a player when GM Jim Hendry needs an opinion. As a cross checker with the M's he was in on the signing of Adam Jones, Kameron Mickolio and Chris Tillman, who the M's sent to Baltimore in the Erik Bedard deal. He was drafted by the Expos and worked for the Jays drafting Josh Phelps and Mark Hendrickson.
44. Alex Agostino, scout, Phillies (47, 44)
Interviewed by the Jays and offered a full-time position of Canadian scout, the Montrealer decided to remain with the Phillies after being hired full time. Signed Edmonton's Steven Inch for a $300,000 signing bonus. Wears another hat as the top man with Baseball Quebec. He's trying to get a stadium built in Montreal.
45. Bill Shaiken, Los Angeles Times
Ball scribes are excellent at telling why a team won, or who is talking to whom. Ownership and other issues are not always in a beat man's wheel house. Besides covering the L.A. Dodgers like a tarp, the Montreal-born Shaiken had done an excellent day-to-day job on the Dodgers struggles as co-owners Jaime and Frank McCourt go through divorce, which has hamstrung the team.
46. Doug Mathieson, coach, Langley Blaze (68, -)
The former Langley lawyer and full-time coach had six players drafted in 2009: Wes Darvill to the Cubs, Jon Hesketh of University of New Mexico, to the M's; Mike Monster to the Reds, Colin Kleven, who signed with the Phillies, Rory Young to the Astros and Brooklyn Foster to the Diamondbacks. His son, Scott Mathieson will likely make the Phillies, now that he's back throwing 96 m.p.h. after his second Tommy John surgery. No less than 32 Blaze have been drafted since 1995.
47. Jon Lalonde, pro scout, Jays (40, 25)
J.P. Arencibia took a step back in 2009, but still remains the No. 2 choice on Baseball America's top 10 Jays' prospect list, followed by Chad Jenkins, who Lalonde selected in June. Lalonde now moves to pro scouting. He will have two teams from top-to-bottom. Zach Stewart, acquired from the Reds in the Scott Rolen deal, is the Jays top prospect. Other Lalonde drafts on the top 10 list are David Cooper, Jake Marisnick, Brad Mills and Justin Jackson.
48. Les McTavish, coach, Vauxhall Academy (50, 60)
The best pay day, therefore someone could argue the best draft of 2009 went to Edmonton's Inch, who pitched at Vauxhall and was given $300,000 by the Phillies. Six current Vauxhall players and grads were selected after playing for the Stettler, Alta. coach: Adam Nelubowich, of Stony Plain, Alta., drafted by the M's, who is attending Washington State,Jay Johnson, of Sussex Corner, N.B., by the Orioles, who went to Texas Tech. Glace Bay's Brandon Petite, drafted by the Astros, also off to Texas Tech, Southern Idaho's Dale Anderson of Strathmore, Alta. to the Rangers and Calgary's Jordon Wong by the Brewers, who went to Hill College.
49. Tom Tango, statistical consultant, M's, Jays. (-)
The Montrealer does statistical projects requested by major league clubs, some about specific players, some about tendencies. The M's credit him for suggesting they add outfielderRyan Langerhans. He's also known as TangoTiger in online circles and grew up following hockey as well as cheering on les Expos. Tango writes for a variety of publications, including ESPN and FanGraphs. He's co-author of the book The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. He was first to come up with the idea to start the Raines advocacy site for the Hall of Fame (raines30.com).
50. Paul Quantrill, coach Team Canada (-)
The Port Hope resident pitched in more games -- 841 appearances, including 64 starts -- than any other Canadian. Jenkins pitched in 664 games. Quantrill retired after 2005 and is eligible for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Quantrill also played a role in Baseball Ontario revamping its pitch-count rules, is a pitching coach with the National Junior Team and helps coach his son Cal's bantam team.
51. Wayne Morgan, pro scout Blue Jays (59, 51)
A former Jays scouting director, the Kindersley, Sask. native returns to the Jays as a major league scout after a six-year absence. After scouting for the M's in 2008, Morgan will cover the A's and the Giants from top to bottom. With the Astros he signed Terry Puhl.
52. Ted Hotzak, president, B.C. Premier League (46, -)
Taking over for Clyde Inouye, he runs the best league in the country, producing the most talent year after year. Since its inception in 1995, 116 players have been drafted fromBobby Lee Cripps in 1995 to Burke Seifrit in June. Players selected in the first three rounds include: Adam Loewen, Jeff Francis, Kevin Nicholson, James Paxton, Aaron Myette, Kyle Lotzkar, Morneau, Dempster and Lawrie.
53. Joel Landry, coach, Academie Baseball Canada (67, 50)
The Montrealer was named Baseball Canada's coach of the year in 2009. The head coach of the ABC had four players drafted: Jonathan Gilbert, of Quebec City, Que., Granby'sMarc Bourgeois, St. Bruno's Francois Lafreniere and Jonathan Paquet of Ancienne Lorette, Que. The program has not missed a beat since legendary Richard Emond stepped down.
54. Kevin Briand, pro scout, Jays (61, 40)
The Montrealer is still the man who maintains relationships between the Jays and amateur associations across Canada. But in 2010 his scouting mandate will be two pro organizations to cover from top to bottom. Briand was in on drafting the top high schooler in June, Newmarket lefty Jake Eliopoilos, but the two sides could not reach an agreement.
55. John Haar, coach, North Shore Twins (76, -)
He guided his Twins to its third-straight, Premier League title beating Fraser Valley 3-2 with a run in the bottom of the seventh as Andrew Madsen singled in the winner and Mitch Rainer pitched a complete game. The Vancouver native used to run the National Baseball Institute and has been elected to the Canadian Hall of Fame.
56. Matt Stairs, free agent (36, -)
The Fredericton, N.B. native is currently the hitting coach with University of Maine -- until he signs for next season. He has five homers and hit .194 in 2009 in roughly 1/3 the at-bats of the year before when the Phillies won the Series. The No. 2 home run hitter in Canadian history behind Walker (383-259). Celebrated his off-season by having a street named after him in his hometown. 57. Orv Franchuk, hitting coach, triple-A Portland (85, 41)
The Amesbury, Alta. coach was the hitting instructor at double-A San Antonio in the Padres system in 2009. The Missions hit .269 as a team, second best in the Texas League behind Midland and he was promoted to triple-A to work under manager Terry Kennedy. He has more than 30 years in the game and worked with Eric Chavez, Jason Giambiand Miguel Tejada with the A's.
58. Jay Lapp, amateur scout, Brewers (66, 42)
It's a big day when a scout has a player he signed reach the majors -- even bigger day when the player was signed after being released. London's Lapp signed Port Simcoe's John Axford after being released by both the Yanks and the Rays. Axford started the 2009 season at class-A Brevard County and was in the Brewers bullpen in September. Lapp is part of the Brewers draft machine which selected 23 Canadians in the previous four drafts.
59. Bill Byckowski, scout, Reds (55, 47)
The Georgetown, Ont. scout drafted Guelph's Josh Garton, Kitchener's Mitch Clarke, Mike Monster of Kelowna, B.C. and Paul Barton of Qualicum Beach, B.C. When not on the road scouting he guided his son Thomas' team to the 2009 Canadian bantam title in Vaughan and his son Robert's team to the 2009 peewee Central Ontario title. How many coaches had a better 2009 than that?
60. Gary Cohen, The Baseball Cube site (-)
The Montrealer founded a web site which has all data and numbers on not only major leaguers, but minor league and collegians as well. The minor-league stats were up ahead of baseball-reference.com, which has since caught up. Still, what Canadian high school had most players drafted? The Cube says Brookswood Secondary in Langley and St. Thomas of Villanova in LaSalle, Ont. with five apiece. Jordan and Ryan Lennerton, Darvill, Hesketh and Lawrie attended Brooksworth. Mitch Delaney, Chris Dennis, AaronHornostaj, John Picco and Joe Yakopich went to Villanova.
61. Stubby Clapp, hitting coach, class-A Greenville (43, 27)
The Windsor fire plug is in his third season coaching in the Astros' farm system. He was on Canada's WBC roster in a back-up role and internationally remains Canada's most recognizable player. A two-time Olympian, Clapp carried the Olympic torch through LaSalle, Ont. and while he thought about doing one of his Ozzie Smith-like flips, decided against it.
62. Terry McCaig, coach, University of British Columbia (49, 28)
The Thunderbirds didn't have anyone drafted. However, the seniors who had gone 0-4 in the playoffs since 2007, went 5-3, losing its finale to the Azusa Pacific Cougars at the NAIA national championship tournament. The Vernon, B.C. resident, who runs the lone four-year program which offers scholarships in the country, had another excellent recruiting class. Still under discussion: moving from NAIA to NCAA Div. II.
63. Jason Bryans, scout, Kansas City Royals (89, -)
The Windsor, Ont. scout has signed four Royals' farmhands -- Todd Balduf, David Lough, Ben Norton and Michael Penn -- from Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois for the Royals. He also has a big-leaguer in catcher Mitch Maier, who played at the University of Toledo and has appeared in 166 games for K.C.
64. Hazel Mae, MLB Network (95, -)
After starting at SportsNet and doing studio work on Red Sox games at NESN, the Toronto resident has been a grand slam with the Major League Baseball Network. Mae is smooth, informed and keeps segments moving questioning insiders. 65. Danny Thompson, coach, Intercounty Terriers (78, -) The Burlington native learned the Erindale way and is excellent getting players to the next level. Either via the draft; Guelph's Chandler McLaren to the Brewers plus Garton, Hunt and Clarke. Or via college: Brantford's Brandon Dailey, heads to Ohio, Burlington's Billy Ralston is off to Seton Hall, Fonthill's Anthony Vacca to South Carolina Upstate and Mississauga's Graham Tebbit to Volunteer State. In all, 47 Terriers have landed scholarships, 15 have made the Canadian Junior National Team and nine have been drafted.
66. Jim Baba, director general, Baseball Canada (71, 59)
The Moose Jaw, Sask. native was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame. The liason between Ottawa and provincial associations. Sport Canada and Canadian Olympic Committee rep for Baseball Canada.
67. Warren Philp, chair of 2010 World Juniors (-)
The World comes to Thunder Bay July 23-Aug. 1 as Canada hosts 11 other countries. Comparable counterparts in other sports are the World Junior Hockey championships and FIFA U20 soccer championships -- except Canadian TV will ignore it. It's the biggest thing to hit Thunder Bay since a new arrival in the Staal household. Canada won bronze in Havana in 2006, as well as 1983, 1987 and 1997 and won gold in Brandon in 1991.
68. Phillippe Aumont, Phillies (65, 54)
The Gatineau, Que. right-hander broke his left hand after a blown save, which upset the Mariners, but the Phillies were plenty interested to ask for Aumont in the Lee deal. The 6-foot-7 stud is larger than life to Quebec players.
69. Blair Kubicek, coach, Prairie Baseball Academy (45, 33)
Since 1996 the Lethbridge, Alta. coach has placed over 100 players at four-year schools in Canada and south of the border -- including Calgary's Jesse Sawyer, at South Dakota State, the 2009 All-Canadian player of the year -- with 27 of his players being drafted from his program. 70. P.J. Loyello, vice-president, Marlins (62, 57)
The Montrealer in his eighth season is a Marlins senior vice-president of communications and broadcasting. He oversees media relations, community affairs and in-game entertainment departments. He spent 15 years with the Expos and triple-A Ottawa.
71. Bill Green, coach/GM Coquitlam Reds (79, -)
The outstanding Vancouver coach is over shadowed by only Harr in longevity when it comes to west coast legends. He has run the Reds since 1985 and his alumni did well: Rene Tosoni earned Futures Game MVP honors and helped Canada to a bronze, Dave Kington was drafted by St. Louis and Alex Calbick is with the National Junior Team.
72. Claude Pelettier, scout, Mets (51, 45)
The Ste-Lezare, Que. scout is the senior member among Canadian scouts, breaking in during the 1987 season. He didn't sign anyone in 2009, but with the Dodgers he signed Cy Young Award winner Erie Gagne.
73. Andrew Collier, GM, Winnipeg Goldyes (-)
The Portage la Prairie, Man. whiz was Northern League executive of the year in 2009. GM since 2001, it's the fifth time he's received the award (2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007 as well). The Goldeyes drew a league-high 278,099 fans to Canwest Park in 2009, leading the league in average fans per game for a 10th straight season and leading all independent leagues averaging 6,180 fans per game.
74. Ryan Mittleman, scouting co-ordinator, Jays (-)
The Toronto native plays an important roll behind-the-scenes preparing for the draft. It's a position Anthopoulos, Wilson, Lalonde and Tinnish all held. He evaluates as well and was the Jays scout who saw Everth Cabrera at class-A Asheville in the Rockies system in 2008. The Jays were going to take Cabrera in the Rule V draft based on Mittleman's report, but San Diego took Cabrera and he played 103 games with the Padres.
75. Chris Mears, scout Red Sox (-)
He grew up in Ottawa, played at Leaside, excelled on Victoria diamonds and pitched for Team Canada. He's spent the previous four seasons as an area scout for the Red Sox. He gave a recent third-round pick, Kyle Weiland of Albuquerque, NM, a $322,000 signing bonus.
76. Marty Lehn, scout, Brewers (63, -)
The White Rock, B.C. scout was in on signing of the top Canadian college player -- who signed -- in Surrey, B.C. outfielder Chad Stang, of Midland College. Lehn also signed White Rock's Kyle Dhanani from Thompson Rivers University and drafted Calgary's Wong. He signed Lawrie in 2008, after first spotting him at his Big League Experience camp in Oliver, B.C.
77. Rick Johnston, The Baseball Zone (77, -)
The Peterborough, Ont. facilitator recruited players for Brantford which won the Intercounty title for a third time in four seasons. Operates The Baseball Zone with Mike McCarthyin Mississauga, where Mark James was signed. Randy Schwartz and Kris Dabrowiecki auditioned there before turning pro.
78. Murray Cook, scout, Tigers (58, 52)
The Tigers have a deep farm system because of its solid scouting and one reason is the Sackville, N.B. born Cook, a former GM of the Yanks, Expos and Reds. A regional cross checker in the East, he followed Team Canada at Disney in October.
79. John Ircandia, GM, Okotoks Dawgs (84, 63)
His Calgary Dawgs have won three straight Western Major Baseball League titles. He put together the project to build Seaman Stadium and recruits players to the best U.S. university programs.
80. Danny Bleiwas, coach, Ontario Blue Jays (81, -)
The Thornhill resident coaches the top 18-and-under team in Canada, if you go off Jupiter results, and has the top high-school prospect in Whitby's Evan Grills, according to most. At the 11th annual Perfect Game 85-team, WWBA Wood Bat championship the Jays won their pool. One Jays alumnus and a current player were drafted: Mississauga's Peter Bakoof Connors State and Peterborough's Mike Reeves. Bleiwas also ran the Oshawa Dodgers in the Intercounty which has ceased operations.
81. Denis Boucher, pitching coach Team Canada (69, 56)
Helped Canada win bronze at the World Cup in Italy with minor league arms, finishing third out of 22 teams. The Lachine, Que. native may be hired to scout for the Yankees.
82. Andrew Seymour, GM Vancouver Canadians (-)
The Toronto native comes home to Canada after more than a decade working with the class-A Fort Myers Miracle, Tyler Wild Catters in the Texas-Louisiana independent league and the Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks of the Northern league -- a league owned by the Goldklang Group which includes mentor Mike Veeck. Seymour has been a part of numerous honours in the minors, including the Larry MacPhail and John Johnson awards.
83. Nancy Newman, host, YES Network (53, 26)
As the Yankees moved into their new digs in the Bronx, the Toronto native was there to show fans around as studio host on pre and post-game shows. Newman also hosts Yankee Magazine, as Hall of Famer Mel Allen did.
84. Terry Puhl, manager, Team Canada (25, 18)
Not active with Team Canada as Ernie Whitt managed both international teams in 2009. The Melville, Sask. native coached the University of Houston Victoria Jaguars, who went 34-17 and won the NAIA Association Independent tournament in Victoria, Tx. They were eliminated by William Jewell in Lubbock, Tx.
85. Marc Picard, coach Team Ontario (80, -)
The Pickering coach has spread his wings. Besides guiding Team Ontario 16s, the three-time former Baseball Canada coach of the year and one of the top pitching gurus in the country, is teaching to a wider base. Nigel Wilson, former big-leaguer from Ajax, and Picard are running the Competitive Edge in Ajax.
86. Mike Lumley, coach, London Badgers (86, -)
Ran the table at the midget level winning the Baseball Ontario eliminations, the nationals and the OBAs. Fielded six purple-clad teams in 2009, all of whom work out at Adam Stern's Centre Field Sports, 12,000 square feet of cages and indoor turf. Also coached Western Mustangs to the OUA title.
87. Dennis Springenatic, coach, Fraser Valley Chiefs (83, -)
Adam Loewen's former Premier League team heads to 18th annual Bishop Gorman Easter Classic April 7-10 in Las Vegas. Springenatic is in his 21st year with the Chiefs, finishing second in the Premier league in 2009. He played at Lewis-Clark State for Hall of Fame coach Ed Cheff. Grads Nic Lendvoy of Langley, B.C., at UBC and Willy Thorpof Surrey B.C., at Lewis-Clark each received Rud Haar Scholarship awards.
88. Jason Chee-Aloy, coach, Toronto Mets (82, -)
Coached Ontario to a bronze medal at the Canada Summer Games in PEI. Also a MLB Scouting Bureau scout for Burrows. Had two former players selected in the draft in Eliopoulos and Toronto's Maxx Tissenbaum.
89. Matt Higginson, scout, A's (96, -)
The A's first full time employee in Canada. His Laval, Que. right-hander Mathieu Poirier was promoted to single-A Stockton Ports and he signed Welland's Royce Consigli of the Niagara Rebels.
90. Don Cowan, scout, Jays (93, -)
Has worked for the Jays 14 of the previous 15 years and is more involved now that the Jays have moved off their college-only approach come draft time.
91. Dave Wallace, coach, Parksville (87, -)
Wallace's grads had good years with UBC's Mark Hardy and Bethune-Cookman's Ali Simpson both of Campbell River, B.C. earning spots on the All-Canadian team honoured by the CanadianBaseballNetwork.com, while both Paul Barton of Qualicum Beach, B.C. and Langley's Brandon Kaye were drafted.
92. Rob Butler, Home Run Academy (85, -)
The East York, Ont. ex-Blue Jay and brother Rich run a facility in Ajax, Ont. and operate the Ontario Prospects. They saw their right-hander Jerome Werniuk of Toronto go in the 20th round to the Rangers, before he elected to attend Le Moyne College. They field teams in numerous age groups.
93. Jamie Lehman, scout, Jays (-)
The Brampton native was hired after the 2009 season -- too late to make an impact, but he will be the man the Jays ask about players when it comes to Canadian high schoolers. The right-hander was signed by Anthopoulos when he scouted for the Expos in 2003.
94. Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet (99, -)
The Etobicoke resident does not have Votto's pop, but he may have a longer career at the major-league level. He adds insight, humor and info to Sportsnet broadcasts.
95. John Milton, scout, Jays (100, -)
Besides scouting, the Caledon, Ont. resident runs the annual Best Ever clinic, coaches OBA champ Richmond Hill and instructed at the Cal Ripken camp. He's director of coaching and player development for Baseball Ontario, which saw pitch counts implemented in 2009. Wise owl David Huctwith translated the rule into legal wording, off Milton's reports from Dr. James Andrews, Dr. Glenn Fleisig and Dr. Michael Chivers.
96. Neate Sager, Out of Left Field, blog (-)
Born in Napanee, Ont., grew up in Ernestown, attended Queen's University and now lives in Ottawa. But there is nothing small-town about this blogger who writes on issues throughout the sports and baseball world. His site is a must read. No one does team pre-season capsules in a more off-beat and entertaining fashion. Manager of the all-time Jays' team? Not Cito Gaston. When the Seamheads Historical League gathered for a simulated season of all-time teams, Sager managed a Jays' fantasy team against heavyweights likeBill James, Joe Posnanski, Curt Schilling, Roy Firestone and Keri in the 28-team league.
97. Randall Echlin, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (-)
The Toronto Justice is heavily involved with the Canadian HOF as head of the selection committee, as well as any anything else to do with baseball, be it the Team Canada Fund Raiser, spring training in Dunedin or the Rogers Centre. 98. Mike Wilner, The Fan-590 (-)
The third man in the booth really hits stride on his post-game show when his world expands beyond the out-of-town scoreboard. If you call the show be prepared or, you will be quickly "out-facted".
99. Marc Hulet, Fangraphs
The London, Ont., writer is a word machine covering minors as manager of Fangraphs1 fantasy coverage at Rotographs. He concentrates on prospects and rookies, for Rotographs and Fangraphs. He also writes for Heater Magazine and he contributed to the Graphical Player annual.
100. Randy Knorr, manager, double-A Harrisburg
Knorr spent 11 of 19 pro years in Canada from Medicine Hat, to Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Edmonton. In his final season as a player, at triple-A Edmonton in 2004, he was asked to become a Canadian citizen. The shy type, Knorr declined, but in exchange for a case of Molson Canadian, Canadian bacon and maple syrup, he agreed and got his Canadian citizenship. He spent 2009 as the Washington National bullpen coach and is destined to manage Harrisburg next season.
Honourable Mention: Don Archer, White Rock, B.C., scout, Angels, Paul Aucoin, Brantford, Ont., owner, Brantford Red Sox (70), Curtis Bailey, Red Deer, Alta., scout, Scouting Bureau; Al Bernacchi, Windsor, Ont., coach, Windsor Selects; Denny Berni, Etobicoke, Ont., Pro Teach.
Howie Birnie, Leaside, Ont., Baseball Ontario; Scott Bullett, Welland, Ont., Bullett Proof Academy, Claudette Burke, Hawkesbury, Ont., manuscript archivist, Hall of Fame & Museum, Cooperstown, Ray Calari, Montreal, Que., scout, San Francisco Giants; Don Campbell, Ottawa, Ont., coach, Ottawa-Nepean Canadians.
Remo Cardinale, Thornhill, Ont., Free agent; Don Charrette, Ottawa, Ont., College Baseball Connect; Dr. Michael Chivers, kinesiologist, Vaughan, Ont.; Ryan Crotin, Whitby, Ont., strength and conditioning coach, class-A Batavia; Shi Davidi, Toronto, Canadian Press.
Sam Dempster, Oshawa, Ont., coach, Durham College; Jason Dickson, Chatham N.B., pitching coach, National Junior Team, executive director, Sport New Brunswick; Jack Dominico, Toronto, owner, Toronto Maple Leafs (98), Dave Empey, North Vancouver, B.C., coach, Vancouver Cannons; A. J. Fystro, Calgary, Alta., coach, Calgary Dinos.
Andrew Halpenny, Winnipeg, Man., scout, Scouting Bureau; Cam Houston, St. Albert, Alta. Prospects Academy, Peter Hoy, Cardinal, Ont., director of internal operations, Le Moyne College; Ian Jordan, Montreal, Que., Scouting Bureau; Brad Jorgenson, Thunder Bay, Ont. owner and GM, Thunder Bay Border Cats.
Sam Katz, Winnipeg, Man., owner, Winnipeg Goldeyes (72, 66); Chris Kemlo, Oshawa, Ont., scout, Scouting Bureau, coach Ontario Prospects; Mike Kozak, Toronto, assistant trainer, Marlins (91); Michel Laplante, Val D'or, Que., manager, Quebec Capitales (68); Andre Lachance, Ottawa, Ont., women's coach, Baseball Canada.
Ken Lenihan, Halifax, N.S., scout, Scouting Bureau (61), Todd MacFarlane, Edmonton, Alta., collector (64); Jean-Marc Mercier, Charlesbourg, Que., scout, Jays; Tex Montgomery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., director of operations, Niagara Rebels; Mark Orton, Newmarket, Ont., president, Baseball Ontario.
Mel Oswald, Hamilton, Ont., coach, Canadian Thundebirds; Russ Parker, owner, Victoria Seals, Golden League; Todd Plaxton, Saskatoon, Sask., scout, Scouting Bureau; Mark Randall, Edmonton, Alta., St. Francis Academy; Josh Ridgway, Vancouver, B.C., coach, Douglas College.
Dave Robb, Lac La Biche, Alta. coach, Okatogs Dawgs; Jasmin Roy, Longueuil, Que., Scouting Bureau; Richard Solomon, Windsor, Ont., coach Windsor Selects, Bernie Soulliere, Windsor, Ont., chef de mission Team Canada; Bob Smyth, Ladysmith, B.C., scout, Scouting Bureau.
Mike Steed, Burlington, Ont., manager, Thunder Bay Border Cats; Richard Todd, WebBall Baseball Instruction; Rob Webster, Langley, B.C., coach, Kwantlen College; Nigel Wilson, Ajax, Ont., Competitive Edge, Brett Wilson, North Battleford, Sask. owner, double-A West Tennessee (73).
2012 Most Influential Canadians, No. 1 Paul Beeston
2011 Most Influential Canadians, No. 1 Greg Hamilton
2010 Most Influential Canadians, No. 1 Joey Votto
2009 Most Influential Canadians, No. 1 Paul Beeston
2008 Most Influential Canadians, No. 1 Paul Beeston
2007 Most Influential Canadians, Nos. 1 Paul Godfrey, Greg Hamilton