Votto gets fan mail from PM
*Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) gets letter from Parliament Hill./Team Canada photo.
2011 Tryout camps sked (MLB, Brewers)
2011 Canadians in the June draft
By Bob Elliott
The awards National League MVP Joey Votto won in 2010 would fill a page in the Cincinnati Reds media guide.
Votto even received a letter from Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper ... eventually.
Votto has the letter framed and hanging on the wall of his Sarasota, Fla., home. The Prime Minister commented on his accolades and offered congrats, but the highlight of the letter?
“He crossed off Mr. Votto and wrote in ‘Joey’ in blue ink, making it personal,” Votto said.
The letter was dated Nov. 24, 2010. The Etobicoke first baseman did not receive it until April.
“Not good,” Votto said.
The letter had sat in the clubhouse until an equipment man found it when the Reds got to Cincy to open the season.
“I looked at him and said, ‘Do you know this is like from my president?’” Votto said. “I told a clubhouse guy ‘it’s like you getting a letter from Barack Obama.’
“I was a little upset at the time, because it was so important and I didn’t get a chance to acknowledge it until months later.”
Both Prime Minister Harper and Votto attended Richview Collegiate Institute.