Canadian MLB playoff news and notes - October 23
Twenty-six years ago today, Toronto Blue Jays slugger Joe Carter became just the second major leaguer to win a World Series with a walk-off home run. Bill Mazeroski was the first for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960.
October 23, 2019
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
- Where were you 26 years ago today when Joe Carter belted his walk-off World Series-winning home run off Philadelphia Phillies closer Mitch Williams in the bottom of the ninth of Game 6 of the 1993 Fall Classic at SkyDome? I was a second-year Journalism student at Carleton University at a house party on Sunnyside Drive in Ottawa. After the home run, a bunch of us ran out onto the street and sang the Canadian national anthem. You can watch Carter’s historic home run, complete with Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Tom Cheek’s legendary call, below.
- In Game 1 of the World Series last night, the Washington Nationals did what no other major league team has been able to do since May 22: beat Gerrit Cole. The Nationals scored five runs off the Houston Astros right-hander in a 5-4 win. Young star Juan Soto and veteran slugger Ryan Zimmerman homered off Cole in the victory. Two ex-Blue Jays appeared in the game. Daniel Hudson allowed his first run of the post-season in 1 1/3 innings for the Nats, but was credited with a hold. Meanwhile, sidearmer Joe Smith hurled a scoreless ninth for the Astros.
- The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame shared a list of all of the Canadian hitters and pitchers who have played in the World Series on Twitter yesterday. According to the Canuck ball hall, eight Canadian pitchers and nine hitters have participated in the Fall Classic. You can see the lists below.
- It was 74 years ago today that Jackie Robinson made history when he signed a contract with the Montreal Royals, the Brooklyn Dodgers’ triple-A International League affiliate. Prior to breaking Major League Baseball’s colour barrier in 1947, Robinson would star at second base for the Montreal Royals in 1946. It’s widely believed that Dodgers GM Branch Rickey stationed Robinson in Montreal to ease his young prospect into integrated baseball. Playing his home games in a city with a reputation for racial tolerance would provide Robinson with relative tranquility for half the schedule. On the field, Robinson excelled, leading the International League in batting average, walks and runs, and spurring the Royals to their first Junior World Series triumph.
Jackie Robinson (bottom right) signing his Montreal Royals contract on this day in 1945, with Brooklyn Dodgers GM Branch Rickey (left) looking on. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame