Henke to be inducted into Ontario Sports Hall of Fame

Former Toronto Blue Jays closer Tom Henke will be inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Tuesday.

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Long-time Toronto Blue Jays closer Tom Henke will be inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Tuesday at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto.

The former flame-thrower is one of seven new members of the provincial sports hall. Father David Bauer (hockey), Jack Bionda (lacrosse and hockey), Al Charron (rugby), Brian Kilrea (hockey), Elfi Schlegel (gymnastics) and Scott Stevens (hockey) will also be inducted.

Henke, who was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011, recorded a franchise record 217 saves and compiled a 2.48 earned run average in 446 appearances in eight seasons with the Blue Jays.

The 6-foot-5 Missouri native was an imposing figure on the mound. His best season with the Blue Jays was in 1987 when he was named to the All-Star team and topped the American League with 34 saves.

“The Terminator” was the closer on four division-winning Blue Jays squads (1985, 1989, 1991, 1992) and a member of the 1992 World Series-winning team. In the 1992 Fall Classic that saw the Blue Jays defeat the Atlanta Braves in six games, Henke recorded two saves and pitched in three of the Blue Jays’ four one-run victories.

Henke, who was also an all-star in his final season with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1995, struck out an average of 9.8 hitters per nine innings over his career.

The ex-Jay and his wife Kathy have four children, Linsey, Ryan, Kim and Amanda, and he now spends much of his time assisting the Special Learning Centre, a school for handicapped children, as well as volunteering with Down Syndrome charities and the Special Olympics.