Posts in Canadians in MLB
Antonacci: Family shares in Martin's Canadian ball hall honour
Antonacci: Family shares in Martin's Canadian ball hall honour

“Before he sent baseballs over the wall at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park, Russell Martin blasted long drives over his uncles’ heads at a Montreal sandlot.

“My brother got to pitch, and I had to play the outfield. So, I was always the one chasing the ball, because he was always hitting it over the fence,” Keith Martin recalled with a smile.

“So, I had to go run after it, which I didn’t really like.”

The Canadian catcher has a large extended family on his father’s side, but his first cousin, Erika Martin, said Russell is the only star athlete in the bunch, making him a top draft pick in the family’s annual Thanksgiving ballgames.”

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Canadians in MLB, Major Leagues (MLB)J.P. Antonacci
Shushkewich: Emotional Martin enters Canadian ball hall
Shushkewich: Emotional Martin enters Canadian ball hall

“For over 14 years, Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) was on the biggest stage in professional baseball, appearing in front of hundreds of thousands of fans every time he stepped onto the field.

Today, the former Toronto Blue Jays backstop took on another stage, one that saw him earn one of the highest honours for a Canadian baseball player in the smalltown of St. Marys, Ont.

Martin was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame as part of their 2024 class, joining a prestigious group of individuals who had a positive impact on Canadian baseball. Splitting his time between the Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Yankees from 2006 to 2019, he retired as one of the top catchers from north of the border.”

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Canadians in MLB, Major Leagues (MLB)Tyson Shushkewich
Glew: Expos “big part” of new Canadian ball hall inductee Martin’s childhood
Glew: Expos “big part” of new Canadian ball hall inductee Martin’s childhood

“When Russell Martin was growing up in Montreal, his father used to take him to a handful of Expos games at Olympic Stadium each year.

The price for a hot dog at the Big O was a little steep, so his dad, who made a living as a busker playing his saxophone in Montreal subway stations, often packed sandwiches.

“My dad was a great storyteller, and he would make up these stories like, ‘Here comes Russell Martin at the plate. There’s a shot deep to right field.’ He would make up stories about me hitting homers in the games,” recalled Martin. “He kind of helped me create this visual that I could get there someday.”

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Canadians in the Majors, Canadians in MLB, Major Leagues (MLB), Toronto Blue JaysKevin Glew
Shushkewich: Martin savors Canadian ball hall honour
Shushkewich: Martin savors Canadian ball hall honour

“Sitting in a golf cart fielding questions from numerous journalists via a conference call, newly elected Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Russell Martin was in good spirits as he reflected on his career.

He answered questions about all aspects of his playing career, from competing in youth baseball in Montreal to catching Greg Maddux in his early days with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The four-time major league All-Star even discussed his post-career coaching aspirations.

“I have loved my experiences with the coaching at the recent World Baseball Classic and with the Blue Jays, although I haven’t coached too much since my playing days,” reflected Martin from his cart. “I have three little girls at home that need their dad but once they get older, I definitely can see myself getting into coaching more.”

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Baseball Canada, Canadians in the Majors, Canadians in MLB, Major Leagues (MLB), Toronto Blue JaysTyson Shushkewich