The Hall of Fame is seeking fan input input in deciding between Bay and nine other worthy candidates, including recently-named American League MVP Justin Morneau, who batted .321, hit 34 homers and had 130 RBI in leading the Minnesota Twins to the playoffs. The winner will be decided and announced on December 15th, 2006, so baseball junkies from coast to coast have two weeks to ring in their opinion by visiting the Hall's website http://www.baseballhalloffame.ca and picking their top three candidates and, if they like, explain themselves.

The only other two Canadians whose names appear more than once on the trophy presented annually by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum to the Canadian player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals are Larry Walker (9) and Eric Gagné (2).

Fans are encouraged to please cast a vote prior to December 15th, 2006.  Alphabetically, here are the ten front-runners for the Hall's 2006 James Tip O'Neill Award:

Amanda Asay (Prince George, BC) was recently named Canada's Women's national team MVP for her stellar play in helping Canada win the bronze medal at the 2006 IBAF Women's World Cup in Taiwan.  The first baseman and catcher was named to the tournament all-star team, batted .500 for the tournament, had nine RBI and led Canada in almost every offensive category.

Jason Bay (Trail, BC) led the Pittsburgh Pirates in homeruns (35) with more than twice as many as any other teammate, RBI (109), runs (101), slugging percentage (.532), on-base percentage (.396), games played (159), and was second in batting average (.286) and hits (163).  The left fielder's homeruns and RBI total represent career highs.  Bay was named to the National League All-Star team, won MLB Player of the Month in May, was twice named MLB Player of the Week, won Canadian Player of the Month twice, and his .455 batting average was Canada's second best (behind Adam Stern) in the World Baseball Classic.

Erik Bedard (Navan, ON) led the Baltimore Orioles in wins (15), games started (33), innings pitched (196.1) and strikeouts (171) and had the American League's ninth best ERA (3.76).  The left-hander's career breakout season landed him the Canadian Pitcher of the Month award four times, he threw four scoreless innings for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, and he joined the MLB All-Stars who traveled to Japan in the post-season.

Rheal Cormier (Shediac, NB) had a sparkling 2.44 ERA as he split the season between the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds.  The southpaw allowed only 48 hits in 48 innings pitched over 64 appearances, striking out 19, and had a stingy 1.16 ERA and a pair of wins prior to the All-Star break.  The 16-year veteran also pitched for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Jesse Crain (Toronto, ON) provided some outstanding relief for the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins, appearing in 68 games, second most on the team.  The right-handed set-up man struck out 60 batters while allowing 79 hits over 76.2 total innings, and finished the season with four wins and a 3.52 ERA.  Crain also played for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Jeff Francis (North Delta, BC) led the Colorado Rockies pitching staff with 13 wins and tied for the most starts with 32.  The left-hander logged a career high 199 innings, striking out 117 and allowing just 187 hits, compiling a very respectable 4.16 ERA, especially considering that he pitches half of his games in hitter-friendly Coors Field.  The two-time Canadian Pitcher of the Month improved his ERA (5.68) from his 14-win 2005 season by more than a run and a half.  Opposing batters hit just .250 against Francis, the 10th lowest mark in the National League, and he is one of only eight lefties in the Major Leagues to have won 13 or more games in each of the last two seasons.  The first round draft pick from 2002 also played for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Russell Martin (Montreal, QC) established himself as the Los Angeles Dodgers everyday catcher after being called up from Triple-A in May and never looking back.  Martin finished ninth in NL Rookie of the Year voting as he batted .282, hit ten homeruns, 26 doubles, four triples, scored 65 runs, had 65 RBI, stole ten bases, compiled a slugging percentage of .436 and an on-base percentage of .355, all in just 121 games played.  He had a brilliant fielding percentage of .993, and threw out 32 base stealers in 103 attempts.

Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) will battle Steve Nash, Joe Thornton and Cindy Klassen for the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's top athlete named in December as well.  Morneau is the first Canadian ever to be named the American League MVP (Larry Walker was name National League MVP in 1997), leading the Twins to the playoffs with career highs in batting average (.321), homeruns (34), RBI (130), slugging percentage (.559), on-base percentage (.375), hits (190), doubles (37) and runs scored (97).  He joined Walker as the second Canadian ever to win a Silver Slugger Award, was named by The Sporting News as All-Star first baseman, and was named the Twins Player of the Year.  The three-time Canadian Player of the Month batted .308 for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Mark Teahen (St. Marys, ON), despite being sent to Triple-A for a month after a shaky start, and then missing the final 22 games of the season due to arm surgery, still managed to lead the Kansas City Royals in homeruns with 18 and finished second in RBI (69) and stolen bases (10).  The left-handed hitting third baseman rebounded with a .318 batting average in the second half of the season giving him a .290 batting average overall, a slugging percentage of .517, and an on-base percentage of .357.  Teahen was recognized as the MLB Player of the Week in late July, won the Canadian Player of the Month once, and was named the Royals Player of the Year.

Joey Votto (Toronto, ON), a second round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2002, had a breakout season for Chattanooga and was named the Southern League's MVP as well as its first baseman on the All-Star Team.  In his first season at the Double-A level, he batted .319 with 22 homers, 46 doubles, 77 RBI and 24 stolen bases.  The right-handed hitting blue-chipper had a slugging percentage of .547, an on-base percentage of .408, and was named to the International Team in the MLB Futures Game at the All-Star break.

ST. MARYS – 1 December 2006