 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PETER MANSBRIDGE TO HOST
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Photos courtesy of The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Mansbridge |
Tommy Lasorda
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
St. Marys – Peter Mansbridge, Chief Correspondent of CBC Television News, will host the 2006 Induction Ceremony of Tommy Lasorda, Ron Stead, Ron Hayter and Larry McLean this Saturday at 10:00 am at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys. The classy anchor of CBC's flagship nightly news program dropped by the Hall last Saturday morning to become acquainted with the setting and was impressed to see the vastness of the site and youth baseball games being played on all three fields. Tommy Lasorda, best known for his World Series championships with the Los Angeles Dodgers and leading Team USA to the Olympic gold medal in 2000, will be enshrined for his nine years with the Montreal Royals a half-century ago, where he won a franchise career high 107 games. Intercounty legend Ron Stead will join Lasorda at the podium, along with Western Canadian baseball builder Ron Hayter. New Brunswick's Larry McLean will be inducted posthumously. Tenor Michael Burgess, best known for his extended role as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, will sing the national anthem. The day's festivities will continue into the night, as the Hall of Fame will host a three-part entertainment concert Saturday evening, with the doors opening at 8:00pm on the Ceremonial Grounds. Whaling will perform at 9:00pm, hypnotist Buck MacLeod will put on a stunning demonstration at 10:00pm, and Tara Tuma (featuring lead singer - Town Councillor Rob Edney) will take the stage at 11:00pm. The entertainment portion will continue on to Sunday afternoon, with Celtic/Maritime music performed by Kettle's On beginning at 3:00 pm. Peter MansbridgePeter Mansbridge is the Chief Correspondent of CBC Television News. He anchors CBC's flagship nightly news program, The National, and all CBC News specials. He is also host of CBC Newsworld's Mansbridge: One on One. Mansbridge began his career in 1968 in Churchill, Manitoba where he helped develop CBC Radio's news service to northern Canada. In 1971, he moved to Winnipeg as a reporter for CBC Radio, and in 1972, joined CBC Television. He became The National's reporter in Saskatchewan in 1975, and, in 1976, was named one of the program's parliamentary correspondents in Ottawa. He became Chief Correspondent and anchor of The National in 1988. In nearly 40 years with CBC News, Mansbridge has provided comprehensive coverage of some of the most significant stories in Canada and around the world. During a decorated career, Mansbridge has received 11 Gemini Awards for excellence in broadcast journalism. He has won the Gemini for Best Anchor a record nine times. He has also won the Gemini for Best Overall Broadcast Journalist - the prestigious Gordon Sinclair Award - twice. Additionally, Mansbridge was awarded the gold medal for Best News Anchor at the 2000 New York Festival in a competition of television networks from around the world. Mansbridge has also been honoured by a number of institutes of higher learning. He has received honorary degrees from universities across Canada including: Mount Royal College, The University of Manitoba, Lakehead University, Mount Allison University and Ryerson University. He was named the 1998 Arnold Wolfers' Fellow at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, and in the spring of 2001, he was invited to lecture at Oxford University in England as part of that institution's distinguished speakers series. Born in London, England in 1948, Mansbridge was educated in Ottawa and served in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1966 and 1967. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Michael BurgessWhether he's starring in a major musical, performing in concert or appearing at world events for Queen Elizabeth or Mikhail Gorbachev, Michael Burgess touches the hearts and minds of listeners. A Canadian star that has now crossed into the arena of recording artist, Burgess is accomplished in virtually every entertainment medium; television, film, recording, and performance. Michael first came to national prominence as Jean Valjean (Les Mis), his stage presence and talent captivating audiences and media in performance after flawless performance. From Shakespeare to O'Neill, Cole Porter to Stephen Sondheim, he has received critical acclaim. A gifted and enthusiastic actor, Michael continues to pursue this aspect of his career with both film and television roles wedged in between his fall concert dates. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
His pure tenor voice has been heard around the world at major events -- creating a thunderous demand for more . . . a demand that has been filled beautifully by Michael's new recording "A Place In The Sun." His stunning voice, passionate performance and natural charisma ensure Michael's legion of loyal and enthusiastic fans will continue to multiply with the release of "A Place In The Sun." |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Party of the year!After you have enjoyed the Induction Ceremony and the early day festivities, charge your batteries for the Party of the Year that night (Saturday, June 24). |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On the Ceremonial Grounds under the Induction Tent, the doors open at 8:00 pm for Whaling performing on stage at 9:00pm, comedic hypnotist Buck MacLeod at 10:00pm and then Rob Edney and TARA TUMA will take the stage at 11:00pm to finish the night off with a bang! Tickets are only $10 for the whole night!! |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rob Edney and Tara Tuma
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Celtic/Maritime band Kettle's On featuring
St. Marys' own Mark Fletcher |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You want more? Come back Sunday!If that isn't enough, plan to come back on Sunday afternoon (June 25) to hear the Celtic/Maritime band Kettle's On featuring St. Marys' own Mark Fletcher. Doors open at 3:00pm and they will start their performance at 3:30pm. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Enjoy reading why Tommy Lasorda and Ron Stead are going to be two of the inductees honoured this year. For more information, please contact the Hall's administrative office at 284-1838 or by emailing baseball@baseballhalloffame.ca Tommy LasordaBorn in Norristown, PA, Lasorda was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers at the age of 20 in 1948 after Philadelphia left him unprotected from the draft. He gained the Dodgers attention when he struck out a record 25 batters in a 15-inning game for Schenectady of the Class C Canadian-American League. Lasorda went on to win 107 games over parts of nine seasons with their top farm club, the Montreal Royals. He pitched for Montreal from 1950-1955, and again from 1958-1960, ranks as the all-time Royals leader in wins, games pitched (251), innings pitched (1,461). He led Montreal to five Governors' Cups (International League Championships) in 1951 through 1954, and in 1958. His best individual season was 1958 when we compiled an 18-6 won-loss record with five shutouts, a string of 31 scoreless innings and a 2.50 ERA, easily winning the International League's Most Valuable Pitcher Award. The longest serving member of the Royals constantly experimented with new pitches to complement his above-average curve ball. Lasorda played with loads of enthusiasm and emotion, delivering pitches with a high leg-kick. He was a battler whose reputation around the league was that he'd send his own grandmother sprawling to the dirt if he were mad enough. Lasorda ended his Royals career in grand fashion. In his final appearance in 1960, struggling against the Buffalo Bisons, he had loaded the bases with nobody out. He turned his back to manager Clay Bryant, who was on the top step of the dugout poised to remove him, gazed into the sky and prayed for something - anything - to get him out of the jam. The next batter hit a line drive that caromed off third baseman George Risley's glove into the mitt of the diving shortstop Jerry Snyder's glove. Snyder flipped it to second and it was relayed to first to nail a pair of stray runners. Lasorda's last pitch with the Royals resulted in a bases loaded triple play! Went on to play and then manage in the Major Leagues, winning nearly 1,600 games with the Dodgers and capturing two World Series in 1981 and 1988. He also Managed Team USA to the Gold Medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. "I'm ecstatic about this wonderful news," said a surprised and elated Lasorda from Vero Beach where he is in Spring Training with the Dodgers. "I cherish the time I had in Montreal, and to be remembered and recognized 50 years later, and by another country's Hall of Fame, is an extraordinary honour. I can't wait to come to St. Marys this summer!" Ron SteadBorn in London, Ontario, Ron Stead is the greatest pitcher to play in the heralded Intercounty League as illustrated by his longevity and dominance. Stead ranks first in all-time wins (104), innings pitched (1,365), strikeouts (1,231), games started (151), complete games (116), and shutouts (25). He was a 10-time All-Star and four-time MVP (1960, '63, '65, and '67). Stead led Brantford to five consecutive league championships from 1959 through 1963 plus another in 1965. With Guelph, they won the 1970 championship. His best individual season was 1963, when he compiled a 14-1 won-loss record and a microscopic 0.63 ERA. Stead still holds the single-season Intercounty League record for innings pitched (149 in 1960) and most strikeouts (155 in 1965). Stead was also the starting pitcher for the very first Team Canada ever assembled, in the 1967 Pan Am Games. He turned in a strong five-hit, 10-strikeout performance over seven innings against Mexico. He was also a member of the Ontario team at the 1969 Canada Games in Halifax. The left-hander also pitched in 1957-58 for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the International League, the team who he had previously served as batboy for 10 years. He also had amassed a 31-31 record over two seasons in the Florida State League with Orlando and Gainsville in 1956-57. "This is truly an honour and a tribute to all amateur players across Canada," said a humbled Stead from his Chatham home. "I loved every minute of my career, and this caps it all." Ron HayterBorn in Regina, Saskatchewan, Hayter lived and played baseball in Northern Saskatchewan and British Columbia before taking charge of Baseball Alberta in 1968. Hayter revived the struggling provincial body, straightening out the finances and tripling the number of registered teams in just three years before stepping down in 1971 after running successfully for Edmonton City Council. As Edmonton's longest serving City Councillor, Hayter has worked tirelessly for the development of playing facilities for amateur sport, especially baseball. In 1993-95, he chaired a special committee which successfully negotiated and supervised the construction of a new Triple A baseball park in Edmonton, now known as Telus Field. Hayter went on to serve Baseball Canada in various capacities, from developing the first distinctively Canadian rulebook to organizing the first national championships. He also represented Canada with the International Baseball Federation for 18 years, sitting on the Legal and Technical Commissions, and receiving the IBAF's President's Award in 1990. He was the founder and Chair, since 1979, of the Edmonton International Baseball Foundation that has organized six international baseball competitions in Edmonton, including the first-ever IBAF World Cup of Women's Baseball in 2004. The EIBF has contributed almost a half million dollars to Baseball Canada, Baseball Alberta, and the IBAF, and has established a scholarship fund, helped finance minor baseball parks, and sponsors clinics to help players and coaches in the province of Alberta. Former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, inducted into the Hall in 1983, called upon Hayter as an advisor in the formation of Sport Canada. In 1974, Hayter won the coveted Vanier Award as an "Outstanding Young Canadian" and received the Queen's Jubilee Medal in 2004 for outstanding public service. "When I heard the news, I was speechless, and to anyone who knows me, that's highly unusual!" said Hayter from his Edmonton office. "I've been involved in baseball for more than 50 years and none of it was for any personal glory - you do it for love of the game. But being recognized in this way is a very great honour and I thank all the people who have helped me along the way." Larry McLeanThere was speculation that a "Big Larry" might get into the Hall this year, but the spinsters were referring to Larry Walker in hopes that the Hall would bypass the mandatory three-year waiting period after retirement due to his outstanding career. However, given that Fergie Jenkins was not fast-tracked, the concept did not fly with the Selection Committee. John Bannerman McLean, nicknamed "Big Larry" due to his resemblance to Larry "Nap" Lajoie, was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and had played the most Major league games (862) of any eligible Canadian not yet inducted. Of the 221 Canadians who have played in the Major Leagues, he stands 14th in games played, and is in the top 20 in hits (694), at bats (2,647), doubles (90), triples (26). Standing 6'5", he is reportedly the tallest catcher in Major League history. His Major League career spanned 15 years from 1901-1915, for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Giants. The Bunyanesque player did everything in a big way, including getting into trouble. Mainly due to a lifelong battle with alcohol, McLean's career was punctuated by repeated suspensions, occasional brawls, and periodic scrapes with the law. He played his best baseball with the Reds, for whom he batted over .285 three times. McLean batted .500 in the 1913 World Series. He is in the top three of almost all catching and offensive categories for Canadian Major League catchers, coupled with George Gibson and Jimmy Archer. Baseball historian Lee Allen described McLean as "big and slow, but could hit and throw."
ST MARYS – 20 June 2006
Mark your calendar with these key dates in 2006:June 23 – 10th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic June 24 – 2006 Induction Ceremony October 8, 2006 – Museum Closes for Season 2006 Summer Camps for Girls and Boys * Week-long camps (drop off Sunday, pick-up Saturday), including accommodation & meals Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum P.O. Box 1838 (140 Queen St. E.) Website: www.baseballhalloffame.ca |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
