Matt Stairs must feel at home in Alberta.
The former big league slugger, who was at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks for the Western Canadian Baseball League’s All-Star Game, has a brother that lives in Calgary and he his wife, Lisa, were staying with his ex-sister-in-law in Okotoks.
The former Edmonton Trappers star sat down for a chat with Canadian Baseball Network’s Kevin Glew during the festivities.
Read More Stairs Shares Baseball WisdomThey waited with baited breath to hear their communities named on a nationally-televised broadcast.
Calgary’s Centennial Little League and Whitecourt Minor Baseball erupted into cheers when they heard their names called in the annual Jays Care Foundation “Field of Dreams” grant announcement on April 22.
Both will now get down to work in improving their local facilities.
Read More Care For the KidsJimmy Key put up some fantastic numbers in his short visit with the Medicine Hat Blue Jays in 1982.
A 2-1 record with a 2.30 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 31+ innings of work earned the young lefthander a promotion.
However, the move didn’t sit well with everyone, even if the team went on to win the Pioneer League championship.
Read More Key to the GameThe 2022 baseball season is officially underway.
Scouring the rosters of all Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball teams, there is certainly no shortage of connections to Alberta on the field.
We’ve compiled a list of players who were born here, trained here or played here with the Western Canadian Baseball League.
Read More Alberta’s 2022 Pro ConnectionsIt all started at the tables of Calgary pubs as conversations about baseball’s days of yore in Alberta.
The Expos, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Trappers and Cannons featuring names like Dawson, Sax, Moseby, Valenzuela and Edgar.
Here we are, five years later since the start of Alberta Dugout Stories. We’re here to say thank YOU for your tremendous support.
Read More EDITORIAL: Five Years LaterFor the first time in his professional career, Tanner Kirwer is changing organizations.
The Sherwood Park native had been with the Toronto Blue Jays organization since they drafted him in 2017.
During the MLB Rule 5 Draft, the Seattle Mariners decided to add the speedy outfielder to their depth charts.
Read More Swipe WestThe buzz of baseball is beckoning in Beaumont.
With summer fast-approaching and the hope that COVID-19 restrictions will be eased for summer sports to begin, the community recently received another blast of positive news.
On May 7th, it was announced the city just southeast of Edmonton was one of 14 communities to receive a Jays Care “Field of Dreams” grant.
Read More Beaumont’s Field of DreamsNational Baseball Hall of Fame hopefuls are once again doing their best imitation of expectant fathers, nervously pacing back and forth while awaiting the thumbs up to break out celebratory cigars.
The birth of a baby is not on the line, but a berth among baseball’s immortals is at stake for players on the ballot.
Read More On The BallotThey were bad.
No, like really terrible.
They were, in fact, dreadful.
Place the word “historically” in front of those adjectives and you still don’t come close to capturing the futility of the 1988 Medicine Hat Blue Jays.
Read More The Best of Times on the Worst of TeamsThe unlikely return of the Toronto Blue Jays to the postseason in 2020 put the spotlight on several of the club’s rising stars.
Shortstop Bo Bichette is one of them. But there is another Bichette with the organization who may prove just as valuable to the team – Bo’s father Dante, who serves as an assistant hitting coach on the Blue Jays.
Many of the most valuable lessons that life and baseball had to offer, were learned by Dante Bichette as a member of the Edmonton Trappers.
Read More Dante’s Peek