In the Name of the Father

Fathers and sons and baseball.

Bret Boone knows a lot about these things. He is the grandson of Major League Baseball (MLB) infielder Ray Boone, the son of catching great Bob Boone and in 1992 he became the first third-generation big league player in history when he was called up from the Calgary Cannons to play with the Seattle Mariners.

At 49 years of age, Bret is a decade removed from his playing days, but as a father he now does what Ray and Bob did before him – he watches his son play baseball.

The Straw That Stirred the Drink

For Edmonton baseball fans, Reggie Jackson really was the straw that stirred the drink.

On May 16, 1983, the man known as Mr. October arrived in Edmonton for an exhibition game between the hometown Trappers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League (PCL) and their parent club, the California Angels.

It was a nothing game for the Angels – a northerly stop wedged between an 8-6 loss to the Minnesota Twins and a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners – but it was a statement game for fans in Alberta’s capital.

The Golden Bret with the Silver Bat

Bret Boone always played like he had something to prove.

He had to prove that he wasn’t riding his family’s coattails to the big leagues. He had to prove that he belonged in Major League Baseball. And he had to prove that he was just as useful in the field as he was at the plate.

From his time as an All Star with the Calgary Cannons to his Gold Glove days in the majors, find out what Boone has to say …