If patience is a virtue, Russ Parker has a dugout full of it.
Calgary’s “Mr. Baseball” went through the ringer to bring Triple-A baseball to the city, including rumours, a difficult deal and a snowstorm.
On the 35th anniversary of the team’s debut at Foothills Stadium, we take a look back at the road taken to bring the Pacific Coast League team to Calgary.
Read More Blast From The PastThis chapter of our In The Cards series – which profiles Alberta baseball collectibles – comes courtesy of Ross Flats Vintage Apparel, who kindly donated this 1993 set of Edmonton Trappers cards.
The 27-card set was made by Fleer ProCards and it features some fairly static poses, but the images of the pin-striped Trappers are clear. Edmonton’s John Ducey Park can also be seen in the background.
Read More In The Cards: 1993 Edmonton TrappersWe venture to the provincial capital for this edition of In The Cards.
The overall look and feel of the set gives it a big league feel, reminiscent of something Topps might have created.
On the field, the Trappers were the defending champs, having won their first PCL title in 1984.
Read More In The Cards: 1985 Edmonton TrappersCan you imagine one of your favourite athletes in a uniform other than the one they became famous in?
Over the years, many have been able to play with one team. But in the free agency era, they have become fewer and further between.
As we found out with author Larry Stone, Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Edgar Martinez almost didn’t stick around Seattle after not seeing a clear path out from the Calgary Cannons.
Read More Edgar: Almost A Dodger or Yankee?Major League Baseball (MLB) may feel like it is far removed from the ball diamonds of Alberta, but if you play a quick game of six dugouts of separation you’ll discover there are plenty of coaching connections between the majors and our province.
In our first of a two-part series exploring those connections, we look at the American League squads who have former Alberta players on the payroll.
Read More Alberta’s AL Dugout ConnectionsFathers 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.
Read More In the Name of the Father20 years after A.J. Hinch played a major part in the Edmonton Trappers’ second-straight PCL title, he helped bring a World Series championship to Houston.
Read More World Series ring fit for former Trappers catcher