Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

 Tomorrow we're taking off for another Canadian adventure (Blue Bombers/Roughriders doubleheader with my friends Kevin and Cyndi), and I still haven't finished posting stories from the last Canadian adventure (Hamilton trip with my cousin Nick). In between writing (fitfully), trying to organize the house, planning the move (we do now have an apartment), and working through retirement stuff (as I opined to a friend, I think retirement will be relaxing, but retiring is stressful). Anyway, let me get down some thoughts and upload a few pictures from out lovely stop at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. On a drive across Canada years ago, my friend Kevin and I spotted a sign for the Hall, and I promised myself that I'd get back there. Well, it took too many years, but I decided to take advantage of the Hamilton trip to keep that promise to myself (it was facilitated by the fact that I was driving west from Hamilton to drop down into Michigan. Getting to St. Marys, Ontario was a bit of a challenge, although part of that was caused by some traffic work. The traffic wench took me all over the place as I drove through some lovely Canadian farmland (it felt like I had dumped off the interstate in Ohio and was trying to find the original Bob Evans farm), but I really liked the drive. I highly recommend visiting the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, and might try to overcome the logistical nightmare of making it back for Joey Votto's celebration when he makes it.

It's a non-descript little building tucked away in St. Marys, but it holds a treasure trove of goodies.

I knew they would celebrate Jackie Robinson, as he played for Montreal before being called up to the major leagues. It was a moving tribute, and his comments about being treated like a man (and not as a "colored man") echoed Miles Davis's reflection on spending time in Paris, far away from an intensely racist America.

There was, happily, a real recognition of First Nation players.

I didn't expect to find Sparky Anderson, the manager of the Big Red Machine of the 1970s enshrined, but he played and managed in Canada.

I knew there would be a celebration of Joey Votto, and it's just a matter of time before he's enshrined in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (and almost certainly at Cooperstown as well).

The cap from Votto's three homer game (which tied the record for most homers in a game by a Canadian player).

And, finally, St., Marys is a lovely little town. Nick and I stopped by a nice little place for a great lunch. I'd definitely like to return in the future.