HALL OF FAME OPENS FOR ITS 19TH SEASON IN ST. MARYS
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame is set to open for another season on Sunday, May 1st.
The Hall will be open on weekends in May (Saturdays 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m.) and on Victoria Day from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Starting on June 1 through August 31, the Hall will be open daily (Monday through Saturday) from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. Then from September 1 through October 8 we will be open Thursday to Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Hall of Fame will host over 900 events in 2016 as we are home to the Ontario Nationals, St. Marys Minor Ball, St. Marys Slo-pitch, plus host games from the Ontario Expos, Great Lake Canadians and many other top quality baseball teams. This year we also welcome back teams from Quebec and welcome for the first time teams from Alberta.
The first large event is the Scotts Pitch Hit Run skills competition for kids ages seven to 14 on May 7 at 10 a.m. on King Field. This event is free and kids will compete in strike-throwing, baserunning and hitting competitions against other kids in their age bracket.
On Saturday, May 14 at 10am we will host the Toronto Blue Jays Honda Instructional Clinic. Registration is open for players aged 8 to 14 and the fee is only $55 plus HST. The Blue Jays Baseball Academy is aware of the need to raise funds therefore will donate part of the registration back. During the four hour clinic, players will rotate through drills that will work on fundamental baseball skills such as: hitting, throwing, fielding, pitching, and baserunning. Also, each Blue Jays Honda Instructional Clinic participant will receive a Blue Jays hat, T-shirt and baseball manual. Registration only at www.bluejays.com
Also in May, the Hall will also be selling raffle tickets for your chance to play in the Team Hentgen vs Team Martinez celebrity ball game during induction weekend. Only 250 tickets are being sold at $10 each or three for $20. There are five prizes to be won, including two chances to play in the celebrity game, two chances to win fourth row seats for the induction ceremony and a baseball autographed by Pat Hentgen. The draw date is June 4 so don’t miss out.
On June 11, the Hall will host St. Marys Minor Ball Day. This will feature as many as 12 games taking place on the site, plus a barbecue that will be running all day. So please come out and enjoy some local talent and lunch!
INDUCTION WEEKEND
Thursday, June 16
Celebrity Home Run Derby with Team Canada and the Team Hentgen vs. Team Martinez celebrity game will start at 6 p.m. on Rotary Field. Come early to get a good seat and enjoy a barbecue supper and cold beverages. The game will mix local media and celebrities together for a fun time. In 2015, Matt Stairs and Corey Koskie took one deep over the right field fence!
Friday, June 17
The 20th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic & Banquet will be held at the St. Marys Golf and Country Club. Registration will take place at 10 a.m., tee-off will be at 11 a.m. and the banquet will begin at 5 p.m. Teams will be matched up with a celebrity and each player will receive a gift bag and have a chance to win fantastic prizes including a vehicle. If you don’t golf, you can still enjoy the banquet for only $75. The tournament is SOLDOUT, but lots of banquet tickets still available.
Saturday, June 18
After the huge success the last 2 year the Toronto Blue Jays are once again bringing their Baseball Family Street Festival to St. Marys the morning of Induction. The baseball street festival will run from 9 a.m. to noon and will take place on Water St south in downtown St. Marys with several Blue Jays inflatables, Blue Jays alumni signing autographs, baseball authors signing their books and several other activities.
The induction ceremony begins at 1 p.m. up at the Hall of Fame. This year’s induction class includes Toronto Blue Jays legend Pat Hentgen, Montreal Expos legend Dennis Martinez, Blue Jays executive Howard Starkman, former player and current scout Wayne Norton, Blue Jays broadcaster Tony Kubek and baseball pioneer William Shuttleworth. Special guests include Fergie Jenkins, Paul Beeston, Pat Gillick Steve Rogers, Doug Melvin, Paul Quantrill and Jim McKean. An autograph session will follow the ceremony. You can also come to the Hall of Fame grounds throughout the day and enjoy ball games, museum tours, auctions and a barbecue lunch.
The Hall is expecting the following celebrities for the festivities: 2016 inductees Pat Hentgen, Dennis Martinez, Howard Starkman, Wayne Norton, Tony Kubek, William Shuttleworth, plus Hall of Famers Fergie Jenkins, Steve Rogers, Pat Gillick, Paul Beeston, Don McDougall, Doug Melvin, Ron Taylor, Paul Quantrill, John Haar and Jim McKean. Former major league players Billy Atkinson, John Upham, Larry Landreth, Paul Spoljaric, Brock Kjeldgaard and former NHL player Mark Bell and NHL coach Terry Crisp are also expected to attend.
For more information or tickets for all these events, please email baseball@baseballhalloffame.ca or call 519-284-1838 or visit our website at www.baseballhalloffame.ca
