The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame has added five members to its institution in their Class of 2013, and much like previous years, the high profile members are former members of the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos.
The headlining entrant is Tim Raines, who spent his best years with the Montreal Expos. While playing in Montreal, Raines would become a seven Time All-Star, batting .301 with a WAR of 48.8. The fleet footed Raines would also lead the National League twice in Runs and four times in Stolen Bases. In regards to Cooperstown, Raines has been on the ballot for six years, eclipsing the 50% mark for the first time last year, indicating that he may have a decent chance to have enshrinement in both countries.
Raines is joined by George Bell, the Dominican born outfielder who had powerful seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1980’s. Bell was the 1987 American League MVP, and was a top five finisher two other times. Bell may not have had a Hall of Fame career by Cooperstown standards (he only received 1.2% in his lone year of eligibility) but by the basis of what he accomplished as a Blue Jay, he deserves his spot in the Canadian Hall.
The third entrant is Canadian born, Rob Ducey, who played for both Toronto and Montreal in a journeyman 13 year career. Ducey was born in Toronto, and was very popular because of that during his stint with Blue Jays in the late 80’s and early 90’s.
The fourth is already scheduled to enter Cooperstown this summer. Tom Cheek, who was the long time radio broadcaster for the Jays will also be entering the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Cheek passed away in 2005, and was the radio announcer for the first 4,306 games of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Class of 2013 is rounded out by Nat Bailey, who owned the Vancouver Mounties, and was a big supporter of Baseball in Western Canada. To qualify for the Baseball Hall of Fame, the player in question must be Canadian born, or have done something significant in their career in Canada.
We congratulate all five men for their Hall of Fame inductions.
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