A big weekend for baseball as the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2019 induction class takes centre stage Saturday in St. Marys.
Former players Jason Bay (Trail, B.C.), Ryan Dempster (Sechelt, B.C.), coach Rob Thomson (Sarnia, Ont.) and long-time executive Gord Ash will be inducted.
Saturday's induction ceremony will start at 1 p.m. with an autograph session scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
"Each of this year’s honourees is a proud Canadian that has had a tremendous impact on baseball in this country," said Scott Crawford, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s director of operations. "Jason Bay and Ryan Dempster were major league all-stars and are two of the most successful Canadian players of all-time, while Rob Thomson and Gord Ash have seven World Series rings between them and are highly respected in the professional baseball community." We’re also excited to honour Jeff Blair who is one of our country’s most respected and authoritative baseball analysts and writers".
Sportsnet baseball analyst Jeff Blair will also be presented with the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2018 Jack Graney Award. The Hall presents this award annually to a member of the media who has made significant contributions to baseball in Canada through their life’s work.
The induction ceremony will be part of a series of activities including the Hall’s 23rd annual celebrity golf tournament and banquet on Friday.
Schedule for Saturday, June 15
Event: Induction Ceremony for Ryan Dempster, Jason Bay, Rob Thomson and Gord Ash. It will be emceed by Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae.
Induction Day Schedule: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Inductee press conference inside the museum (386 Church St. S.) (media only) 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Baseball games will be played on the Hall’s diamonds. 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Museum open to public for regular admission fees.
During the day, come out and meet the Toronto Blue Jays mascot ACE and the J Force squad from 10am-1pm.
1:00 pm to 3:00 p.m. – Induction Ceremony for 2019 inductees on the Hall of Fame grounds (386 Church St. S.)
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Autograph session* (Please read rules below) with the 2019 inductees Ryan Dempster, Jason Bay, Rob Thomson and Gord Ash, plus Fergie Jenkins, Allan Simpson, Murray Cook, Bill Humber, Ray Carter, Doug Melvin, Steve Rogers, Pat Hentgen, Howard Starkman, Pierre-Luc LaForest, Billy Atkinson, John Upham, Jesse Litsch, Jesse Barfield, Duane Ward and other special guests.
Autograph Session (Please read rules below):
Cost: Members should bring their membership card. Members $10 each to enter, non-members $20 each to enter the autograph session.
*Hall of Fame 2019 members will enter the autograph line first.
*Autograph session is 90 minutes long.
*Autographs are limited to one item per person per inductee/special guest.
*Autographs will be signed on a first-come first-serve basis.
*Hall of Fame staff reserve the right to cut the autograph line at any time.
*Autographs are not guaranteed.
*NO posed photos.