OTTAWA-Baseball Canada is extremely happy to announce that the 2011 Senior National Team will be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday June 23rd in St. Marys, Ontario. In addition to the Senior National Team, the 2012 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction class will see original Montréal Expo Rusty Staub, current Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin and former major leaguer and Olympian Rheal Cormier inducted.
Last fall a group of Canadian baseball players won the Bronze Medal at the IBAF World Cup in Panama and followed that performance two weeks later by stunning the United States to claim the Gold Medal at the Pan American Games in Mexico. The Gold Medal victory is the best result that a Canadian team has achieved at the international level since the Junior National Team won gold at the 1991 World Junior Baseball Championship.
Manager Ernie Whitt, a 2009 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, is thrilled about the honour for his team.
“I’ve had the honour of being inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame as player, and now being inducted as member of this group is truly something special,” said Whitt. “Winning the Pan Am Games was a moment that I will cherish forever and I couldn’t be happier for all of the players, coaches and staff.”
The 24-player roster featured 15 veterans, while 9 players made their debut with the Senior National Team. In addition to Whitt, the coaching staff consisted of long-time members Tim Leiper, Denis Boucher and Greg Hamilton, while former National Team standout Stubby Clapp joined the staff for the World Cup.
Hamilton who doubles as Baseball Canada’s Director of National Teams was largely responsible for assembling the roster.
“We had a good mix of veteran leadership and youth that came together at the right time and delivered when it mattered most,” he said. “Standing on top of the podium with the United States and Cuba on either side of you is a rare feat in international baseball. To be recognized by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame makes the accomplishment that much more special.”
