First Base Among Equals - Baseball Researchbaseballresearch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Dame19.pdf · 2019-11-18 · First Base Among Equals Baseball and Canada’s Prime Ministers

FirstBaseAmongEqualsBaseballandCanada’sPrimeMinisters

ByStephenDameThemostfamoussentenceeverwrittenbyaCanadianauthorisW.P.Kinsella’s,“ifyoubuildit,hewillcome.”ThatghostlyutterancegrabstopspotbyedgingoutMcCallandClarkson’sequallyphantomiclineaboutPierreTrudeau:“hehauntsusstill.”Theseareirrefutablefacts.Giventheweightyimportanceofthesetwoliteratelyrics,itwouldseemIamforced,bysomegravitationalpullofpersonalinterestandCanadiancontent,tocombinethetopicofbaseballandprimeministersintoasingleresearchpaper.ThehistoryofbaseballandthehistoryofCanadianpoliticsaretwopeculiarinterestsofmine.IwassoenamouredwiththelatterthatI,youngandwithoutneedofmuchmoney,pursuedacareerwhichwashappytopaymelittleanddemandalot:politics.Iworkedfirstasalegislativeassistanttoamanwhowasonceamayor,andthenaMemberofParliament.Quitequickly,myfavouritepartofthejobbecametakingvisitingconstituentsontoursofParliamentHill.“ThisiswhereJohnDiefenbaker’sghosthasbeenseen,pacingthehallways”or“here,inthisunassumingEastBlockcloset,iswherePierreandMaggiewouldescapefor‘privatetime’duringtheearlydaysoftheirmarriage.”Allyouhadtodowasaskthesecurityguardsfortheirstories.Theolderlookingones,who’dbeenaroundawhile:they’dgiveyouallthegreatestinfo.OneofthepiecesofinformationIgarneredduringmyyearsofworkingon,andtouringthrough,ParliamentHillwasaboutthefrontlawn.ThelawninfrontoftheCentreBlockofParliamentHillismassive.Ithostsmorethan100,000touristseachCanadaDayandislargerthanthebaseballfieldinsideSkyDome.Itissurroundedbystatuesofprimeministersandnationbuilders.ThestatueIvisitedmostoftenwasthatofLesterPearson.Unlikehiscontemporaries,Pearsonisdepictedseated.Hisstatueisangledeversoslightlytostageleft.Therehesits,overlookingthevastlawnsofParliamentHill.Hismonumentwasconstructedthisway(accordingtosecurityguardlore)sothathecouldsitwatchoverthesoftballandbaseballgamesplayedonthegrassbeforetheHouseofCommons.SuchabaseballnutwasPearson,thosewhohonouredhimthoughtitappropriatehisstatuebeabletowatchbaseballforever.Sadly,baseballgamesareveryrareonthelawnsnowadays.Frisbee,theoccasionalgameofcatch,andsocceraremorereliablyseentherenow.EventheannualsoftballgamebetweenMembersofParliamentandthepress,datingbackmorethanacentury,haspassedintomemory.Yet,LesterBremainspatientlywaitingforagametobreakout,ontheveryspotwherehehimself,bothasLeaderoftheOppositionandlaterasPrimeMinisterofCanada,playedball.ThisresearchpaperwillendeavourtouncoverwhatotherlinksexistbetweenourHeadsofGovernmentandthegameofbaseball.

Weshouldstartatthebeginning.Theoriginsofbaseballare,ofcourse,disputed.SostartingatthebeginningofCanadianprimeministersisawisercourse.OnJuly1st,1867,JohnAlexanderMacdonaldbecameprimeministerinacapitalcityhe’dchosen,vestedwithpowersbyaConstitutionhe’dlargelywrittenandgovernedoveranationwhichheandGeorgeBrownhadwilledintoexistence.MacdonaldgrewupinKingston,Ontario.TheOttawaJournaloncelookeddownitsnoseatthecolonialcapitalandremarked,“baseballisnotplayedincentresofcivilisationandart,”butinKingstonandotherunCapital,“remoteOntariotowns,itisstillplayed.Butwiththeopeningupofcolonizationroads,itissupposedthepeopleofthosepartswillbecomemorecivilizedandgraduallybedivorcedfromtheirrudepastimes.”1Cricket,foxhuntingandhorseracing,werealsopopularintheKingstonofthe1850’sand60’s.2Despitecriticsofthesport,bytheearly1890’s,theGlobewasreferringtobaseballasCanada’s“nationalgame.”3Macdonaldwasinthelastyearofhislifewhentheveryfirstpressgalleryvs.MembersofParliamentgamewasplayed.Except,in1891,theyplayedlawntennis,notbaseball.4NorecordexistsofMacdonaldplayingorattendingabaseballgame.TheonlytangentiallinkswehavetoourfirstPMandouroriginal“nationalgame,”isthenicknamegiventoTorontoBlueJaysinfielderJohnMcDonald(sp),whowasdubbedThePrimeMinisterofDefence.5McDonaldwasalsonamesaketoanowdefunctbaseballblogcallingitself“JohnMcDonald’sCabinet.”In1885,theyearinwhichMacdonaldallowedLouisRieltohang“thougheverydoginQuebecshallbark,”theBainWagonCompanyproducedpromotionaltradingcardsfeaturingprominentpeople.Ononeofthecards,JohnA.isintheprocessofbeinghitbytheswingingbatofhisInteriorMinisterLouisRodrigueMasson.Ina“poxonallyourhouses”creativechoicebytheartist,Massonissimultaneouslyintheprocessofbeinghitbyapitch.

1LondonAdvertiser.TheBaseballSeason.May3,18872Gwynn,Richard.JohnA.Macdonald:themanwhomadeus.Page253TheGlobe.Sport.August29,18914TheOttawaDailyCitizen.LawnTennis.September17,18915TotalProSports.ALEastPreview.March122009

ThefirstPrimeMinistertowitnessabaseballgamewhileinofficewasmostlikelySirJohnThompson.ThompsonwasmostnotableatthetimeofhisgovernmentforbeingCatholic.Thiswasatraitofsomecontroversyin1894,especiallysincehehadconvertedtothatancientreligionforthesakeofhiswife,Annie.ThompsonisbestknowntodayforcreatingandshepherdingthroughParliamenttheCriminalCodeofCanada.Well,tobehonest,he’smostfamousfordroppingdead(literally,ofamassiveheartattack)whileQueenVictoriabestowedaknighthooduponhim.Yetinhisshorttimeinoffice,SirJohnmadeprimeministerialbaseballhistory.Duringthesummerof1894,JohnandLadyThompsonmadetheirwaytotheMuskokaregionofOntarioforamonthlongvacation.TheyweregreetedattheGravenhursttrainstationbyaband,themayorandalargenumberofexcitedcitizens.6Tendaysafterhisarrival,theprimeministerattendedtheannualBracebridgepicnic.Thompsonaddressedagathering,watchedanentirelacrossegameplayedbetweenteamsfromBarrieandOrilliaandwaspresentonthegroundsasabaseballgamewasbeingplayed.7Itisunclearforhowlongheobservedthebaseballers.Lacrosseandbaseballmatchescontinuedtobeafeatureofthepicnicuntilatleasttheendofthecentury.Duringthe1896Bracebridgeevent,“abaseballmatchbetweenEmsdaleandBracebridgeresultedinaneasyvictoryforthehometeam.”8

IfJohnA.Macdonaldwasthefoundingprimeminister,thenWilfridLaurier;confident,competent,worldlyandbilingual,wastheprimeministerwhoshapedthenationforthecenturytocome.ItwasduringtheLaurieryears(all15ofthem)thatourdirectandverifiablelinksbetweenbaseballandprimeministersbegan.WhileLaurierwasstilloppositionleaderin1890,theEasternMorningNewsranaletterpraisingthe“propagandism”ofbaseball.“Iamjoinedbymanyleadingcricketers,”wroteapetitionernamedLeduc,“thatbaseballwillimprovethecharacter”ofyoungplayersintheareamoresothanthemoretraditionalBritishbatandballgame.9

6MontrealGazette.PremierinMuskoka.August1,18947TheGlobe.PicnicatBracebridge.August10,18948TheGlobe.Mr.Ethier’sVictory.August14,18969EasternMorningNews.BaseballinHull.April11,1890

Asthenationwasgrowingandchanging,sotoowereherpreferencesforoutdoorsport.Duringthe1896electioncampaign,primeministerCharlesTuppervisitedHamilton,Ontario.Hewashonouredwithaparadethroughdowntown.Yet,inthisyearofelectoralchange,amuchlargercrowdralliedtowhattheGlobeandMailcalled“anantidotetoTupperism”inDundurnPark.TheLaurierLiberalsorganizedtheevent,timedtobeginastheTupperprocessionended,whichfeaturedspeakersandsportingeventsandthefirstuseofbaseballasacampaigntool.AbaseballgamewasplayedbeforetheReformersbegantospeakattheiropen-airrally.Over10,000peopleattended.10Inacolumninspiredbyelectionfeverentitled“ThingsTheStarWouldLikeToKnow,”thevenerableTorontonewspaperaskedonepoliticalquestion,“whenwillCanadahaveitsownNavy?”Theanswerwouldbe1911,whenWilfridLaurier’sgovernmentmadeitso.Thecolumnhoweverqueriedtwiceaboutbaseball,asking“whenwillTorontofinallywinapennant”(theMapleLeafswonlaterthatsameseason)and“whentheMontrealbaseballteamexpectstobeinit?”11(we’rewonderingthesamething120yearslater).Politicalpicnicsoftheeracommonlyfeaturedbaseballgames.AnAugust,1899affairinOshawadubbeda“monsterpicnic”involvedabaseballgameprecedingaspeechbyLaurierhimself.12OneofthemoreinterestingLaurierrelatedbaseballtidbitsconcernsatriptheprimeministertooktoChicagoin1899.ConservativesintheHousewereaskingLaurierabouthistrip,whenitwouldoccurandhowmuchitwouldcost,monthspriortohisdeparture.RumourswereprintedinthepapersofaplannedgoodwillexhibitioninChicagoduringthatcity’sfallfestival.TheleadersoftheAmerica’sweretobeinvitedtoapageantofprogressin“thiscentralmetropolisofthecontinent.”13LauriertoldtheHousethathehadnotyetbeeninvited,andsonoplansforaChicagosojournexisted.Yet,byOctoberof1899,Laurierwasrail-boundtothewindycity,oneofU.S.PresidentMcKinley’sguestsofhonour.Laurierwasfetedinthestreetsduringacity-wideparadewhichkickedoffthecelebration.TheChicagoTribunenoted“thefactthatSirWilfird’scarriage,likethatofPresidentMcKinley’s,wasdrawnbyfourhorses,whileeachoftheothershadbuttwo,wasnoticetothecrowdsthathewassomeoneofspecialprominence.”14NewspaperaccountsthendetailedhowtheparadeconcludedattheWestSideParkgrandstand,thebaseballgroundsatPolkandLincolnStreets.TheChicagoOrphans(oneoftheshort-livednicknamesofthemoderndayCubs)playedadoubleheaderthatfallday,winningonegameagainstClevelandandlaterdowningLouisville.Whilenodetailsaregivenastowhetheranyofthedignitariesstayedtowatcheithergame,TheGlobequotesaTribunescribewhodroppedthishintastoSirWilfrid’spossibleactivities,“SirWilfridLaurier,toquotefromthebaseballreporter,madeanexcellentimpressionuponthegrandstand,andwascompelledfrequentlytodoffhishat.”15

10TheGlobe.FightingToWin.June22,189611TheTorontoDailyStar.TheStarWouldLikeToKnow.August16,189712TheTorontoDailyStar.ALiberalPicnic.August8,189913TheGlobe.SirWilfridinChicago.Oct11,189914TheChicagoTribune.Procession.Oct8,189915TheGlobe.SirWilfridinChicago.Oct11,1899

Thefollowingyear,1900,sawthefirstreportedbaseballgameonthegroundsofParliamentHill.TheSenateteamdefeatedMembersoftheHouseofCommonsbyascoreof19-7onthenation’ssoggyfrontlawn.16In1902,theLiberalsagainusedbaseballasaluretooneoftheiropen-airpicnicrallies.Thistime,OntarioPremierGeorgeWilliamRossspokeafterthegame,urgingall6,000presenttovoteLiberalbothfederallyandprovincially.17The1905inaugurationofAlbertaasaprovincebroughtwithitagreatcelebrationinitsnewcapital.“Edmontongaywithbuntingandcrowdedwithpeople:ayounggiantofthewest.”18CrowdswatchedtheRCMPmusicalrideandabaseballgame.WilfridLaurierandGovernorGeneralAlbertGreywereamongthespectatorsforwhatisthebestdocumentedpresenceofanearlyprimeministerobservingbaseball.19AnannualreportoftheRCMP,addressedtoSirWilfridandtabledintheHouseofCommonsinthespringof1909,notedthattheInuitofHerschelIsland“showthetruespiritofsportintheirgamesofbaseball.Theyplayonthehardsnow,whenthethermometerregisters25degreesbelowzero.”20TheGlobenotedbaseballgamesbeingplayedinninedifferenttownsinOntarioandQuebecaspartofofficial1910VictoriaDaycelebrations.LaurierwasinOttawaonSundaybeforedepartingforTorontothateveningaheadoftheholidayMonday.Baseballgameswereplayedatpublicgatheringsonbothcitiesexhibitiongroundsthatweekend.21Thatsameyear,Lauriermadehistoryasthefirstprimeministertothrowoutaceremonialfirstpitchatabaseballgame.TravellingtoRedDeer,Albertaaspartofapre-electiontourofthewestthatsummer,SirWilfridwasinvitedtotosstheballbeforeagamebetweenRedDeerandAlixonAugust12,1910.“IthankGodthatIaminperfecthealth,”hesaid.“Idon'tknowthatIhaveeverfeltbetterinmylife.”22Yet,Laurier’sbestinteractionwithballplayerswassavedforthefinalcampaignofhiscareer.WhiletouringNovaScotiaduringthe1911writ,SirWilfridarrivedinStellarton,NovaScotia.TheTorontoDailyStarcarriedthetalebacktoitsreaders:

“StellartonandWestvilleareengagedinalifeanddeathstruggleforthebaseballchampionshipofPictouCountyandaHomericstruggletookplaceattheformerplaceyesterdayafternooninwhichthefateofthenationhung.ThePremierhappenedtobestayingoverinStellartonforlunchandthechancewastoogoodtolose.Withaheartylaugh,thePremierconsentedtopitchthefirstball,therebyrenderingeighteenmensupremelyhappy.”23

16TheOttawaCitizen.SenatorsMadeRuns.June4,190017TheTorontoDailyStar.RossGovernmentWillFightForSafeMajority.Oct6,190218TheGlobe.TheGreatInaugurationofAlbertaProvince.September2,190519Ibid.20TheGlobe.StirringTalesOfTheWildNorth.March17,190921TheGlobe.AGreatDayForOutdoorSports.May25,191022TheGlobe.KeepUpStandardofCanadianLife.August11,191023TheTorontoDailyStar.TremendousCrowdatNewGlasgowGaveLiberalLeaderaFineReception.September1,1911

ThestorygoesontodetailhowLaurieraskedhisMinisterofFinance,formerNovaScotiaPremierWilliamFielding,tobehiscatcher.“’ComeonFielding,’commandedSirWilfrid.Heknewwheretostandtoo,havingpitchedaballatoneofthegamesinthewestonhistripoutthere.”24Unlikemostfirstpitchesofaceremonialnature,Laurierseemstohavebeenpitchingtoalivebatter.ThereporteronsiterecalledthatLaurierdidn’twindupandthathispitch“lookedcuriouslyeasy.”Evenstill,thebatter“misseditbyfivefeet.”25

BythetimeRobertBordenbecameprimeminister,baseballwasfirmlyestablishedandreferredtoasCanada’s“nationalgame.”Intheerabeforeindoorrinksmadehockeyamoreviablesportforthemassesincitiesandtownshipsalike,baseballreignedsupreme.AbaseballplayingFirstWorldWarsoldier,fightingduringBorden’stimeinoffice,remarkedtoamilitarynewspaper:“littledidwedreamwhenwelefttheLandoftheMaple,thatwe’dbeplayingtheNationalGamebehindthefiringlineinFrancesixmonthslater.”26MembersofParliamentplayedthenationalgameagainstmembersofthepressforthefirsttimeduringthisera.Whatcametobean(occasionallyinterrupted)annualtradition,playedonthefrontlawnofParliamentHillandknownasthePressGalleryGame,beganasa1912softballmatch-up:

“SenatorGrattonO’Leary,whospenthislonglifecoveringtheHill,recalleda1912softballgame,withLaurierandBordenasspectators.O’Leary,thenayoungwriterfortheOttawaJournalplayedthirdbase.Afteronlythreeinningsthejournalistswerelosing33to7and‘thegamewascalledforcocktails.’”27

24TheTorontoDailyStar.TremendousCrowdatNewGlasgowGaveLiberalLeaderaFineReception.September1,191125Ibid.26TheIodineChronicle.PlayBall.June15,1916.Page3727Levine,Allan.ScrumWars:ThePrimeMinistersandtheMedia.1996

The1913pressvs.M.P.’sgamewasabaseballspectacleforthemasses.“ThousandscongregatedontheterraceofParliamentHillwhentheteamslinedup,includingPremierBorden,SirWilfridLaurierandspeakerSproule.”28Thegameendedina22-19victoryforthejournalists,butapparentlywasnotatightlycontestedaffair.“ThecasualtiesanderrorssuppliedthefanswithenoughexplosivematerialtoblowuptheParliamentbuildings.”29Legendhasitthatayearlater,duringabaseballversionoftheM.P.’svs.pressgamein1914,amessengernamedW.A.F.LalondehitahomeruncleanacrossWellingtonstreetandthroughawindowofaneighbouringbuilding.30GeorgeHBolvin,MemberforSheffordandservingasabilingualumpire,calledforLalondetoroundthebasesinbothofficiallanguages.Thepresswasagainvictorious,thistimebyascoreof15-13,butthegamewasnobetterplayed.AccordingtoTheGlobe,“thescoreinrunshadnothingonthescoreinerrors.”31

28TheGlobe.ParliamentatPlay.May10,191329Ibid.30TheGlobe.M.P.’stoPlayPressatSoftball.May19,193631TheGlobe.PencilPushersBeatTheParliamentarians.May22,1914

1915markedthelasttimethepresswouldplaytheMembersofParliamentatbaseballforyears.TheFirstWorldWargotintheway.Inthisgoing-awayaffair,thepressagaindefeatedtheM.P.’s,thistimewithadinnerontheline.WhilehenolongercouldviewbaseballontheParliamentarylawns,PrimeMinisterBordenwitnessedmultiplegamesduringtheconflictwhilevisitingCanadiantroopsoverseas.32ThehighpointforCanadianbaseballduringtheFirstWorldWaroccurredonJuly1,1918inTincques,France.There,theCanadianCorpsorganizedasportsday.TheCorpswasinitsglory,VimyandHill70hadbeenwon,andtheCanadianswouldsoonbeinthemidstoftheirfabled"Last100Days."Moralewashigh.Theendofthewarseemednear.Areported70,000peoplepackedaspeciallyconstructedstadiumtowatchthechampionshipsofmanytrackandfieldevents.Thebaseballfinalwasthemainevent.Itwasscheduledlast,aftertea,for4:15pminthelargestadium.Thesoccerfinal,scheduledforthesametime,washeldinasmallfieldwithoutgrandstands.Thebaseballgamewasreportedlyaclassic,astight,low-scoringaffairs,wereconsideredthebesttypeofbaseballatthetime.The7thEngineerBattalion,consistingofVimyveteransfromvariousprovinces,defeatedthe1stDivisionalAmmunitionColumn,anOntarioregimentwhichonceincludedJohnMcCrae,byascoreof3-2in11innings.TheTorontoStarreportedthat“baseballlastedtoolong.”33PrimeMinisterRobertBorden,theDukeofConnaughtandLieutenant-GeneralArthurCurriewatchedthegameinperson.FamedIndigenousathleteandsoldierTomLongboatcompetedearlierinthedayandmayhavewatchedthegame.Borden,whoearlierinthewarbecamethefirstPrimeMinistertobephotographedatabaseballgame,remarkedthatitwas“thegreatestdayofhislife.”34

32Dame,Stephen.http://baseballresearch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Dame17.pdf33TheTorontoDailyStar.ADayofSportsanAntidotetoPowder.August7,191834TheGlobe.DominionDayAtTheFront.July6,1918

Afterthewar,duringamarathonbudgetvote,MembersofParliamentsoughttousethegreatestgameastheirgreatescape.M.P.’sdebatedfor15straighthours,throughthenight,onJune2,1920.Bordenhimselfstayedlate,andjustbeforemidnightayoungWilliamLyonMackenzieKingtookhisseat.Manymembersfellasleepintheirchairsasthehourswenton:

“AlonebatwasthemostactivememberintheChamber.ItfounditswayintotheHouseaftermidnight.MostofthetimethereweremoreMembersoutsideoftheChamberthaninit.AsdawnstreakedthroughthewindowssomeoftheMembersslippedoutandenjoyedalittlegameofbaseball.”35

Afternearlyadecade inoffice,shepherdingthecountrythroughaworldwar,RobertBordenresignedtheofficeofPrimeMinisterin1920.Hissuccessor,ArthurMeighen,lastedonlyafewmonthsbeforefallingtodefeatinthe1921generalelection.Hestayedonaspartyleader,anddid again temporarily become Prime Minister after a scandal toppled Mackenzie King’sgovernmentin1925.InbetweenhistwounelectedturnsasPM,Meighendidcrossthelinesofabaseball field.DuringVictoriaDaycelebrations inSmith’sFalls,Ontario,MeighenthrewoutaceremonialfirstpitchinagameplayedagainstMerickville.“IthadfirstbeenintendedthatMr.Meighenshouldaddressthecrowd,”yetorganizersthought“thatwouldimpartapoliticalflavourtothedayandthistheywantedtoavoid.”36So,Meighentossedhisballandwenthome.In1924,Despite“unpropitiousweatherconditions,”acrowdturnedouttohearMeighenspeakinIslandGrove,Ont.,nearLakeSimcoe.Herailedagainsthispoliticalopponentsandthenmadewayforsporting events. “Baseball, lacrosse, swimming, boating, in addition to the attractions of aminiaturemidway,allhelpedfurnishamusementforthelargecrowdpresent.”37WilliamLyonMackenzieKing,grandsonofarebelandveryproudmama’sboy,ascendedtothehighestofficeinthelandinDecemberof1921.Accordingtohislatestbiographer,AllanLevine,Kingsawpropheticvisionsinhisshavingcream,soughtpoliticaladvicefromhisdeceasedmotherandcarriedonconversationswithPat,hisIrishTerrier.38Despitehisprivateproclivities,Kingledamonumentallysuccessfulpubliclife.BeforetakingtheLiberalleadership,KingworkedinNewYorkCity for theRockefellerFoundation.Hiredby JohnD.himself,Kingwasapioneer in theemerging science of Industrial Relations. He became a trusted confidant to Rockefeller andassistedheandhisStandardOilCo.whenagroupofoverzealousstrikebreakersopenedfireonstrikersduringtheLudlowMassacre.Rockefellerwas,ofcourse,royaltyinNewYorkCity.TheBrooklynSuperbasheldJohnD.RockefellerDay’sin1915,onceinFloridaduringthespringandagainatEbbetsField.Rockefellerhimselfwaspresentatbothwithsome“oldpals,”39buttheNewYorkTribunedoesnotspecifyifKingwasamongthem.ThatsameyeartheTribuneagainnotestheJohnD.andassociateswatchedTyCobbatthePoloGrounds.Frustratingly,sinceweknowKingandRockefellerwereveryclose,thepaperdoesnotindicatewhooccupiedthoseseats.35TheGlobe.MembersNodInTheirSeatsAwaitingVote.June30,192036TheGlobe.ExPremierTakesPartinBaseballOpening.May25,192237TheGlobe.LennoxisAcclaimedasToryWhiteHopetoUnseatPremier.August5,192438Levine,Allan.King:ALifeGuidedbytheHandofDestiny.201239NewYorkTribune.JohnD.SeesSuperbasPlayTheirFirstGame.March7,1915

TheLiberalPartyunderKingheldan“oldfashionedbasketpicnic”insideHanlan’sPointbaseballstadiumonAugust15,1920.3,000peopleattended.“ThehonourableMr.Kingwastenderedanovation from the crowdwhenhearrived in thebaseball grounds.His speechwas a splendideffort.”40Whenthepolitickingfinished,informalgamesofbaseballandothergameswereplayedonthehomefieldof theTorontoMapleLeafs.Thenextday, theLiberalsagainuseda“goodprogram of sports” as part of the draw to aMackenzie King speaking event inMarkham.41BaseballaspartofpicnicstyleeventscontinuedwellintoKing’s22yearPremiership.In1925,hespokeata“mammothpicnic”inbetweengamesofbaseballbeingplayedatRichmondHillandevenannouncedthedateofthenextfederalelection.42

40TheGlobe.LiberalChiefsDrawBigCrowdatTheStadium.August16,192041TheGlobe.Advertisement:GrandLiberalDemonstration.August9,192442TheGlobe.LiberalsToMeetAtRichmondHill.August22,1925

LikeeverythinginvolvingthisPrimeMinister,itgetsmoreinterestingin1926.InFebruary,fourmonthsbeforehisgovernmentfellandeventuallybroughtabouttheconsequentialKing-Byngelection,aletterfromthePrimeMinisterwasreadattheNationalLeague’sjubileedinnerinNewYork.Kinghadbeeninvitedtoattendthewintermeeting.BothheandU.S.PresidentCoolidgesent“amessageofgreeting.”43DiscussionsofaCanadianentry into theNationalLeaguehadbeenintermittentsince1885.44TheTorontoInternationalLeagueclubhadjustbuiltabrandnew,majorleaguesizedballpark,soperhapsKing’sinvitehadsomethingtodowithinterestedpartieshopingtoseetheMapleLeafsmoveup.

King,whowasnotanathlete,didnotwriteofplayingthegameinhismemoirs.Butitwasunderhisleadershipthattheannualpressvs.M.P.’ssoftballgamereturnedtoParliamentHill.ThegamewassuspendedduringtheyearsoftheFirstWorldWaranddidnotreturnuntil1936.Kingtossedouttheceremonialfirstpitch,whileR.B.Bennett,whohimselfwouldbecomePrimeMinister3monthslater,servedastheumpire.The1948versionofthepressvs.M.P.showdownwasanothervictoryforthescribes,thistimebyascoreof19-17.45

43TheGlobe.PremierKingInvitedbyNationalLeague.Feb3,192644BaseballObscuraBlog.ThatTimeTorontoNearlyJoinedTheNationalLeague.June28,2017accessedvia:https://medium.com/@BaseballObscura/that-time-toronto-almost-joined-the-national-league-in-1886-30c4fd46c30645TheGlobe.GalleryPlayersBeatCommoners.June16,1948

Kingalsopresidedoverabaseballrelatedissuethatwouldcontinuetoentanglehissuccessorsfordecades.TheideaofasportslotterywasfirstproposedasawaytoraisefundsfortheSecondWorldWar.“InexploringthemeasuresbywhichCanadamayfinancethecostofwar,estimatedat$500,000,000forthefirstfullyear,theDepartmentofFinanceisexaminingeverysuggestionmade-includingsweepstakes.”46Thegovernment’sfirstcalleronthesubjectwas“therepresentativeofaU.S.patentowneronasweepstakessystemoperatingonWorldSeriesbaseballgamesandInternationalminorleaguebaseballgames.”47TheprotoProLinewasappealingtothegovernmentbecausetheU.S.salesmanpromiseditwouldbringinenoughmoneytocoverhalfthecostofoneyear’sworthofwarring.48TheprospectofCanadiancitizensbettingonsportingeventsrequiredseriouspoliticallegwork.SuchaventurewouldrequiretheamendmentoftheCriminalCode,andwouldnotinfactbecomeaneverydayrealityuntilnearlyfiftyyearslater.Kingranintoamoretongueandcheckcontroversywhenheandthebaseballpowers-that-bewerecriticizedbytheGlobeandMailforpoorscheduling.“Withstrangelackoftactandco-operation,theWorld’sSeriesbaseballgamesarearrangedtobeginonOctober5,dateoftheParkdaleby-election.”49

46TheGlobeandMail.OttawaStudiesLegalSweepsForWarFunds.May7,194047Ibid.48Ibid.49TheGlobeandMail.NotesandComments.October4,1938

WhenMackenzieKingsteppedasideafterbecomingthelongestservingprimeministeranywhereonearth,itwasLouisSt.Laurentwhohadtofillhisgiant,occultloving,shoes.TheLiberalpartysetabouttobrandtheavuncularSt.Laurentas“UncleLouis.”TheTorontoDailyStarranaglowingfullpagetributetothenewPrimeMinister.Itincludedtheusualbiographicaldetailsbutaddedthat,evenathisage,heandhiswife“enjoyplayingbaseballgames.”Thestorywentontonotethat“hereportedlyhitsastraightball,butnotalongone.”50Just86daysafterwelcomingNewfoundlandandLabradorasanewCanadianprovince,PrimeMinisterSt.LaurenttravelledtoSt.John’stocelebratetheisland’sFounder’sDayholiday.OnhisfirstdayinNewfoundland,“noformalobservanceswerescheduled,apartfromtheopeningofthebaseballseason.”51In1950,theproceedsoftheannualpressvs.M.P.gameonParliamentHillweredonatedtotheManitobaFloodReliefFund.52Mostsignificantly,the1950’smarkamassivechangeinthefortunesofthefriendlygameonParliamentHill.OnJune5,1950,theM.P.’sdefeatedthepressfortheirfirstdocumentedvictorysincethesegamesbeganin1912.The1951versionofthegamewascalled“agonizing”bytheGazette,53anditwasinfactablowout.Makingupfortheirpreviousdecadesoffutility,theM.P.’scrushedthewritersbyascoreof18-1.54LionelConacher,eventuallyatragicfigureinthetaleofParliamentarysoftball,firstmadehismarkin1952.ConacherandhisfellowMembersofParliamentdefeatedthepressbyascoreof22-14,theelectedMembersthirdstraightvictory.“Conacher,whowaschosenlastyearasCanada’stopmaleathleteofthehalfcentury,lookedgoodenoughtostandforre-nomination.Inadditiontoplayingacreditablesecondbase,hewallopedtwohomers.”55Thenextyear,Conacheragainplayedinthegame.HewatchedasGovernorGeneralVincentMasseythrewoutthefirstpitch.The1954pressvsM.P.gameisonlyrememberedforthetragedywhichtookplaceonthelawns:

“LionelConacher,Canada’soutstandingmaleathleteofthehalfcentury,diedofaheartattacktonightshortlyaftermakingathree-basehitinasoftballgameontheParliamentHilllawn.The54-year-oldmemberforTorontoTrinitycollapsedonthirdbaseinthesixthinningoftheannualgame.HediedenroutetoOttawaGeneralHospital.”56

50TorontoDailyStar.CloseKnitFamilyinJoysandWorries.June18,194951TheGlobeandMail.CelebrateFoundersDay.June24,194952TheEveningCitizen.ParliamentarySoftballtoAidFloodSufferers.June6,195053TheGazette.PeopleonParliamentHill.June30,195154TheGlobeandMail.M.P’sBeatWriters.June8,195155TheGlobeandMail.M.P.s’BeatPressGallery.May29,195256TheGlobeandMail.StrickenPlayingBall,LionelConacherDies.May27,1954

Ironically,the1954gamewasnotscheduledtotakeplace,butConacherhimselfralliedhisfellowMembers,includingpastorganizerDanMcIvor,andthegamewenton.McIvor,areverendbeforeenteringpolitics,prayedoverConacherasthosegatheredaroundhisfallenbodywaitedforanambulancetoarrive.“Thatendstheballgames,”McIvortoldtheOttawaJournal.Askedifhealsothoughtthegameswerenowatanend,LesterPearsonremarked,“Itdoesforme.”57PrimeMinisterLouisSt.LaurentpaidtributetoConacherandthenadjournedtheHouseinhonouroftheBigTrain.St.LaurentheldCanada’stopjobforadecadebeforevotersgrewtiredofheandhisparty.In1957,JohnDiefenbaker,tookthejob.DiefenbakerwasbornnearGuelph,Ontario.HisfamilymovedtotheTodmordenneighbourhoodofToronto(todayswallowedwholebytheDonValleyParkway),andthentonorthernSaskatchewanin1903.DiefattendedtheHalcyonschoolandinhismemoirshewroteofplayingballgamesatrecessthere.58Hewentontowritethathewasnotmuchofasportsmanhimself,“besidesthethree-leggedrace,Itooklittlepartinhighschoolathletics.”59WhentheFirstWorldWarbrokeout,JohnDiefenbakersignedup.HeendedupstationedattheCanadianmilitarybaseatShorncliffe,wherethousandsofgamesofbaseballwereplayedduringthewar.60Itseemslikely,givenhowall-encompassingthebaseballcultureatShorncliffebecame,thathewouldhavewitnessed,ifnotplayed,thegamealongsidehisfellowsoldiersthere.

57TheOttawaJournal.M.P.’sFarewelltoConacher.May27,195458Diefenbaker,John.OneCanada:TheMemoirsofJohnG.Diefenbaker.1975.Page4459Ibid.Page7060Dame,Stephen.http://baseballresearch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Dame17.pdf

Aftersweepingtopowerin1957andthenwinningthelargestmajorityinthehistoryofCanadianpoliticsjustoneyearlater,JohnDiefenbakerunintentionallyinspiredauniquesquadofelectedbaseballers.InAugustof’58,theDiefgovernmentextendedtheHouseofCommonswellintothesummerandskippedtheusualwarmweathervacation.Thegovernmentwasusingtheunusualsummersessiontocallandvoteonanunprecedentednumberofbills.BecauseDiefenbakerhad208M.P.’s,manydidnotfeeltheneedtobeintheHouseforeveryvote.SomeevenwenthomedespitebeingorderedtostaybythePM.“WhowouldhavethoughtthatthelargestmajorityinCanadianhistorywouldbeanembarrassmentforMr.Diefenbaker?”61TheVancouverSunnotedthat,“asthesessionworeon,manyMembersabsentedthemselvesfromtheHouse.Theyorganizedabaseballteamandplayedagameaweekagainstanyonetheycouldchallenge.”62TheybeatanRCMPteam19-7duringaWednesdaynightvote.63Spectatorsandplayerschippedin$200whichwasdonatedtothefamilyofalocalmanwhohadrecentlybeen“brokenupbyaseriesofmisfortunes.”64

1958alsosawthereturnoftheParliamentHillsoftballgame,thistimewithanM.D.onhandto“check-up”ontheplayersaftertheConachertragedyoffouryearsearlier.65TheMembersofParliamentsquaredoffwiththeParliamentaryprotectivestaff.Intermsofbaseballandourprimeministers,this1958gamewaskickedoffbyamonumentallyimportantceremonialfirstpitch.ThespectaclesawGovernorGeneralRolandMichenertosstheopeningballtoPrimeMinisterJohnDiefenbakerwhilefutureprimeministerLesterPearsonswungthebat.

61TheVancouverSun.OttawaReport.August30,195862Ibid.63TheOttawaCitizen.M.P.’sScoreSoftballWin,AddToFund.August28,195864Ibid.65TheOttawaCitizen.BallOnTheHillForFitM.P.’sOnly.July22,1958

AfilmreelpreservedbytheCBCshowsPearsonswingingandmissingattheceremonialpitcheventhoughitwaswayoutside.DiefenbakerhowledwithlaughterfrombehindtheplatewhileLesterBdemandedtheviceregalthrowhimanother,morehittable,pitch.MichenerobligedandPearsonsmackedtheballwelloutintotheParliamentarylawn.Thegameitself,won13-5bytheM.P.’s,wasmoreofafarcicalthanhardfoughtaffair.Downbyabunch,oneout,theprotectivestaffweresuckingtheirlastgasps:

“Thestaffers,mostviewersagreed,hadsixmenonthebaseswhenM.P.WarnerJorgensoncaughtaninfieldflywhilerestingflatonhisback.Thesixorsorunnersscamperedinalldirections,theM.P.’spepperedtheballfrombasetobasetobaseandumpireM.P.MurdoMartinshuthiseyesinhorror.Therewerecriesof‘Order,Mr.Speaker!’andseveralrequestsforanewfederalelection.”66

Duringthesummerof1960,thetwoprimeministerswouldclashagain,thistimeaspartoftherevivedpressvsM.P.softballgame.TheceremonialfirstpitchwasthistimetakenbyDiefenbaker,withPearsonplayingbehindtheplate.PrimeMinisterDiefenbakerleftaftertheopeningceremony,butLesterPearsonremovedhisjacketandplayedinthegame.TheM.P.’sagainwontheannualfiasco,thistimebyascoreof16-4.TheCalgaryHeraldnotedthatPearson’sperformanceonthediamondwasnotmuchbetterthanhisperformanceattheballotboxtwoyearsprevious.“LiberalleaderLesterPearson,onceasemi-professional,struckoutbeforeahandfulofspectatorsonthelawninfrontoftheParliamentBuildings.”67

66TheOttawaCitizen.CrazyMan,Crazy!WhatAGame!July24,195867CalgaryHerald.M.P.’sTrouncePressGalleryinSoftballTilt.July7,1960

JohnDiefenbakerwasfinallydefeatedbyLesterPearsonin1963.Hewasthenthevictimofacoupinhisownpoliticalparty,turfedfromhisleadershippositionbysupportersofRobertStanfield.Whenhepassedawayin1979,theTorontoStarmadenoteofhisheretoforeunheraldedloveofbaseball:

“Twoweeksbeforehedied,hewenttoMontrealtowatchtheExposplay.Baseballwashisfavouritesport.HewaswatchinganExposgameontelevisionthenightbeforehedied.”68

68TorontoStar.BaseballFan.August17,1979

WhichbringsustothesectionofthispaperdealingwithCanada’s14thPrimeMinister,theguyforwhomtheairportisnamed,andundoubtedlythebiggestbaseballnerdtoeveroccupy24Sussex.TheconnectionstoPearsonandthegreatestgamearemyriad.JustfivepagesintoPearson’sthreevolumeautobiography,themanhimselfdetailsanearlybaseballmemory.ItisananecdoteintheveinofW.P.Kinsellawherebygrownmenlinktheirloveofbaseballtothementheyloved:

“GrandfatherPearsonhadaparticularpassionforbaseball,apassioninheritedbyhisson,myfather,andhisgrandsons.MylastoutingwithhimwasonDominionDayin1913.Hehadretiredfromtheministry;hewasfrail,aging,andhiseyesighthadalmostgone.TheTorontobaseballteam,intheoldInternationalLeague,wastoplaytwogames,morningandafternoon,onthatholidayattheBallParkatHanlan’sPoint,acrossTorontoBay.Grandfatherwasdeterminedtogo,andhisson,myuncleHarold,withwhomhewasthenliving,agreed.Iwashappyandexcitedtoescort.Irememberwehadgoodseats.Itwasagoodgameandmygrandfather,whocouldhardlyseetheplayers,letalonetheball,enjoyeditasmuchasIdid.”69

Thefollowingyear,PearsonwasplayingsecondbaseinHamilton’sCityBaseballLeaguewhilehewasworkingforthemunicipality.Then,asheputitinhismemoirs,hisworldendedwhentheworldwenttowar.PearsonenlistedfirstasamedicalorderlywiththeUniversityofTorontomedicalunit.WhilestationedinSalonika,Greece,heplayedbaseballwithhisfellowsoldiersthere.“Hewasanaturalleader,goodatbaseball,”saidhisroommateWilliamDafoe.70Asthewarwenton,andespeciallyafterthearrivaloftheAmericantroops,baseballbecameamoreandmoreprominentpartofsoldiersdailylife.Teamswereorganizedbybattalions,militaryhospitals,groupsofofficersandevenprisonersofwar.BaseballwasplayedregularlybyCanadiansoldiersatmorethan90knownlocationsthroughoutEurope.Canadiansplayedontheirrestandreserverotations,sometimeswithinmetresofGermanshelllandings.GamesbetweenCanadianandAmericantroopstookonanaturallymorecompetitivenature.Atsoccerstadiumsandcricketpitches,thousandsoflocalsandservicepeoplepaidmoneytowatchmilitarymenplaybaseball.71WhenaskedduringaninterviewforanExternalAffairspositionwhathisgreatestcontributiontothewarhadbeen,Pearsondeadpanned,“myhomerunatBramshott(base)”whichhelpeddefeatateamofAmericans.72

69Pearson,LesterB.MemoirsoftheRightHonourableLesterPearson.Vol1.1972Page570TorontoDailyStar.Pearson:AGoodManInaWickedTime.December16,196771http://baseballresearch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Dame17.pdf72Ibid.

WhileonleaveinLondon,Pearsonlookedthewrongwaycrossingthestreetandwashitbyabus.Hesurvivedthedoubledeckerhitandrun,andasaresultmayhavesurvivedthewar.Hewasinvalidedhome.Healedupbythesummerof1919,Pearsonwasatalossintermsofdirection.“Whatthen,todo?Iwasrestless,unsettled,andhadnoanswers.ButitwasearlysummerandIlovedbaseball.IwenttoGuelph,thehomeofnotonlymyparents,butalsoofateamintheInter-CountyLeague,averygoodsemi-professionalorganization.”73PearsonknewtwoplayersontheteamfromhisdaysplayingballinHamilton.Hewalkedintotheballparkandwalkedontotheteam.HewasgivenajobatthePartridgeTireandRubberCompanywherehe“punchedtheclockanddidoddjobswhennotplayingbaseball.”74WhenPearsondeterminedthathispaththroughbaseballwouldnottakehimtothemajors,hebegantostudyforentryintotheforeignservice.By1943,hewasworkingfortheCanadiangovernmentinWashington,D.C.Inhismemoirs,PearsonwroteoftheseriousnatureofbaseballgamesplayedbetweentheCanadiansandAmericansintheU.S.capital:

“Thebaseballgameswhichreallymattered–apartfromthoseoftheWashingtonSenatorsintheAmericanLeague,whichIlovedtowatchwheneverIcould–werethosebetweentheCanadianEmbassyandtheStateDepartment.Wehadareasonablygoodteam,thankstoafewexpertsfromtheCanadianmilitarymission.OurdiplomaticworrywasthatwemightprejudiceourgoodrelationswiththeStateDepartmentbybeatingthemtooeasily.Atthesametimenationalpridewouldpermitnodefeatbytheforeigner.Soweworkedoutauniqueandingeniouswayofhandicapping.Weplacedajugofmartinisandaglassateachbaseandagreedthatwheneveraplayerreachedabase,hehadtodrinkamartini.Thisensuredarecordnumberofmenstrandedonthirdbaseand,ifanyonedidtrytomakehomeplate,hecouldeasilybetagged.”75

PearsondistinguishedhimselfintheforeignserviceandattheUnitedNations.WhileinNewYork,hehada“lifepasstoEbbet’sField”towatchtheBrooklynDodgersplayball.76In1957,afterleadingthepeaceprocesswhichdiffusedapotentialnuclearwarovertheSuezCanal,hereceivedtheNobelPeacePrize.Whilebreakingthenewstothecountry,TheGlobeandMailreferredtohimnotasaprofessor,diplomatorpotentialLiberalLeader,butas“a60-year-oldbaseballfan.”77Baseball,fromtheverybeginning,wasalargepartofPearson’spoliticalbrand.

73Pearson,LesterB.MemoirsoftheRightHonourableLesterPearson.Vol1.1972Page4074Pearson,LesterB.MemoirsoftheRightHonourableLesterPearson.Vol1.1972Page4075Ibid.,Page20676TorontoDailyStar.Pearsonthefan,Player.December15,196777TheGlobeandMail.PearsonSaysAwardTributeToCanada.October15,1957

Duringhisfirstelectioncampaignin1958,Pearsonbarnstormedthecountrylikeallpoliticians,butmadeafewmorestopsalongtheway.Hishandlerswerewellawareofhowhisbaseballskillcouldmakethebowtiewearingpolicywonkseemalittlemoreleaderly.HestoppedhiscampaigncaravaninKingstonwhenhespottedagroupofboysplayingagameintheyardatSt.Patrick’sCatholicSchool.“Onceasemi-probaseballplayer,theLiberalleadershowedsomeoftheolddiamondabilityashegotaholdofapitch.Itprovedtobeoneofthemostheart-warmingreceptionsofhiselectiontour.Whenheturnedtoleavehewasgivenaburstofapplausebythechildren.”78InWinnipeg,areporternotedhowPearson’sspeecheswerepepperedwithreferencestohisbaseballpast.“Allthroughhistoursofar,Mr.Pearsonhasbeendoggedbysnidereferencestohisparty’srecordduringits23yearsasthegovernment.Mr.Pearson’sexperienceinhandlingdifficultquestionsatinternationalcouncilsandhisyouthfulexperienceasabaseballplayer(towhichhefrequentlyrefers)standshimwellintheseinstances.”79

78TorontoDailyStar.PearsonDemonstratesBaseballSkill,ThrillsChildren.March29,195879TheGlobeandMail.Transition.March6,1958

TheTorontoStarranaphotopuzzlegameshortlyaftertheelectionwherebytheword“Pearson”appearedasapossibleanswerbelowaphotoofboysplayingbaseball.80Theanswerturnedouttobe“Smallwood,”anotherbaseball/politicalpun,butthefactthatPearsonwassowidelyassociatedwiththegameafterthecampaignspeakstoitsprominenceinLiberalmessaging.Inapost-electionpraisingofawell-functioningCanadiandemocracy(turnoutwas80%),RobertTurnbullwroteintheGlobeandMailthat“dictatorssimplyaren’tsportsmen,”beforepraisingDwightEisenhower,HaroldMacMillanandLesterPearsonfortheirathleticpasts.IncorrectlyassumingLesterBwasdoneafterhis1959loss,Turnbullwrote,“LesterPearson’sthrillsnowcomeprimarilyfromwatchingbaseball.”81The1962campaignagainsawthebaseballbrandingofLesterPearson.HewasscheduledtothrowoutthefirstpitchatMapleLeafStadiuminearlyMay.Whenschedulingconflictspreventedhimfrommakinghisappearance,areportercoveringthecampaignaskedhisstaffiftheoppositionleadercouldaffordtomissanappearancebeforesuchacrowd.“Mr.Pearsonwasdisappointed.It’snotthathemindssomuchmissingthepoliticalopportunity,”saidaLiberalspokesperson,“butheismadaboutbaseball.”82

AtBarry’sBay,thetalkofbaseballturnedtoactiononthelocaldiamond.Pearson“missedhisfirstpitchatbatwithaLittleLeaguebaseballteam,butblastedthesecondballintocentrefield,overtheheadsofthe400districtresidents,strikingthewindowofaparkedcar.Thewindowremainedinonepiece.”83It’sworthnotingthatwhilesuchstuntsremainafunctionofourpoliticalprocesstoday,theprocessofhavingacandidatebatahardballtowardspotentialvotershassadlyfallenbythewayside.

80TorontoDailyStar.SamplePuzzleNo.3.May14,195981TheGlobeandMail.PoliticalGamesmanship.January3,195982TheGlobeandMail.MapleLeafsFanPearson.May9,196283TheGlobeandMail.HundredsCheerPearsoninPCStronghold.May26,1962

OneofPearson’sstarcandidatesin1962washockeystarRedKelly.AtCoronationParkinOakville,Ontario,PearsonandKellystagedaphoto-oponthebaseballdiamond.AstagemanagedmomentforthecamerasoccurredwhenKellyandPearsonjusthappenedtodropinontheSt.Dominic’sjuniorteamastheybeganapractice.“TerryHoughton,10,pitchedthreeballs,Mr.Pearsonhitonefly,whichwasdropped,buntedonceintoacrowdofphotographersandwascaughtbythepitcheronthethirdball.”84ThecampaignstopwasasuccessasaphotoofPearsonhittingasKellyplayedcatcher(infullsuits)waspickedupbynewspapersacrossthecountry.ItbecameclearinOakvillethatPearsonwouldnotbemakingthetripbackdowntheQueenElizabethWayintimetoopentheMapleLeafsgame.“IamnotthrowingoutthefirstballinToronto,”hesaid.“Butit’snotwhothrowsoutthefirstball,butwhohitsthelastonethatreallycounts.”85

Pearsonmadeyetanotherstopatabaseballdiamondduringthe’62campaign,thistimeinKingston,Ontario.Hepitchedtolittleleaguersandagainsucceededingettinghispictureinthepapers;whatpoliticaltypescall‘earnedmedia’today.WhenhewasaskedthereabouthiscloserelationshipwithU.S.PresidentJohnKennedy,PearsonrelayedthathehadjustreturnedfromWashingtonwherehemetthePresident.ThemeetingwasanundeniablepoliticalfavourfromKennedy.AreporterthenaskediftheCanadianelectionwasofanyimportancetoWashington.Pearsonreplied,“theelectionisofasmuchconsequenceasthefactthattheWashingtonSenatorshavejustsufferedtheir13thstraightloss.”86ThebaseballbrandedPearsonsucceededindismantlingJohnDiefenbaker’shistoricmajorityin1962,butdidnotwinenoughseatstobecomeprimeminister.Ayearlater,anotherelectionwascalled.1963alsomarkedthemostsignificantyearforbaseballandCanadianprimeministers.BaseballwouldprovetostrengthentherelationshipbetweenCanadaanditslargesttradingpartner,thegamefactoredintoanelectionagain,acertifiablebaseballnutfinallybecameprimeministerandafilmofthePMwatchingaWorldSeriesgamewasdeemedtoopoliticallydamagingtoshowontelevision.84TheGlobeandMail.KellyOutdrawsFastestLiberalGun.May10,196285Ibid.86TheGlobeandMail.CarolinePuzzled.May1,1962

The1963campaignbegan,ofcourse,withmorebaseballmessagingfromLesterPearson.Asusual,thereporterscoveringhiscampaignweremorethanwillingtohelphimbrandishhisbaseballbrand.“ThensomeoneaskedhimabouttheNewYorkMets,thehaplessbaseballteamthathasstartledAmericabywinningafewgamesinthepastweek.Theirstarpitchercomesfrommyconstituency,”Pearsonsaid.“HisnameisKenMacKenzieandhe’swonthreegamesinarow.”87HisbaseballtalkingpointscontinuedinPrinceEdwardIslandwhenhespoketoreportersinSummerside.“Mr.Pearsonaccusedthegovernmentofavoidingdecisionsinanefforttoavoidmakingmistakes.“Idon’tlikeabaseballgamewithnohits,norunsandnoerrors”88headded.AGlobeandMailendorsementnotedPearson’sathleticpast,“amanwhoonceplayedsemi-professionalbaseball,andstillretainsalivelyinterestinallcompetitivesport,doesn'tfitthepictureofascholarloadeddownwithhonours,aNobelPrizewinner.”TheeditorialwentontonotehowPearsongrabbedahandfulofsnowthepreviousday,packedittightly,“rearedbackandpitcheditovertheheadsofthephotographers.”89TheTorontoStarendorsementfromthe’63campaigndidnotshyawayfromportrayingPearsonasabaseballman:

“Pearson’sloveofbaseball,asafanlongafterheceasedtoplay,isthebasisofsongandstoryintheExternalAffairsdepartment.Asheadofthedepartment,Mr.PearsonhadtomakefrequenttripstoEurope.IfthesejourneyshappenedtocoincidewiththeWorldSeries,hewouldsomehowmanagetoarriveatacertaincapitalinEuropewheretheCanadianambassadorcouldalwaysbereliedupontohaveshortwavereceptionofthegames.”90

Pearson’sLiberalswonthe1963election.Afewweeksaftertakingoffice,PearsonwasinvitedtojoinPresidentKennedyathisfamily’ssummerestateinHyannisPort,CapeCod.Thetwomen,acquaintedwitheachotherthankstoaWhiteHousedinnerheldforNobelPrizewinnersin1962,“gotalonglikeschoolboys.”91“ThePresidenthadbeentoldbytheAmericanAmbassador,WaltonButterworth,thatbaseballwasagreathobbyofmine,”Pearsonwroteinhismemoirs.“ThePresidentmayhavetreatedthisinformationsceptically.”WhatfollowedwasacommandperformancebyPearson.“TheWhiteHousePressCorpssaidthey’dneverseenanythinglikeit,”wrotetheVancouverSun.“Pearsontalkedbaseballandradiatedconfidenceandgoodhumour.”92“IsuspectedthatPresidentKennedyhadprimedhisownaide,DavePowers,aboutmybaseballhobby,”Pearsonwrote.“Powerswasfamousforhisstatisticalinfallibilityonbaseball:”93

87TheVancouverSun.PearsonScoresaHomer.May11,196388TheGlobeandMail.PearsonorParalysis,LiberalsNote.March21,196389TheGlobeandMail.StillaReasonableMan.April10,196390TorontoDailyStar.TheBirdView.April22,196391Boyko,John.ColdFire:Kennedy’sNorthernFront.201692TheVancouverSun.PearsonScoresaHomer.May11,196393Pearson,LesterB.MemoirsoftheRightHonourableLesterPearson.Vol3.1972Page101

“WediscussedbattingandearnedrunaveragesbackandforthwithPowersthrowingafewcurvesatme.MyanswersshowedthatIknewsomethingaboutthesport.ThenhementionedagameplayedinDetroittheyearbeforeinwhich,heclaimed,thepitcherhadthrownano-hitterandnonethelesslost,analmostunheardofevent.Iwasabletofillinsomeofthedetails:thepitcherhadnotallowedanyhitsbuthewaspulledintheseventhinning,andthereliefpitcherhadletinthewinningruninthetenth.Powerswasincredulous,soatmyinvitationhesentsomeonetocheck.Iwasprovedrightandmyreputationwasestablishedonceandforallwiththatgroup.”94

Pearson’sreputation,andperhapsCanada’srelationshipwithitslargesttradingpartner,hadagainbeenbolsteredbyMacKenzieofManitoulinIsland.“TheonlyreasonIknewthisparticularlyobscurefact,”Pearsonwrote,“wasthatthereliefpitcher,KenMacKenzie,wasaCanadianwholivedinmyconstituency.Indeed,Ihadhelpedtogethimintoprofessionalbaseball.”95Pearsonwasn'tsureiftheAmericansandtheirPresidenthadbeenimpressedbyhisgrasponNorthAmericanorInternationalAffairs,buthewascertaintheywereimpressedbyhisknowledgeofbaseball.96KennedyandPearsonwentontohave,althoughtragicallybrief,thebestcamaraderiebetweenanyPresidentandprimeministerofthe20thcentury.

94Pearson,LesterB.MemoirsoftheRightHonourableLesterPearson.Vol3.1972Page10195Ibid.Page10196Ibid.Page101

PearsonnotonlyimpressedJohnKennedyandDavePowers,hethoroughlywonovertheAmericanmediaduringhisvisit.Baseballagainplayedarole.TheAPthoughtPearsonhadstolentheshow.97WhenreportersaskedPearsonabouthisbaseballfandom,apparentlyunawarethathesharedaloveoftheRedSoxwithKennedy,Pearsonquippedabouthisnewfoundpositionofpower.“Iwasintheoppositionforalong,longtimeandIdevelopedacertainsympathyfortheunderdog,”recordedjournalistBillGalt.“Thenheflashedawidegrinandadded:“nowI’maYankeefan.”Thepresscorpsroaredwithlaughter.”98Canada’sambassadortotheUnitedStates,CharlesRitchie,thoughtPearson’stripsouthwas“tingedwitheuphoria.”99TheIndianaGazette,ofallpapers,ranasmallblurbabouttheHyannisPortSummit.TheymayhavetakenPearson’sbaseballjokeliterally.“Canada’sPrimeMinisterLesterPearsonis,itturnsout,quiteabaseballfan.HeisafanoftheNewYorkYankees,buttheprimeministerconfidedthatagenerationago,helikedtheBostonRedSox–Kennedy’sfavourite.”100BackinOttawa,theprimeministerwashappytocompeteinthepressgallery-M.P.game.Pearsonbattedleadoff,connectingfor“asolidsmash,”andhelpedtheMembersofParliamentyetagaindefeatthepressbyascoreof9-7.101

97TheVancouverSun.Witty,BusinesslikePearsonStealsShowFromKennedy.May11,196398Ibid.99Boyko,John.ColdFire:Kennedy’sNorthernFront.100TheIndianaGazette.BaseballLureBeyondU.S.Border.May25,1963101LongBranchDailyRecord.AHIT!August5,1963

Halfwaythroughhisterminoffice,PearsonwasaskedbyMaclean’sMagazinewhathewouldbedoinghadpoliticsnotpannedout,“hisambitionhadbeentobecomeamajorleaguebaseballmanager.”102Duringthistime,theLiberalPartyalsoagreedtoallowafilmcrewtodocumentthelifeoftheprimeminister.TheCBCagreedtoairthedocumentaryinprimetime.TheprojectwasconceivedasawaytopromotethePMaheadofthenextelection,insteaditturnedintoapublicrelationsdisasterwithbaseballplayingaveryprominentrole.“AshouldercameraandmicrophonefollowedtheprimeministerfordaysproducingsomeintimateshotsofMr.Pearson’sunguardedmoments.”103OneofthesemomentsincludedPearsonintentlywatchingamid-daybaseballgame.ThefilmshowedPearsonwithhisfeetuponachair,eatinglunchandwatchingaWorldSeriesgameonOctober7,1963.TheYankeeswereplayingtheDodgers.ThesoundsoftheStarSpangledBanner,andlaterVinScully’svoice,couldbeheardechoingthroughtheprimeminister’soffice.WhencabinetministerAllanJMacEachenenteredtospeakwiththePM,Pearsonwasclearlydistractedbythegame,evenapologizingforsuch.Accordingtotheproducerofthefilm,theCBCbroadcastwasscuttledbydisapprovingLiberalstaffers,achargePearsonhadtovigorouslydenyintheHouse.Thenationalbroadcasterstatedthatthefilmdidnotmeetitsstandardsforquality.104Thefilmdidn'tairontelevisionuntilafterPearsonhadleftoffice.Evenwhenitcametimetoretire,Pearsoncouldn'tescapethebaseballbrand.Thistime,itprovidedusalinkbetweenLesterPearson,Canada’sbaseballprimeminister,andShoelessJoe,Canada’sbaseballbook:

“WhenPrimeMinisterLesterPearsonannouncedhewouldretire,oneofthefirsttelegramscamefromNewYorkTimescolumnistJamesReston,whocabled:‘sayitisn’tso,Mike.’PearsonmetRestonherelastnightandthewriteraskedifthePrimeMinisterhadgottentheallusion.RestonsaiditwasthelamentofalittleboytoBabeRuth,whenthehome-runkingannouncedhewashanginguphisspikes.Pearson,anoldbaseballfan,correctedReston:‘It’swhatalittleboysaidtoShoelessJoeJacksonin1919.’”105

“Politicsisn’talwayssporting,”PearsonsaidinanexitinterviewtotheGlobeandMail.“Youknowthemanwhosaid“niceguysfinishlast?”heaskedreporterDickBeddoes.“LeoDurocher?”respondedthescribe.“Yes,Durocher,”continuedtheoutgoingPM,“welltwoyearsafterthathefinishedlast,andhewasgonefromtheDodgers.”106

102TheOttawaJournal.TheUnhappyWarrior.March23,1965103TheWindsorStar.LesterPearson,hisLifeandTimes.December28,1972104Ibid.105TorontoDailyStar.ItWasn’tSo:PearsonPutsRecordStraight.December29,1967106TheGlobeandMail.PearsonOutdistancesHisRivals.April6,1968

JohnMcHale,generalmanagerandvicepresidentofthenewMontrealteamintheNationalLeaguewasthefirsttoofferPearsonaretirementgift.TheTorontoStarreportedthattheformerPrimeMinisterwastobenamedhonourarypresidentoftheMontrealVoyagers.107Whiletheyhadthenamewrong,theywerecorrectonthegig.Amidrumoursin1968thathewouldbetakingovertheWorldBank,LesterPearsonwasnamedhonourarypresidentoftheMontrealExposinstead.Hedidinfacttakearolewiththebanklaterthatyear,butitwasthebaseballjobwhichhementionedtojournalistFrankJones.“Asaboy,Iwantedtogetintobigleaguebaseball,andnowI’mhonourarypresidentoftheMontrealbaseballclub.”108OnApril14,1969,itwasPearson,before25,000fansatJarryPark,whothrewoutthefirstceremonialpitchinExposhistory.Nearertheendofhislife,Pearsonwasstillattendingbaseballgames:

“ThePearsoniansenseofhumourwouldbeondisplayin1970,acoupleofyearsafterhehadleftofficewhenhehadaneyeremovedbecauseofamalignanttumor.PearsonwenttoaMontrealExposgameandmetumpireAlBarlickbeforethecontest.“Howareyou?”askedtheump.“I’mfine,”Pearsonreplied.“ButI’verecentlyhadanoperationthatqualifiesmeforyourbusiness…Ihadmyeyeout.”109

PierreTrudeauwontheleadershipoftheLiberalpartywhenPearsonretired.HeenteredOttawapolitics,“likeastonethroughastainedglasswindow.”110Whileafanofthegamehimself,histrueconnectiontobaseballcameviahispedigree.Trudeau’sfatherCharleswasanunsatisfiedlawyerwhenhelefthispractisein1921tostarttheAutomobileOwnersAssociation.Originallyan alliance between local garage owners (of which he was one), the organization grew andbecametheleadingdistributioncentreofgas,oilandautomotivepartsinQuebec.In1933,theelderTrudeaujoinedwithagroupofinvestorsandboughttheMontrealRoyalsbaseballclub.Trudeaubecameavice-presidentwiththeclub,andat$15,000,heldthelargestownershipstake.ItwaswhilefulfillinghisdutiesasabaseballV.P.thathetravelledtospringtrainingin1935.WhilewatchingtheRoyalspractisenearOrlandoinApril,hecontractedpneumoniaanddiedinhospitalonthe10th.ThegamescheduledbetweentheRoyalsandRochesterRedWingsthateveningwascancelled.“CharliewaslookingforwardtotakinganactivehandinRoyals’doingsthisyear,”saidclub president H.H. Racine. “He hoped to travel with the club. He was delighted with theprospects of the team in camp and was looking forward enthusiastically to a successfulseason.”111

107TorontoDailyStar.MontrealVoyagesIntoBaseball.August14,1968108TorontoDailyStar.I’llBeTraveling.August20,1968109Stewart,J.D.M.BeingPrimeMinister.2018110Donaldson,Gordon.BreakingTheMouldinMaclean’sMagazine.April6,1998111TheMontrealGazette.TrudeauDeathIsShockToDirectorsofLocalBallClub.April11,1935

Beforehisfather’sprematurepassing,ayoungPierreTrudeauwasknownforhisbaseballbonafides.Because“hisfather,Charles,hadaninterestintheMontrealRoyalsoftheInternationalLeague,thoseconnectionsmadetheyoungerTrudeaupopularamongthepriestsatBrébeufCollegeforwhomhecouldsecureticketstogames.”112PierreTrudeauhadn’tbeenleadingintheHouselongbeforehecourtedcontroversy.M.P.DonaldMacInnisaccusedthenewprimeministerofunbecomingbehavior:

“Mr.MacInnisjumpedtohisfeettocomplaintoSpeakerLucienLamoureuxthat‘theprimeministerjustmadethetypeofgesturethatTedWilliamswasexpelledfrombaseballfor.’Mr.Williams,anall-timegreatwiththeBostonRedSox,oncethumbedhisnoseatsomefans,therebydrawingaleaguereprimand.”113

TrudeauwassupposedtovisitanIndigenousreservenearManiwaki,Quebecduringthe’68campaign.Whenfogpreventedhimfromlanding,hepromisedtocomebackinthesummerof’69.OnJune2,flyinginasingleenginepontoonplane,thePrimeMinisterlandedonalakeintheAlgonquinreserve.“ThePrimeMinisterspokefromthetoprowofthebaseballbleachers,”andthentookaturnbehindhomeplate.TheGlobeandMailrecordedhisstatisticsfortheday.“Thefirstpitchjustmanagedtoreachtheplate.Mr.Trudeaumanagedtopopthesecondpitchintotheairjustpastfirstbase.Heswungandmissedonthethirdpitchbuthitthefourthpitchalongthegroundtowardthepitcher.”114DuringatriptoBathurst,NewBrunswickthatsamesummer,Trudeauthrewoutthefirstpitchbeforealittleleaguegame.Heearnedaphotoabovethefoldforhisefforts,and“lookeddetermined”115throwingthepitchaccordingtothescribeintow.Over2,000peoplewitnessedthepitchonthesmall,sandlotdiamond.

112TheOttawaCitizen.AsCanadianasPrimeMinistersandBaseball.March19,2015113TheGlobeandMail.ProtestsGestureofPM.April18,1969114TheGlobeandMail.PorkandBeansinCommunityArena.June2,1969115TheGlobeandMail.TrudeauCrossesSoundBarrieronPlane.May19,1969

1970wouldbeamonumentalyearforPierreTrudeau,andthecountry.AstheOctoberCrisisloomed,TrudeauwentabouthisdutiesasprimeministerwhilevisitingOsaka,JapanforExpo’70.NewsstoriesfocusedonhisescapadesataJapanesedisco,butbaseballdidreceiveareferenceneartheendofbothGlobeandStarstoriesaboutthetrip.“TodayhewasaboardhisCanadianArmedForcesjetforthe320-mileflighttoTokyo.Therehetouredasteelplant,visitedtheCanadianEmbassy,andsawaJapaneseLittleLeaguegame.”116The1972Hillsoftballgamewaswon21-20bytheM.P.AllStars.The1972contestsawcustommadeuniformsandteamnamesmaketheirfirstappearance.Theprimeministerplayedinthegame.By1973,Trudeauhadlosthismajority,butwasonhiswaytoanother,whenhewatchedbutdidnotparticipateintheannualpressvs.memberssoftballgame.TheM.P.AllStarsdefeatedthePPG’s(ParliamentaryPressGallery)byascoreof19-9.117Itwasthe5thstraightvictoryfortheelectedmembers.Justastheyhadin1900,thefriendlyfoessquaredoffonthewestlawnofParliamentHill.Althoughitisneverconsideredassuch,thatParliamentarypatchofgrassdeservesrecognitionasahallowedCanadianbaseballground.Citizens,theirrepresentativesandleadershavebeenplayingbaseballtheresincetheearliestdaysoftheDominion.

116TheGlobeandMail.ARousingCanadaDayAtExpo’70.May28,1970117TheCalgaryHerald.DiscussRules.June14,1973

OnJune5,1975,thefrontpageoftheOttawaCitizencontainedanimageofOppositionLeaderRobertStanfielddroppingasoftballwhileplayingcatcherduringagamebetweenthepressgalleryandtheOppositionLeadersOffice.Thepressdecidedtochallengethegovernmentandoppositionseparatelyin1975.ThephotowasinsetwiththenowinfamousimageofStanfieldfumblingafootballduringthe1974electioncampaign.Undertheheadline“OOPS-AGAIN,”118theclearinferenceofincompetencewasevidenttoall.DanTurner,co-organizerofthegameandmemberofpressgalleryteam,wrotetheCitizenabouttheireditorialchoice.“YouhadapictureonyourfrontpageofRobertStanfieldworthathousandwords,”wroteTurner.“Unfortunately,about700ofthemwerelies.”TurnerdefendedStanfield’sabilityandcriticizedthepaperforrunningaphotoofoneoftheraretimesStanfielddroppedtheball.“Heprobablyranksamongthetop1%of61-year-oldbaseballplayersinthecountry.”119ThepressfinallyregainedtheirwinningwaysonParliamentHill.TheydefeatedtheConservativesbyascoreof19-14.

IncontrasttotheimageoftheStanfieldBlooper,animagebyRodMcIvorofPierreTrudeaufromthatmonth’sLiberalsvs.PressGallerygame,becameaniconicimageoftheprimeminister.Indeed,itistheonlyphotoofhisfatherthecurrentprimeminister,JustinTrudeau,keepsinhisoffice.PierreTrudeauispicturedinadenimjacket,wearingAdidassneakerswithhisExposcapinhand.TheprimeministerplayedinthegamewhichtheM.P.’swonbyascoreof12-9.120118TheOttawaCitizen.OOPS-AGAIN!June5,1975119TheOttawaCitizen.1,000Words.June14,1975120TheGlobeandMail.TheMP’sWon.June20,1975

However,nottobeoutdonebytheCitizen’sStanfieldfumblephoto,TheGlobeandMailranalargeimageofPrimeMinisterTrudeaumissingacatchonitsfrontpagethedayaftertheLiberalsvs.pressgame.121

121TheGlobeandMail.TheMP’sWon.June20,1975

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

THE MPs WON. 12.9The Globe and Mail (1936-Current); Jun 20, 1975; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mailpg. 1

1976sawanofficialendtoM.P.dominanceinthepressgallerygames.Thepresswontheaffairbyalopsidedscoreof10-0.PembinaM.P.PeterElzinga“heardacrack”122makingaplayduringthegameandbrokehisleg.Elzinga’sbustedbonewasaharbingerofthingstocomeforthenear80-yeartraditionofsoftballandbaseballonTheHill.In1977,OppositionLeaderJoeClarkmadethefirstgaffeofhisnascentpoliticalcareer:heaccidentlycancelledthepressvs.M.P.’ssoftballgame.ClarkchosetohostthetraditionalOppositionLeader’sgardenpartyforpressandstaffonthesameeveningasthelongscheduledsoftballgame.“Thereweremixedreactions”amongthepressgallerytotheinvitation.Eventually,“thegamewascancelledindeferencetotheparty.”123Aftereightdecadesofon-again,off-againbattles,therewouldneverbeanotherparliamentariansvs.pressgallerygame.ThingsgotbadfortheCanadianeconomyin1977aswell.Withstagflationsettingin,PrimeMinisterTrudeautooktotheairwavestoaddressthenation.InhisopinioneditorialfortheStar,DaltonCampcomplainedthatthetelevisedaddresswaspre-empting“ThisWeekInBaseball.”124TrudeauwouldatoneforhisTWIBinterferencebymakinghiswaytoExhibitionStadiumforthebeginningoftheTorontoBlueJayssecondseason.OnApril28,1978,theprimeministerthrewouttheceremonialfirstpitchbefore44,000fansataBlueJays/WhiteSoxgame.Heandtwoofhissons,Justin(6)andSacha(4),witnessedthefirsttripleplayinBlueJayshistorywhenChicago’sJuniorMoorebuntedwithtwomenon.Moore’sbuntsailedintothegloveofJayspitcherJimClancywhothenthrewtoJohnMayberryatfirstwhothenrelayedtheballtoLuisGomezatsecond.

122TheCalgaryHerald.People.June30,1976123TheGlobeandMail.JackHornerGetsPlumFromTories.June6,1977124TheTorontoStar.PM’sTVCrisisMostlyFlummeryandPiffle.August8,1978

AfterthegametheTrudeaufamilyvisitedtheBlueJaysclubhouse.WhentheprimeministerenteredmanagerRoyHartsfield’soffice,Hartsfieldhidabottleofbeerunderhisdesk.Afteracordialmeetingwiththeprimeministerialparty,HartsfieldtoldtheGlobe,“ifhebringsusthiskindofluck,perhapsweshouldgetaseason’spassforhim.”125Trudeaureceivedtheofficialline-upcardsfromumpireBillKunkelandtheballusedtocompletethetripleplay.AstheentouragemadetheirwaytotheBlueJayslockerroom,outfielderWillieUpshawgiftedtheTrudeauboyswithjackets,capsandbaseballgloves.Inamovethatmayseemilladvisedfromtoday’sperspective,JustinTrudeau,theningradeone,alsoreceivedsomechewingtobacco.The1979electionbroughtdefeatforTrudeau’sLiberals,butJoeClarkgavethembacktheirmajorityjusttenmonthslater.Upontheirreturn,theTrudeaugovernmentstrovetopresentafiscallyresponsibleimagetothenation.WhenMinisterofStateforMinesJudyErolaletslipthedateofthenextbudget,usuallyacloselyguardedsecret,FinanceDepartmentofficialsweredumbfounded.Notbecauseoftheslip,butbecauseoftheincorrectdate.“Oct21isthedateofthesixthgameoftheWorldSeries,”saidoneFinanceofficialrequestinganonymity.“We’dneverscheduleabudgetforthatnightunlessallwewantedwasourrelativestowatch.”126

ThesquabbleoversportsbettingdoggedtheTrudeaugovernmentasitreturnedtooffice.Inthefallof1981,StarcolumnistMichaelBestlamented“underminingtheworkethicandthecorruptingofyouth,”thatwassuretofollowifCanadianswereallowedtobeton“majorleaguebaseballgames.”127Notonlywasthemoralquandaryofgovernmentsponsoredgamblingbeingdebated,butalsowhichlevelofgovernmentwouldgettobethebookie.OntarioandQuebec,believingthatsportsbettingshouldfillprovincialratherthanfederalcoffers,threatenedtostarttheirownlotteries.Trudeauappealedtothegreatergood,suggestingthatanewfederalsportslotterywouldbeusedtobenefitthewholecountry,byensuringthe’88WinterOlympicsinCalgarywereawell-fundedspectacleofwhichallCanadianscouldbeproud.128

125TheGlobeandMail.TriplePlayandTwoHomersHelpJays.April24,1978126TheGlobeandMail.MP’sBecomeSomeHonourableSalesmen.October6,1980127TorontoStar.LotteryWar:TheGamesPeoplePlay.September19,1981128Ibid.

ThegovernmentfinallypassedabillcreatingaFederalSportsPoolin1984.BowieKuhn,commissionerofbaseball,filedalegalinjunctiontopreventbaseballgamesfrombeingincludedinthescheme.InaninterviewwithHowardCosell,“KuhnindicatedthatiftheCanadianswentaheadwiththeirbettingoperation,itcouldhurttheeffortsofacitylikeVancouverinacquiringateam.‘Itcertainlyisn’tanythingbaseballisgoingtolookonwithmuchfavour,’Kuhnsaid.”129EchoingJudgeLandisinthewakeoftheBlackSox,Kuhncontinued,“itisclearthatifwehadlegalbettingonbaseball…you’regoingtocreatesuspicionaboutourgame.”130ThepresidentsoftheNationalandAmericanleagueswereinvitedtosendlegalrepresentativestoargueMLB’scaseinaMontrealcourtroom.Thecourteventuallyruledthatbecausethepoolwasbasedonsportsscores,itwasatleastpartly,agameofskill,notalottery.131Bettingonbaseballgames(oratleasttheirfinalscores)becamelegalinCanada.

129TorontoStar.KuhnwillsueOttawatoStopBaseballLottery.March25,1984130Ibid.131TheGlobeandMail.SportsPoolUnaffectedbyToryWin.September20,1984

Despitelegalwranglingoverbaseballbets,whentheAll-StargamerolledintoMontrealin1982,“adapperandglib”PierreTrudeauwas“ahit…inhisbrieftalktobaseballpeople.”TheprimeministeraddressedbaseballexecutivesattheCommissionersluncheonthatproceededtheAllStarGameatOlympicStadium:

“Trudeausaidhisfather,atonetimeanexecutiveoftheInternationalLeagueMontrealRoyals,wouldhavebeenproudtoseehimatagatheringofbaseballgreats.‘Ifhehadhischoice,hewouldhavepreferredmetobeanAllStarplayerratherthananinvitedguest.Certainlyifhetookalookatthelineupofbothheadtables,hewouldrealizethatIwouldbethelowestpaidhere–andIdon'thaveanoptionclauseinmycontract.It’stoughtobeaprimeministerinacountrywhenyouknowGaryCartercouldbeelectedtomorrow.Thereare24millionpeopleinCanada.MostofthemareExpofans,therestgoaroundlightingcandlesfortheBlueJays.”132

Theprimeministerhostedthe24thsemi-annualgatheringofPremiersinTorontoduringthesummerof1983.TheformalPremiersConferencewasprecededbyacocktailpartyonaThursdaynightandaFridaydaytimeactivity.Premiersandtheirstaffhadachoicebetween“avisittotheBlueJaysbaseballgameoratheatretriptoStratford.AnoverwhelmingnumberofdelegatesoptedfortheBlueJays.”133Neartheendofhiscareerandintoretirement,Trudeaucontinuedtoattendbaseballgameswithhissons.

132TheGlobeandMail.GlibPMRegalesAll-StarsWithHumorousBarbs.July14,1982133TheGlobeandMal.OldHandsComeTogetherat24thPremiers’Meeting.August8,1983

AsitbecameclearthePierreTrudeauwouldnotre-offerasLiberalleaderin1984,havingbeenprimeministerformostofthepreviousdecadeandahalf,someeditorialistengagedinhagiographyforthedepartingprimeminister.GeoffreyStevens,inaGlobepieceheadlined“PM,PeteRose,StillSwinging,”comparedTrudeau’slongevitytothatofCharlieHustle,andthrewinsomestatisticsforgoodmeasure.“15yearsisalongtime.In1968,afterall,PeteRosewontheNationalLeaguebattingchampionshipwitha.335average.Ifhe’slostasteportwo,whohasn’t?”134JohnGraywentonebetterbynotonlypraisingTrudeaubutalsothrowinghispoorpoliticalopponentunderthebus,JoeClarkwas“skinnyandawkward.Alwayslasttobepickedforabaseballteam,asheadmits.”135In1986,twoyearsafterTrudeauleftoffice,LiberalpowerbrokerandSenatorKeithDaveyreleasedhismemoirs.In“Rainmaker,”DaveyrecountedawonderfulTrudeaurelatedbaseballanecdote:

“InMayof1980,GeorgeSteinbrenner,owneroftheNewYorkYankees,determinedtohonourCanada’spartinthereleaseofsomeoftheU.S.hostagesinIran,declaredMay30asCanadaDayatYankeeStadium.TheguestofhonourwastohavebeenPrimeMinisterTrudeau,buthewasveryawareofmypassionforbaseballandsuggestedIrepresentthegovernmentofCanada.AtareceptionthefollowingweekinOttawa,Trudeauhappeneduponagroupofusdiscussingmybaseballexcursion.TherewerecountlessreferencestotheYankee’sReggieJacksonwhom,tomydelight,Ihadmet.Theprimeministersaid,“allIhearaboutthesedaysisReggieJackson.Whoisheanyway?”‘Well,primeminister,’Ireplied,‘youshouldknowbecausenottoomanyweeksagoIwascommentingonaGalluppollandIcalledyouourReggieJackson.’‘Iknow,’saidtheprimeminister,‘butwhoishe?’‘Primeminister,heisabaseballplayer.’‘Anygood?’heasked.‘Yeah,he’sasuperstar.’‘Thenthat’sallright,’saidTrudeau.”136

Neartheend,themanwhowasraisedbyabaseballexecutive,foundhimselfsurroundedlikeabigleaguestar.In1998,“Mr.Trudeau’sappealremained.AtaneventorganizedbythemagazineCiteLibre,editorMoniqueNemnisawteenagersswarmaroundMr.Trudeau,evenaskinghimtoautographbaseballgloves.‘Theyweretellinghim,‘ourparentstoldusaboutyou.’”137InthebriefperiodbetweenTrudeauterms,JoeClarkoccupied24Sussex.The39-year-oldPMwasbesetwithimageproblems.Theworstofwhichhappenedtobethemedia’sinsistenceonremindingpeoplethatnobodyseemedabletorememberwhohewas.AsClarkwrappedupapre-writrallynearToronto’sFortYork,theStarnotedthatpeopleleavingtheBlueJaysgameupthestreetweremillingamonghissupporters.“OutsidethePrince’sGates,JustinMichel,9,wasaskedifheknewwhoJoeClarkwas.‘No,’hesaid.‘DoesheplayfortheJays?”138134TheGlobeandMail.PM,PeteRose,StillSwinging.June25,1983135TheGlobeandMail.DeterminedToKeepHisJob.Jan22,1983136TorontoStar.Rainmaker.September18,1986137TheGlobeandMail.HeEnthralledUsAll.September29,2000138TorontoStar.ClarkRoastsTrudeauatToryBarbecue.June29,1978

Interviewedaboutthephenomenonofhis“Okay,BlueJays”noveltysong,co-writerTonyKosinectoldtheStar,“weheardthatJoeClarkusedpartofitforhiscampaignsong.Butmaybeweshouldn’tsaythat.Imean,helost.”139Duringthe1979electioncampaign,Clarkwascriticizedforhislackofbaseballawareness.“Psst…JoeClarkwasinTorontoyesterday.Don’tbesurprisedifyoumissedhim,”wrotepoliticalreporterJohnHonderich.“Whydidn'thegotothePearsonCupbetweenCanada’stwomajorleaguebaseballteamsandcashinonthenationalTVcoverage?Itmakesyouwonder.”140WhenBobbyMattickwashiredastheBlueJaysnewmanager,sportswriterRobertMacLeodcouldn'thelpbuttakeashotatthesittingprimeminister.Undertheheading,“BobWho?,”MacLeodwrote,“TheTorontoBlueJaysnewmanagermaybejoiningJoeClarkasCanada’sbestknown‘who?’”141Asmightbeexpectedgivensuchcoverage,evenconservativeslikeDaltonCampusedtermsofdoomandgloomwhendescribingClark.Inthiscase,adoomedpitcher:“BillDavis(PremierofOntario)bearswithhimthebesttalentsofthebestreliefpitcherinbaseball,”wroteCamp.Ontheotherhand,“Clarkistiring,hisleadendangered,heneedsafiremanfortheTorycause.”142Andjustashisgardenpartyhadoncecausedafatalconflictforthepressvs.M.P.’ssoftballgame,Clarkagainranintoabaseballschedulingsnafuduringhisshortrunasprimeminister.“ForprimeministerJoeClark’sTories,it’snotjustanotheropeningofParliament”andaccompanyinggrandball–“it’shistoryinthemaking,”wrotePaulineKing.“ButiftheMontrealExposwintheNationalLeaguepennantandaplaceintheWorldSeries,thepompandceremonyonParliamentHillonOctober9maybesmotheredinbaseballfever.Forthe280M.P.’swhowillbepresent,mostofthemwithspousesintow,itmaybeatoughchoicebetweentheballandtheballgame.”143WhenCanadianshadachoice,theyputJoeClarkbackontheoppositionbenches.

139TorontoStar.TheyWroteASongFitForAChampion.July30,1983140TorontoStar.JoeClarkGetsTheSoftSell.April20,1979141TheGlobeandMail.BobWho?October19,1979142TheGlobeandMail.AToughPitcherToTag.January22,1980143TheGlobeandMail.BallGameorBall.September27,1989

JohnTurnerwasthenextcaretakerPrimeMinister.WhilehewascampaigninginBritishColumbiainAugustof1984,heofficiallymadebaseball,oratleastthepursuitofit,partofhisplatform.“AlthoughheofferedfewspecificsofhowaLiberalgovernmentwouldboostBritishColumbia’ssaggingfortunes,Mr.TurnerdidsayhewouldhelpMr.Harcourt(PremierofB.C.)tolureamajorleaguebaseballfranchisetoVancouver.144Turnerwastrouncedbytheelectoratethatfall,butashepreparedtoresigntheofficeofPrimeMinister,heheldonelastcaucusmeetinginOttawa.HisForeignAffairsMinister,JeanChrétien,usedtheExpostoputtheparty’splightinperspective.“Liberalsshouldnotfeeldisappointedabouttheelectiondebacle.Chrétiennotedthepartyhadwonsixofthelasteightelections.‘IftheExposhaddoneaswell,wewouldbemuchhappierinMontreal.’”145TheConservativeswonbackgovernmentonthestrengthoftheirnewleaderBrianMulroney.Byearly1985hisgovernmenthadalreadymovedtokillthefederalsportspoolwhichhadcausedsuchariftbetweenMLBandtheCanadiangovernment.Therightsandrevenuesofsportsgamblingweretransferredtotheprovinces.Itwasalsoannouncedin1985thattheprovincialbettingpoolinOntariowouldprovide$30milliontowardsthe$130millioncostofanewdomedstadiuminToronto.OntarioPremierBillDavispersonallycalledPrimeMinisterMulroneytoseekfederalassistancefortheproject.Mulroney’sgovernmentagreedthatCanadianNational(CN),theCrownCorporationwhichownedthelandonwhichthestadiumwastobebuilt,woulddonatelandandcontributeroughly$30milliondollarstotheproject.146WhentheBlueJaysmadetheirfirstappearanceintheAmericanLeagueChampionshipSeriesthatfall,PrimeMinisterMulroneywastheretothrowoutthefirstpitchforthefirstofsuchgamestobeplayedinCanada.Afewweeksbeforethatnewdomedstadiumwouldopen(literally),theCanadianBaseballHallofFamehosteditsannualdinnerattheWestinHarbourCastleindowntownToronto.WhiteyFord,WillieMays,MickeyMantleandDukeSniderattended.PrimeMinisterMulroneysatwiththematthetableofhonouredguests.147

144TheGlobeandMail.WestWouldBePoliticalFocusUnderNewRegime.August2,1984145TheTorontoStar.LiberalsToGive‘Real’OppositionTurnerPledges.September13,1984146TheGlobeandMail.SiteCloseToCNTowerSelectedForStadium.January18,1985147TheGlobeandMail.JaysLandedBlueChipperAccordingToFormerYankee.May2,1989

Theopeningofthe1990seasonsawafirstforbaseball.Theceremonialfirstpitchwouldbethrownoutbytheheadsofgovernmentfromtwodifferentcountries.BrianMulroneyandGeorgeH.W.Bushwouldsharethemound,ormoreaccuratelybecauseofsecurityconcerns,thethirdbaseline,forthesimultaneousopeningpitches.FansnoticedtheheightenedsecurityuponenteringthebrandnewSkyDome.Thesecretservicehadincreasedsecuritymeasuresandplacedplainclothedofficersthroughoutthestadium.148Mulroneyrememberedhisreceptionformthe50,000faithfulinhismemoirs:

“Asexpected,Iwasgivenanawfulraspberrybythecrowd.Afterwards,membersoftheAmericanmediacoveringtheeventaskedmehowIfelthearingallthebooswithGeorgeBushbymyside.WithasmileItoldthemIfeltasashamedasanyotherCanadiantoseeavisitingPresidentoftheUnitedStatestreatedinsuchamanner!”

MulroneyandBushheldanotherreunionatSkyDomethefollowingseason.Thistimearound,theBlueJayswerehostingthe1991AllStarGame.ThetwoleadersusedtheirmutualpresenceattheballparktoholdaformalmeetingtodiscusstheupcomingG7summitinLondon.DubbedtheAll-StarSummit,(thepreviousmeetingbeinglabelledtheHotDogSummit),bothmenandtheirentouragesmetintheSkyDomehotelfor45minutesbeforeappearingbeforethecamerasinajointpressconference.“Thisisanightforbaseball,”149declaredPresidentBushatthepresser.Hewasn’tkidding.PoliticsplayednopartintheAllStarGame.Itwas“thefirstbaseballgameplayedanywhereatwhichthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesandthePrimeMinisterofCanadawerepresentandnotintroducedtothefans.”150Thedecisiontokeepbothmensafelyintheirluxuryboxwasmadeoutofafearofboos.Indeed,inthefollowingAmericanandCanadiangeneralelections,BushlostthepresidencywhileMulroney’spartywasreducedtojusttwoseats.

148TheGlobeandMail.SecurityatSkyDomeTightForBush’sBaseballVisit.April9,1990149TheTorontoStar.CheerfulLeadersHaveAllStarFun.July10,1991150TheTorontoStar.BaseballExecutivesStrikeOutInPoliticalGames.July14,1991

Mulroney’stimeinofficecametoanendinthesummerof1993.ThisallowedhimtobethefirstprimeministertocongratulateaCanadianbasedWorldSerieschampion.Givenhispoliticalcapitalatthetime,itisperhapsnosurprisethateventhisgesturewasmetwithcontroversy.“ThistriumphisadreamcometrueforBlueJaysplayersandfansalikeandistheculminationofmanyyearsofplanningeffortbythecoachingstaffandmanagement,”Mulroneysaidinastatement.151HealsoinvitedtheteamtovisitheandtheGovernorGeneralinOttawa.GrantFuhr,whowonfivechampionshipswiththeEdmontonOilers,toldtheGlobeandMailthatheandhisteammateshadneverbeenextendedsuchanhonour.HeaddedthathisonlyinteractionwithMulroney’sgovernmentwaswhenRevenueCanadasenthimanassessmentononeofhistaxablebenefits:aStanleyCupring.152LiberalLeaderJeanChrétienhadafundraiserscheduledduringgamefourofthe1992WorldSeries.TheLiberalssetuptwogiantscreensandalloweddonorstowatchthegames.Chrétienwassuretofinishhisremarksatthe$300perplatedinnerbeforethefirstpitchwasthrown.153ThecelebrationfortheBlueJayswasatrulyunprecedentedaffair.TheteamwouldvisitboththePresidentoftheUnitesStatesinWashingtonandthePrimeMinisterofCanadaandtheGovernorGeneralinOttawaonthesameday.21JaysplayersmadethetriptheWhiteHouseandthenflewtoRideauHall.“GoingtotheWhiteHouse,comingtoOttawa,it’ssomethingthatI’llneverforget”saidJayssluggerJoeCarter.EvenKellyGruber,DaveStiebandPatTabler,allnolongerBlueJays,attendedbothceremonies.RobertoAlomar,PatBordersandDaveWinfieldwerenoticeablyabsent.TheBlueJaysweredescribedinOttawabyGovernorGeneralRayHnatyshynas“thegreatestgroupevertocomeoutonabaseballfield.”154Thatcommentwasmetwithderisionbysome,includingGlobecolumnistJeffreySimpson,butashistorianJohnThornargues;generallyspeaking,currentplayersintheirprimeareundoubtedlysuperiortothoseofthepast,soitmayhavebeenatruestatementinDecemberof1992.151TheTorontoStar.45,000WhoopItUpAtDome.October25,1992152TheGlobeAndMail.HavingABallAtThePublicTrough.December18,1992.153TheTorontoStar.YesVoteWon’tAidThePM:Chrétien.October22,1992154TheGlobeandMail.SomeJaysvisitBush,Mulroney.December17,1992

OneofMulroney’slastactsforCanadaontheworldstagewastovisitnewlyelectedU.S.PresidentBillClintonandshoreupthenascentNorthAmericanFreeTradeAgreement.Themeeting,whichwasmoretensethanthepreviousBush-Mulroneyaffairs,openedwithajokeaboutbaseballatthejointpressconferenceheldattheWhiteHouse.“ItisworthnotingthattheUnitedStatesandCanadasharetheworld’slongestundefendedborderandwehaven’thadabattlebetweenussincetheWarof1812,”openedPresidentClinton.“Havingsaidthat,PrimeMinister,IwilltellyouthatIlookforwardtowinningbacktheWorldSeries.”155

155TheGlobeandMail.PM,ClintonAgreeGenerally,ButNotEntirely.February6,1993

BillClintonwouldhavetowaitforthatWorldSeriesofcourse.ThefollowingyeartheTorontoBlueJaysrepeatedasworldchampions.The1993WorldSeriescoincidednicelywiththe1993federalelection.AsKimCampbellcampaignedasCanada’sfirstfemaleprimeminister,ColumnistCarolGoarpraisedhervigoronthehustings.“CampbellhasaccomplishedeverythingthatConservativestrategistshopedshewoulddo–andmore–inthepasteightweeks.Shehaskissedbabies,tossedbaseballsandjokedaboutthesizeofherderriere.”156Infact,itwasacampaignstopatabaseballfieldwhichturnedouttobeoneofthebrightestdaysonanotherwiseill-fatedCampbellcampaign.ThediamondatHeatherParkFieldwasahubofbaseballactivityinPrinceGeorge,B.C.Campbellwasscheduledtostopattheparkfortwentyminutes.Insteadshespentmorethantwohoursamongstthe14and15-year-oldballplayersandtheirfamilies.Campbellplayedcatch,watchedthefinalsoftheBabeRuthProvincialchampionshipsandbaskedinthepositiveenergyandmediacoverage.157WhenCampbelllosttheelectiontoChrétien’sLiberalsjusttwodaysafterJoeCarterwalked-offtheWorldSeries,editorialcartoonistBruceMackinnonoftheHalifaxHeraldcouldnotresistconflatingthecurrentevents.HesketchedanimageofCampbell,abeleagueredpitcheronthemound,wearingMitchWilliams“wildthing”jersey,watchingtheelectoralballgooverthefence.

JeanChrétienwasacompetitiveperson.Hislifewasfilledwithchallenges,contestsandlongodds.Itisnosurprisethenthatthe20thPrimeMinisterofCanadaplayedcompetitivesportsfromanearlyage.Chrétiengrewuptheself-described“runtofthelitter,”the18thof19thchildrenintheindustrialtownofShawinigan,Quebec.“Becauseitwasatoughneighbourhood,thekidsoftenheldtestsofenduranceandstrength,”wroteChrétienbiographerLawrenceMartin.“Despitehissmallsize,Chrétienorganizedthemandgaveoutthegrades.Whenthekidsplayedhockey,Chrétienassumedtheroleofmanager,coachandcaptain.Forbaseball,itwasthesame.”158

156TheTorontoStar.TheEasyPolitickingIsOver.August21,1983157PrinceGeorgeCitizen.SignOfTheTimes.July23,2014158Martin,Lawrence.Chrétien.1995.Page18

HisolderbrotherMauricewasChrétien’sidol.Hewas‘tall,strongandaggressive,andhelovedbaseball,”wrotejournalistJaneTaber.“ItwasbaseballthathadpromptedhimtolearnEnglish.HisfatherhadtakenhimonatriptotheUnitedStateswhenhewas12.Somechildrenwereplayingbaseballandhedesperatelywantedtojoin,buthecouldnotspeakEnglish.”159ChrétiensawMauriceasafatherfigureandadoptedhisloveofbaseball.HeplayedlocallyinShawiniganasachildandbecameobsessedwiththeMajorLeagues.“Heplayedallsportsbutwascrazyaboutbaseball,”wroteMartin.“hecloselyfollowedthemajorleagues,memorizingthenamesandnumbersofeveryplayeroneveryteam.”160WhentheboysinShawinigangottogethertoplaybaseball,JeanChrétien“wasthecaptaineventhoughhewasn’tmuchofaplayer.”161In1954,atage20,histeamwonthelocalbaseballchampionship.

Nineyearsaftertheamateurbaseballtitle,hewaselectedtoParliament.ChrétienusedhisbaseballknowledgeandproficiencytomoveupthepoliticalladderwithinLesterPearson’sCabinet.“LesterPearson’sgreatambitioninlifewastobeaprofessionalbaseballplayer,”ChrétientoldTVOin2013.“InthosedayswehadanannualsoftballgamebetweentheM.P.’sandthepressgallery.IpitchedfortheM.P.’steam.Pearsonwasthemanager.Wewonthegame,andthatwasthedayIearnedmyseatinthecabinet.”162

159TheGlobeandMail.BrotherAndFatherFigureToPrimeMinisterDies.November30,2002160Martin,Lawrence.Chrétien.1995.PhotoInsert161TheGlobeandMail.ChrétienAndHisDecade.November1,2003162Paikin,Steve.FiftyYearsAgoThisWeek,LesterPearsonBecamePrimeMinister.April10,2013accessedvia:https://www.tvo.org/article/fifty-years-ago-this-week-lester-pearson-became-prime-minister-part-i

ChrétienmayhaveplayedhiswayintoPearson’scabinet,butitwashisfolksy,underdogcharm,trademarkbrokenEnglishandstreakof11straightelectionvictorieswhichbroughthimtothetopofCanadianpolitics.The‘LittleGuyFromShawinigan,’eitheratruereflectionofChrétienhimselforacarefullycraftedpoliticalpersona,wasformedinLegionhallsandrestaurantkitchensfromoneendofthecountrytotheother.In1970hewasPierreTrudeau’sMinisterofJusticewhenacabinetretreatwasorganizedbyCapeBretonpoliticalgiantAllanJMacEacheninIngonish,NovaScotia.VoterstherewhogreetedthefuturePMchastisedChrétienfornevervisitingtheirremotefishingvillageonBaySt.Lawrence:

“SothenextnightImadethetriptothevillageinquestion.TheygavemeareceptionIwillneverforget.Whilewewereeating,atelevisionstationwasbroadcastingaWorldSeriesbaseballgame(Orioles/Reds),andeveryonehadaneyeonit.Suddenlyatorrentialrainpoureddownonthevillage,andthepowerwentout.Thegamewasbeinghotlycontested,andthesportsfanswereverydisappointed.Someonecameupwithabattery-operatedradioandtunedinastationtocatchtherestofthegame.ButtheonlystationhefoundwasdescribingthegameinFrenchfromIlesdelaMadeleine.Andsotheministerofjusticeinstantlybecameasportscommentator,asIwastheonlyfrancophoneintheroomwhocouldunderstandanddescribeinEnglishwhatwasgoingonintheWorldSeries.”163

Adecadelater,ChrétienfoundhimselfenmeshedinConstitutionaltalkswithrepresentativesoftheprovinces.TheTorontoStarnotedthatChrétien’sgaitwasanindicatorofhowwellthetalksweregoingbetweenthefedsandpremiers.“Whenthingsaregoinghisway,thechieffederalnegotiatorpracticallybouncesacrossthefloor,”reportedPaulGessell.“Whenthedayhasbeenparticularlytough,thewalkbecomesmoreofalimp.LastweekinToronto,Mr.Chrétiendidalotoflimping.164Worndownbythetwelvehourdaysofmorning,afternoonandeveningmeetings,ChrétienturnedtoaBrewersvs.BlueJaysgameforsolace.“Headmitted,somewhatguiltilylastweek,thathehadskippedaneveningsessioninTorontoandwatchedatelevisedbaseballgameinstead.”165BythetimeanupdatedConstitutionwassafetyensconcedinCanada,PierreTrudeaugotthecredit.YetitwasJeanChrétien,accordingtotheGlobe,whodidmostofthehardwork.166

163Chrétien,Jean.MyStories,MyTimes.2018.Pg.181164TheGlobeandMail.Chrétien’sWalkGoodBarometerofConstitutionalTalks.July22,1980165Ibid.166Ibid.

Whenthe35thgeneralelectionwascalledin1993,Chrétienwasheavilyfavouredtowin.Perhaps,fittingly,thebaseballGodsconspiredtoallowthewrittodropsquarelyovertheBlueJaysAmericanLeagueChampionshipandWorldSeriestriumphs.OnOctober9,asThanksgivingkickedoff,theWhiteSoxbeattheJays7-4atSkyDome.Chrétienwasinattendance.“IhavenodoubttheBlueJaysaregoingtowinthewholething,”ChrétiencorrectlypredictedtotheStar.Butitwasthepredictionofanotherfanwhichtooktopbillinginthestory.“Ifhavingthepossibleprimeministerintheircornerisn’tenough,theBlueJaysalsohaveGodontheirsideaccordingtoSisterChristina.TheFeliciannun,afixtureatmanyhomegames,predictedtheWhiteSoxaredonelikedinner–Thanksgivingdinnerofcourse.”167

Beforehisfirstyearasprimeministerwasover,majorleaguebaseballwasengagedinitsmostbitter,prolongedanddamaginglabourdispute.Intheaftermathofthe1994WorldSeriescancellation,U.S.PresidentBillClintontookextraordinarystepstoendtheimpasse,tablingabillinCongresswhichwouldforcearbitrationbetweenthetwosides.CouldBlueJaysandExposfanscountonthesamekindofsupportfromtheirleader?“AspokespersonforPrimeMinisterJeanChrétiensaidCanada’stopgunwon’tgetdrawnin.‘ButwedowishPresidentClintoneverysuccess.’”168

167TheTorontoStar.TimeforJaystoTalkTurkey.October10,1993168TheTorontoStar.CongressWaryofInterventioninBaseballLabourRowFebruary9,1995

Butdrawninhewouldbe.ClaudeBrochu,presidentoftheMontrealExpos,asupporteroftheprimeminister,lobbiedthefederalgovernmenttochangeitsstrikebreakingregulations.ItmaybetheonlyinstanceofCanadianlawbendingforbaseball.PrevioustotheBrochuintervention,CanadianlabourlawstatedthatarosterofstrikingCanadianworkerscouldnotbereplacedbyforeignworkers.169WhenMLBdecidedtousereplacementplayers,mostlyAmericanswhowouldbegintheirjobsinFloridaandthenmoveintorolespreviouslyfilledby“Canadians”(definedinlawasthoseworkingpermanentjobsinCanada,ratherthanCanadiancitizens),PaulCavalluzo,theCanadianlawyerrepresentingtheplayersunion,warnedofthecominglegalbreach.Ratherthanwritenewlegislationoramendanexistinglabourlaw,Chrétien’sgovernmentinsteadannounceditwouldnotenforceitsownregulation.ReplacementworkerswouldbegrantedWorkVisa’s.WhenitwasannouncedthatstrikebreakerswouldbeallowedtowearExposuniformsinOlympicStadium,theplayersunionandtheirlawyerwere“irate.”170“IguesswecancallittheBrochuamendment,”Cavalluzosaid.“Isupposeifyou’reaninfluentialLiberalinMontrealyoucangetalmostanythingyouwantthesedays.ButI’veneverinmylifeseenalawsoclearlytailoredforoneperson.”171TheBlueJaysdidn'tbotherpetitioningthefederalgovernment.“TorontoisbarredfromusingreplacementsbyOntarioprovinciallaw.”172TheJaysplannedtoplayalloftheirhomegamesinDunedin,Florida.

Asbaseballresolveditsmajorcrisis(withoutreplacements)Chrétien’sgovernmentwasleftwrestlingwithCanada’smassivedebt.Inordertobalancethebooks,fundingcutswereissuedtomanygovernmentprogramsandservices.ThiscostChrétiensomeofhispopularity,andin1997hecamewithinjustfourseatsoflosinghismajoritygovernment.Bymid1998,hewasalsobeingheavilycriticizedforjokingaboutorderingtheRCMPtopeppersprayprotestors.SoataLiberaleventthatyear,Chrétienturnedtobaseballtoexplainhisrecentslumpinthepolls.“PrimeMinisterChrétieninvokedbaseballsluggerMarkMcGwire’ssummertimeslumplastnightashetriedtoextricatehimselffromthecontroversyoverhisrecentcomments:”

“Hetoldtheaudienceof1,500thatthemediawerewritingoffMr.McGwireinJulyafterhewentthroughatwo-weekperiodinwhichhestoppedhittingtheballoutofthepark.‘Canhemakeit?Doeshehavewhatittakes?Didheeverhavewhatittakes?Soundsfamiliardoesn’tit,’Mr.Chrétiensaid.”173

169TheTorontoStar.FedsGiveExposOkayForFill-Ins.March2,1995170Ibid.171Ibid.172TheTorontoStar.BaseballActionNotOnTheField.March2,1995173TheGlobeandMail.ChrétienSaysSlumpJustTemporary.November3,1998

Chrétienwouldgoontoargueinhisspeechthatnoprimeministercanhitahomeruneverytime.“Sometimesprimeministerscompletelymisstheball.”174ChrétienconcludedthatlikeMcGwire,hisslumpwasonlytemporary.“Letmetellyousomething.Formetherearealotmoreseasonstoplay.Alotmorehomerunstohit.Alotmorerecordstobreak.Andladiesandgentlemen,alotmorevictoriestowin.”175Hespokethetruth.McGwireandandrostenedionewouldgoontobreakRogerMaris’singleseasonhomerunrecord,whileChrétienandhisLiberalswerereturnedtopowerwithamajoritygovernmentin2000.UnfortunatelyforExposfans,ChrétienwouldneveragainbendtothewillofMontrealbaseballmanagement.WhentheQuebecgovernmentcamepetitioningforballparkcash,Chrétienturnedthemaway.Notinghisgovernment’srefusaltobailoutstrugglinghockeyteams(theJetsandNordiquesoftheNHL),ChrétiensaidtheExposwouldbedealtwithinkind.“We’renotinthebusinessofhelpingsportsteamsatthistime.It’sacommercialenterprise.”176AsithadwhenLesterPearsonimpressedJohnKennedy,orwhenBrianMulroneypitchedwithGeorgeH.W.Bush,baseballagainservedasbondbetweenCanada’sprimeministerandthePresidentoftheUnitedStates.Exceptthistime,insteadofcollegialgoodtimes,thegamewasaskedtosootherelationsbetweentheneighbours.GeorgeW.BushhadobliviouslycommentedaboutCanadianprimeminister“JeanPoutine”duringhiselectioncampaign.Itwaslaterdiscoveredthataftermeetingtheprimeminister,BushandhisstaffreferredtoChrétienas“thedinosaur.”Bush,theconservative,andChrétien,theliberal,simplydidnotagreeonmuch.Whenitcametimetobreaktheice,itwasabaseballbatdoingthesmashing:

“Baseballwasabigtopicyesterdaywhentheleadersofthetwocountrieswiththeworld’slargesttradingrelationshipheldtheirfirstpost-electionconversation.U.S.President-electGeorgeW.BushknowsafairdealaboutCanada,saidPrimeMinisterChrétien,becausehetravelledtoTorontoforbaseballgameswiththeteamheonceowned.Mr.Chrétiensaidhejokedabouttherecord$252-millioncontracttheRangersjustsignedwithshortstopAlexRodriguez.‘WemadealittlecalculationthatitwouldtakealongtimeforhimandItomakethatmuchmoney.Ithinkitis500yearsofwork.HetoldMr.BushthatformerprimeministerLesterPearsononcemesmerizedformerpresidentJohnF.Kennedywithhisbaseballminutiae.”177

174TheGlobeandMail.ChrétienSaysSlumpJustTemporary.November3,1998175Ibid.176TheGlobeandMail.OttawaRefusestoHelpExpos.March2,1999177TheGlobeandMail.ChrétienChatsAboutBaseballinCalltoBush.December15,2000

Despitetheirpoliticaldifferences,Chrétienconsideredhis“personalrelationswithGeorgeW.Bushtobeverycordial.”178Chrétienwrote,“IwastheonlypersonofalltheG8leaderswhocouldtalkbaseballwithhim.”179Asagestureoftheirfriendship,whenChrétienretired,Bushsenthimasignedbaseballbat.ThebatwasdisplayedaspartofanexhibitonChrétien’slifeattheShawiniganMuseum.

ChrétienwasupstagedbyapoliticalrivalatareceptionfornewU.S.AmbassadorPaulCelucciin2001.Whentalkturnedtobaseball,Celucciaskedhisassembledguestsifanyoneknewthenameofthelastpitchertothrowback-to-backno-hitters.Theprimeminister,onceabaseballsavantinhisyouth,wasbeatentothepunchbyBlocQuebecoisleaderGillesDuceppe.“HepitchedforCincinnati,”Duceppebegan,“1940’s…JohnVandermeer.”Celucci,impressed,toldthecrowdthatGeorgeW.Bushwasn'tabletoanswerthesamequestion.180InAprilof2001,QuebecCityhostedtheSummitoftheAmericas.PresidentBushlandedatJeanLesageAirportandhadhisfirstmeetingwithChrétienbeforeevendisembarkinghisplane.WhileaboardAirForceOne,ChrétienandBushhadwhatwasdescribedasatense35-minutemeeting.ItwasmostlycontentiousbecauseofsoftwoodlumberandaU.S.banonP.E.I.potatoes.However,notevenbaseballtalkcouldlightenthemoodthistime.WhenChrétienbroughtupthestrugglestheExposwerehavingandtherumoursofasecret-dealtomovetheteamtoD.C.(perhapsapoliticalmaneuveraimedatvotersinMontreal,sinceBushwaspowerlesstohelptheExposinanyway)thePresidentessentiallycalled‘NosAmours’afarmteam.“BushtoldChrétientheExposproduceamultitudeofgood,youngprofessionalbaseballplayerswho,onceestablished,inevitablymovetoU.S.teams.’”181Chrétiendideventually,onepresumesjokingly,usebaseballasathreatduringthesoftwooddiscussion.“Iknowabitaboutbaseball,soIsaidto[Bush],‘Ifyoudon'twanttobuyoursoftwoodanymore,Iwillstopsellingyouourhardwood.YouknowthebestbaseballbatsaremadewithlumberfromtheareaaroundOttawa?Whatifyourhittersstoppedhittinghomeruns?’”182Laterthatweek,ChrétienhimselfchairedaNationalSportsSummit.Thegatheringofamateurcoachesandathletesaimedtoaddresstheissueofdecliningyouthparticipationrates,especiallyonschoolsportsteams.ItwasarguedatthesummitthathighschoolsportsplayedamajorroleindevelopingathletesintoOlympians.WhileservingasChair,Chrétienofferedhissupportforthe2008TorontoOlympicbid183andcommittedhisgovernmenttofundingtheconstructionofsportingfacilities,includingbaseballdiamonds,onIndigenousreserves.TheGlobenotedthatBeardy’sReserve,northofSaskatoon,hadusedpreviousfederalmoneytoinvestinmultiplebaseballfacilities.184

178Chrétien,Jean.MyStories,MyTimes.2018.Pg.193179TheTorontoStar.GiftsTellStoryofChrétien’sReign.April14,2012180TheTorontoStar.BaseballFans.June4,2001181TheTorontoStar.Bush,PMDiscussTradeDisputes.April21,2001182https://www2.mystfx.ca/political-science/reflections-my-years-prime-minister183TheTorontoStar.SadSituation.April27,2001.184TheGlobeandMail.GovernmentHasAmbitiousPlanstoOverhaulSport.April27,2001

In2003,theUnitedStatesinvadedIraq.JeanChrétienandhiscabinetdecidedthatwithoutaU.N.mandate,theCanadianForceswouldnotparticipateinOperationIraqiFreedom.ItmarkedthefirsttimeindecadesthatCanadaandtheUnitedStateshadnotbeenfriendlyregardingforeignaffairs.PrimeMinisterChrétienandPresidentBushdidnotspeakforthreemonths.BushcancelledaplannedStateVisittoOttawa.Whenitwastimetobreaktheimpasse,Chrétienpickedupthephone:

“ItisrareforaCanadianprimeministerandU.S.Presidenttogosolongwithouttalking,giventheclosemilitaryandeconomiclinksbetweenthecountries.Mr.Chrétien’scallbroketheice.“Wetalkedaboutalotofthings,includingbaseball,”Mr.Chrétiensaid.Mr.Bushisanavidbaseballfan.Mr.Chrétienjokedaboutplayers’highsalariesinhisveryfirstconversationwithMr.Bush.”185

Thesoftwooddisputewouldberesolved,hurtfeelingsoverIraqwoulddissipate,andtherelationshipbetweenCanadaandtheUnitedStateswouldeventuallyreturntonormal.ChrétienretiredinNovemberof2003andwassucceededbyPaulMartin,ashippingmagnate,sonofacabinetminister,whogrewupplayingballinWindsor,Ontario.PaulMartinplayedbaseballinternationallybeforeheplayedpoliticsontheworldstage.Asisstillroutinewithteamstoday,hisWindsorbasedsquadofyoungballplayerswouldroutinelycrossthebordertoplayteamsinDetroit.Longafterhe’dleftoffice,whenPresidentDonaldTrumpstatedthattheundefendedCanadianborderwasdangerous,MartinjokedontheCBCthathedidn'trealizeheandhisbordercrossingteammatesweresuchsecuritythreats.186Whilehewasprimeminister,MartinmadeahabitofinvitingtheCanadianbasedteamscompetingintheLittleLeagueWorldSeriestoaParliamentaryreceptiononTheHilleachyear.TheEastNepeanEagleswerefêtedin2004withagrandreceptioninthelargeCommonwealthRoomintheCentreBlockofParliament.187Alas,Martin’stimeinofficewasnotlong,andafteronlytwoyearsthereceptionscametoanend.BeforeheresigneditwaslefttoMartintoannouncethatnofurtherfederalhelpcouldbefoundfortheMontrealExpos.188Theteamwasonitsown,andinevitablyheadedsouth.2006broughtahockeymanto24Sussex.StephenHarperspokeoftenofCanada’sothergame,andevenwroteabookonthesubject.Duringthespring2011election,anotherinstanceofbaseballfevercoincidingwithafederalwrit,TorontoLifemagazinedecidedtorankthecandidatesforCanada’stopjobbasedontheirfondestbaseballmemories.“Duringelectioncampaigns,itistimehonouredtraditionforthemediatoanalyzeeveryscrapofdatathatitgetsfrompartyleaders,”themagazineopined.“InhonouroftheJayshomeopenerweaskedbothStephenHarperandMichaelIgnatieffabouttheirfavouritebaseballgamesever.”189185TheGlobeandMail.PMBreaksTheIce,CallsBush.May27,2003186Martin,Paul.QuotedonPowerandPoliticsontheCanadianBroadcastingCorp.June6,2018187https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2004/11/prime-minister-meet-canadian-little-league-baseball-champions.html188TheTorontoStar.TheFatLadyFinallySings.October2,2004189https://torontolife.com/city/toronto-politics/harper-ignatieff-baseball-moments/

PrimeMinisterHarperanswered,“whenJoeCarterhithisgamewinninghomerunoffMitchWilliamstowinthe1993WorldSeriesfortheBlueJays.”190This,obviously,wasthecorrectanswer.Ignatieffgroundedsoftlytothepitcherwhenheansweredthesamequestionwith,“Iactuallywatched,onacrackly,blackandwhiteTV,DonLarsenpitchhisperfect[1956WorldSeries]game,andYogiBerrarunningrightuptothemoundlikethat.”191Forbaseballnerds,hisresponsewasaclarioncall.Oneofourown,runningforthetopjob.ButforaverageCanadians,whoalreadywonderedifIgnatieffhadspenttoomuchtimein,andstilltoooftenthoughtabout,theUnitedStates,itwasaStanfieldesqueblunder.“Hey,pointsfororiginalityandforsoundinglikeaflesh-and-bloodperson.Theproblemisthereferenceisobscureenoughtoanyonewhoisn’tabaseballfanthatitstillsoundslikeIgnatieffcan’thelpbuttellushe’sthesmartestguyintheroom.Wegetitalready.”192Healsotoldthepublication,ashewasrunningforofficeinToronto,thathewasaRedSoxfan.AftereasilydefeatingIgnatieff,Harperhimselflandedinsometepidwater,perhapsevenwarmenoughtobeconsideredaminorbaseballrelatedscandalinCanadianpolitics.Asamatterofcourse,Canadianprimeministersarenotpermittedtoflycommercial.Alloftheirexcursions,officialorotherwise,musttakeflightonagovernmentownedjet.OnLabourDayweekend2011,Harper,hisfamily,aDefenceDepartmentofficial,twoRCMPguardsandhisofficialphotographer,allventuredtoNewYork.

190https://torontolife.com/city/toronto-politics/harper-ignatieff-baseball-moments/191Ibid.192Ibid.

TheCBCreportedthattheexcursiontoManhattan,whichincludedseatsbehindtheplateatYankeestadium,costCanadiantaxpayers$45,000.193$34,633ofthatamountwastheflightforninepeopleaboardaChallengerjet.Harper’sattemptataquietfamilygetawaywasblownwhentheSportsnetcamerascoveringtheBlueJaysvs.Yankeesgamebroadcasthisimagerepeatedly.Aftersomedoggingbyreporters,thePrimeMinister’sOfficedecidedtoclarifythesituation.“AspokespersonfortheprimeministertoldCBCNewsthatHarpercoveredthecostofboththeflightandaccommodationsforhimself,hisdaughterandtwoguestsontheflight.Healsocoveredthecostsofticketstothegameforhimselfandhisguests.”194Thecontroversysubsidedquickly.BythetimetheBlueJayswereagaincompetitive,Harperwasfightingforhispoliticallifeinthe2015federalelection.Muchlike1993,aBlueJaysplayoffruncoincidedwiththedroppingofthewrit.The42ndgeneralelectionwasthelongestinmodernCanadianhistory.Itbeganjustdaysafterthenon-waivertradedeadlineanddidnotenduntiltheBlueJayswerereadytoplayintheA.L.C.S.OnAugust31,primeministerHarpermadeanunofficialcampaignstopatRogersCentre.“ConservativeleaderStephenHarperseemslikethelatesttojumpontheBlueJaysbandwagon,”195reportedtheCBC.HarperattendedbattingpracticeandwastouredaroundtheinfieldandintroducedtoplayersandcoachesbyJaysemployeeRobertoAlomar.HarperandhischildrenstayedtowatchtheBlueJaysvs.Clevelandgame.

193https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-s-baseball-trip-hit-taxpayers-with-45-000-tab-1.1204212194Ibid.195https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/conservative-leader-stephen-harper-spotted-at-toronto-blue-jays-practice-1.3210455

TheJays,inthemidstofahotlycontestedplayoffrace,lostwithHarperinattendance.TheyhaddonethesamewhenwithfederalNDPleaderThomasMulcairattendedagametwoweeksearlier.BythetimeLiberalleaderJustinTrudeauappearedatagameinSeptember,whichtheJaysalsolost,scribesbegantowriteaboutthecurseofthepartyleaders:

“SinceprimeministerStephenHarperdissolvedParliamentonAugust2tokickoffthelongestfederalelectioninmodernCanadianhistory,theBlueJayshavelostjustsixtimesin29games.Ifyoushoweduptoagameinthelastfiveorsoweeks,youhadanearly80-per-centchanceofseeingthemwin.AndyettheJaysare0-3ingamesattendedbyafederalpartyleader.NDPleaderThomasMulcairwasthefirsttovisitonAugust14,watchingastheJays’11-gamewinstreakwassnappedbytheNewYorkYankees.ThenonMonday,HarperstoppedbytoseetheJaysfalltoCleveland.OnFridaynightitwasLiberalLeaderJustinTrudeau’sturntomesswiththeteam’skarma.”196

WhenJoseBautistahithislegendary‘batflip’homeruningamefiveoftheAmericanLeagueDivisionSeries,hewassendingtheBlueJaystothenextleveljustsixdaysbeforeCanadiansdecidedtoelevateJustinTrudeau.Theproximityofhistoricaleventsinspiredtwoseparatecartooniststoindependentlydesignthesamecartoon.BothMichaeldeAdderandTerryMosherdepictedTrudeauasthetriumphantbatter,andHarperasthediscardedbat.

PrimeMinisterJustinTrudeau’shistorywithbaseballwentbackmuchdeeperthanJoseBautista’sALDSheroics.TrudeauwasthegrandsonoftheMontrealRoyalsowner,andthesonofaprimeministerwhohadcharmedMLBownersandoncefavouredhisschoolteacherswithballtickets.

196TheTorontoStar.BlueJaysDropBallinDefeattoOrioles.September5,2015

Shortlyafterhe’dbeenelected,JustinTrudeausatdownwithbaseballreporterJonahKeritotalkshop.KeripresentedhimwiththegiftofanExposhatandasignedTimRainesautobiography.Thebookwasinscribed“toJustin,allthebest,oneofmy#1fans.”Theprimeministerlaughedandsaid,“Ihavesuchgreatmemories.Isee[Exposhats]allthetime.Imeanit’snicetoseetheHabsjerseyortheAlouettes,buttheExposcapis,youknow,peoplekeepinghopealive.”197Whenaskedabouthisyouthfulsportinginterests,Trudeaucontinued:

“Myfatherwasnotabigsportsfan,withtheexceptionofbaseball.Forhim,baseballwashissportanditwasreallyimportantforhimtobringustogamesbecauseasakiditwasoneofthosethingsthathehadbondedwithhisdadover.Hewasaffectedallhislifebecausehisdadactuallydiedwhenhewasonly15yearsoldanditleftahugegapinmyfather'slife,forhisentirelife.Butbaseballwasreallyimportanttomygrandfatherbecausehewasoneofthepart-ownersoftheMontrealRoyals,whereJackieRobinsongothisstart.Anditwasallsortofpartoffamilyloreforus.Soformyfather,itwasreallyimportant.We'dgoouttotheBigOandwatchgamesthere.AndAndreDawson,GaryCarter,TimRainesweremysportsheroesatthatpointbecausewedidn'thavealotofsportsheroesbutthosewerethethreethatreallypoppedforme.”198

GrowingupinOttawaandMontreal,ExposgameswereeasilyaccessibletoJustinTrudeau.In1978hegotatasteofAmericanLeaguebaseballwhenhisfathertookheandhisbrotherstoExhibitionStadiuminToronto.Inadditiontothenowinfamousgiftofchewingtobaccohereceivedasasix-year-old,TrudeaualsowitnessedaBlueJaysfanathisworst.“Awhiskeybottlesailedoutofthestandsandhit[ClevelandmanagerJeff]Torborginthestomach,”reportedTheGlobe.“Thebottlethrowerhasbeenbarredfromthestadium.”199NewspapersnotedthatJustinTrudeauandhisfatherwerealsospottedataMetsvs.ExposgameatOlympicStadiumonAugust4,1980.Asummer1981BlueJaysgameattheExsawbothJustinandPierreTrudeauinattendance.ThefatherandsonduowereagainpicturedinthesportspageswhentheysatalongthefirstbasesideattheBigOin1987.

197https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/jonah-keri-sitdown-with-justin-trudeau-canadas-prime-minister-talks-sports-immigration-montreal-and-more/198Ibid.199TheGlobeandMail.JaysStrand13AgainstTribeinLosingGame.April25,1978

WhilebeingwelcomedataWhiteHouseStateDinnerheldinhishonour,PrimeMinisterTrudeauheardU.S.PresidentBarackObamaremark,“ourworkasnationsremainsrootedinthefriendshipbetweenourpeoples,andweseethatreflectedallalongoursharedborder.”ThePresidentcontinued,“atthebaseballdiamondinCoutts,Alberta,ifyouhitahomerun,there’sagoodchancetheballwilllandinSweetgrass,Montana.”200In2017,aspartofanofficialaddressontheoccasionofJuly30beingdeclaredCanadaBaseballDay,PrimeMinisterTrudeaureflectedonthegamethatmeantsomuchtohisfamily:

“Irememberasakid,mydadtakingustotheBigOtowatchourbelovedExpos.GaryCarter,TimRaines,AndreDawson,thesewereheroesforme.Itwasanopportunityformetoconnectwithmydadaswell,ashelovedbaseball,becausehisdadhadbeeninvolvedwithlocalbaseballinMontreal.Forusitwasabigfamilyouting.Itwasanopportunitytositback,watchmydadeathotdogsandmostlyenjoyagreatsummerpastime.”201

AsasummerpromotioncoincidingwithCanadaBaseballDay,aCanadianapparelcompanycalledProvinceofCanadaintroducedanewitem,bothbaseballandprimeministersrelated.Itwas,theyclaimed,the“bestfitting,mostcomfortable”baseballhat.Thecapwasemblazonedwitha“T.”“HatsofftotheseCanadians,”readtheirsalespitch.“‘T’isfortheTrudeau’s.PierreTrudeauwasthe15thprimeministerofCanada.Hisson,andourfashionicon,JustinTrudeau,isthe23rdprimeminister.”202

200https://ca.usembassy.gov/remarks-by-president-obama-and-prime-minister-trudeau-of-canada-at-arrival-ceremony/201https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/message-prime-minister-canada-baseball-day/202https://provinceofcanada.com/products/letter-t-baseball-hat

AsItype,the2019federalelectioniswellunderway.It’sbeenuglyandtherehasbeennaryawordaboutbaseball.TherearerumourshoweverthattheMontrealExposarecloserthanevertoresurrection.WhomeverwinsthisroundandfindsthemselvesinthePrimeMinister’sOffice,mayagainbefacedwiththequestionofwhetherornottohelptheMontrealballclubwithfederalfunds.TherelationshipbetweenthecurrentprimeministerofCanadaandtheunusualPresidentoftheUnitedStatesisnotgood.Perhapsnotevenbaseballcouldhealsuchsignificantrifts.Therewillbeotherelectionsanddifferentoccupantsofoffices,butthegameofbaseball,asithasfromMacdonaldtoTrudeau,willbeanenduringfacetofCanadianlife.Infact,ifwecouldlookacrossthehistoricalspanofthispaper,wewouldnotseemanyaspectsoflifeinCanadaremainingconstantfrom1867to2019.Yet,aslongastherehasbeenaDominion,strongandfree,stretchingfromseatoseatosea,andaslongasthatplacehasbeengovernedbyprimeministers,therehasbeenbaseball.Mayitforeverbeso.

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First Base Among Equals - Baseball Researchbaseballresearch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Dame19.pdf · 2019-11-18 · First Base Among Equals Baseball and Canada’s Prime Ministers