Two former players, a former GM, and a coach with five World Series rings will join the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame this June.
The Hall in St. Marys announced its 2019 induction class on Tuesday morning. Retired outfielder Jason Bay, former pitcher Ryan Dempster, former Blue Jays General Manager Gord Ash, and Corunna native Rob Thomson will be inducted at a ceremony on June 15.
“Each of this year’s inductees is a proud Canadian that has had a tremendous impact on baseball in this country,” said Scott Crawford, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s director of operations. “Jason Bay and Ryan Dempster were major league all-stars and are two of the most successful Canadian players of all-time, while Rob Thomson and Gord Ash have seven World Series rings between them and are highly respected in the professional baseball community.”
Dempster's Major League career spanned 16 seasons and included stops in Florida, Cincinnati, Chicago (Cubs), Texas, and Boston. In 2013, his final season in the big leagues, he won a World Series with the Red Sox. Dempster finished his career with a record of 132-133 and an Earned Run Average of 4.35. He was a two-time All-Star and finished 6th in Cy Young voting while with the Reds in 2008.
“It’s always nice when your contributions to the game of baseball are appreciated. But when I got the call from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame about my induction I was truly humbled! I am proud and honoured to be joining so many great baseball people in the Hall this summer in St Marys.”
Bay's career began in 2003 with the San Diego Padres. In his first season with the Padres, he was traded to Pittsburgh, where he played for six seasons before a trade sent him to the Red Sox. In 2010, he signed a free agent contract with the New York Mets, then finished his career in Seattle in 2013. Over 11 seasons, Bay hit .266 with an on-base percentage of .360 and a slugging percentage of .481. In 2009, the Sporting News placed him at #41 on its list of the best 50 players in baseball.
“It was a very pleasant and somewhat unexpected surprise to get that call from the Canadian Hall of Fame,” said Bay. “I’m proud and honoured to be recognized with great people who have helped build baseball in Canada in various ways, to the elite level it has become. I’m looking forward to it!”
Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Rob Thomson was born in Sarnia and raised in Corunna. His journey to the big leagues began in 1985, when he was drafted out of the University of Kansas by the Detroit Tigers. The previous year, Thomson suited up for Team Canada at the Los Angeles Olympics, where baseball was a demonstration sport. After a few years of playing in Detroit's minor league system, Thomson became a coach. He was the first base coach for the London Tigers of the AA Eastern League. In 1990, he joined the New York Yankees organization, where he held several positions including Director of Player Development and Vice-President of Minor League Development. In November of 2003, he joined the Yankees major league coaching staff as a Special Assignment Instructor. He was named Manager Joe Girardi's bench coach in 2008. From 2009 to 2014, he served as the Yankees third base coach, before moving back to the position of bench coach prior to the 2015 season. In 2018, he joined the Philadelphia Phillies as the bench coach for rookie manager Gabe Kapler.
“I am humbled and honoured to be inducted into Canada’s Baseball Hall of Fame!” said Thomson. “Growing up in Corunna Ontario, I would have never dreamt that such an honour would be bestowed onto me. Congratulations to Gord, Ryan and Jason! My Canadian pride will be shining at its brightest as I get inducted on the same day with three fellow Canadians who have achieved so many fantastic things in our great sport. I look forward to June 15th to not only share the day with Gord, Ryan and Jason but also with my family and many people that have touched my life and continue to do so!”
Former Blue Jays General Manager Gord Ash began his baseball career in 1978, when he got a job in the ticket office of the Toronto Blue Jays. He climbed the ranks in the organization, holding several positions including assistant director of operations from 1980 to 1983 and player personnel administrator from 1984 to 1988. He was promoted to assistant general manager under GM Pat Gillick in 1989. He went on to become GM after the 1994 season, when Gillick left to become GM of the Phillies. During Ash's time as GM of the Blue Jays, the team drafted players such as Michael Young, Vernon Wells, Alex Rios, and 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Roy Halladay. Ash was let go by the Jays after the 2001 season. He was later hired to be the Assistant GM in Milwaukee, working under fellow Canadian Doug Melvin. Ash served in that role for 12 seasons, helping put together the Brewers team that advanced to the playoffs in 2008, ending a 26-year post-season drought. Since 2015, Ash has worked as the vice-president of Baseball Projects for the Brewers.
“I am a lucky man!” said Ash after being told he was being inducted. “When (Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame executive director) Scott Crawford called to let me know I had been selected for induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame I was overwhelmed with emotion. So many baseball memories flashed vividly through my mind, including the people I have met and worked with, the places the game has taken me and the experiences I have had the good fortune to enjoy all came back to life. Baseball was not a career for me but for parts of five decades and over 40 years and it was rather a way of life and I enjoyed every minute. I am humbled and honoured with this opportunity to be included with a group of legends of baseball in Canada and I look forward to induction weekend. Special thanks to the selection committee and congratulations to the other 2019 inductees.”
