Larry Walker and Ernie Whitt lead this year's class of inductees for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
"We haven't honoured a career of the calibre of Larry Walker's since Fergie Jenkins was inducted in 1987," hall president and CEO Tom Valcke said yesterday in a statement. Walker, a native of Maple Ridge, B.C., is a five-time all-star and 1997 National League MVP. He won seven Gold Glove awards and three batting titles while compiling a career .313 batting average.
Whitt's 1,218 games played in a Toronto Blue Jays uniform ranks him fourth all-time. He hit 131 home runs with Toronto.
He also has become a type of father figure in Canadian Baseball as manager of the national team.
Bernie Soulliere, an area volunteer, and the late Roy (Doc) Miller, whose career began in 1903, will also be inducted June 20 in ceremonies at St. Marys, Ont.
TEJADA CONVICTED: Miguel Tejada became the first high-profile player convicted of a crime stemming from Baseball's steroids era, pleading guilty yesterday in federal court to misleading the U.S. Congress about the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Under a plea agreement with the same prosecutors pursuing a perjury indictment against Roger Clemens, the former American League MVP admitted he withheld information about a former teammate's use of steroids and human growth hormone when questioned by a House committee's investigators in August 2005.
JAYS SIGN MILLAR: The Blue Jays made their final move of the off-season yesterday by signing veteran infielder Kevin Millar to a minor-league contract with an invite to major league camp.
The 37-year-old's addition caps an underwhelming winter of acquisitions by GM J.P. Ricciardi.
A DUNN DEAL: Adam Dunn and the Nationals agreed to a contract worth $20 million (U.S.) over two years, according to several reports yesterday. Dunn hit a combined .236 with 40 homers, 100 RBIs and 164 strikeouts last season with the Reds and Diamondbacks.
ABREU AN ANGEL: The Los Angeles Angels agreed to a one-year contract with free agent right fielder Bobby Abreu.
He will make a base salary of $5 million with a chance to push it above $6 million with incentives. The Angels were expected to announce the deal today.
$64,000 CARD: A Fresno antiques dealer has hit a home run with the sale of a rare Baseball card. Bernice Gallego ended up selling the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings team card on an online auction site for $64,073 (U.S.) on Tuesday, more than double the previous record set for an identical card.
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