Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Temple de la renommée du baseball canadien
Main entrance to Museum
Established	1982
Location	386 Church Street South St. Marys, Ontario, Canada
Type	Sports museum

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a special place in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. It celebrates the amazing players, teams, and moments from Canada's baseball past. This museum helps keep the history of Canadian baseball alive for everyone to learn about and enjoy.

History of the Hall of Fame

The museum first started in November 1982 in Toronto. It was first located at Exhibition Place and later moved to Ontario Place. In August 1994, the town of St. Marys, Ontario was chosen as its new home. The museum officially opened its doors in St. Marys in June 1998.

In November 2017, work began on a big expansion. This added a secure place for old records, a library, a new entrance, and a space for events and exhibits. The newly designed museum welcomed visitors starting in April 2019.

Canada's Baseball Roots

The Hall of Fame works to protect Canada's baseball history. This history goes way back to June 4, 1838. On that day, a game very much like modern baseball was played in Beachville, Ontario. A professor named Bob Barney from the University of Western Ontario studied this game. His research helped prove that the Beachville game was a very early form of baseball.

Important Inductions

In 2021, Helen Callaghan became the first woman to be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame by herself. She played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Before this, all Canadian women who played in the AAGPBL were inducted as a group in 1998.

In early 2022, there was discussion about including the Chatham Coloured All-Stars. This was the first team of Black Canadians to win an Ontario Baseball Association championship. Many people hoped to see them recognized in the Hall of Fame.

Awards and Recognitions

Since it opened, more than 160 people have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. These include professional and amateur players, coaches, managers, umpires, and writers. They are all people who helped make baseball popular in Canada. Some teams and groups have also been honored.

Many members of the Canadian Hall of Fame have also been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. This shows how important their contributions to baseball were.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame also gives out two special awards each year:

• The Tip O'Neill Award goes to the best Canadian baseball player. This player must show great skill and teamwork, and always play fairly.
• The Jack Graney Award is given for a lifetime of excellent work in baseball media.

Museum Facilities

Original building in St. Marys before a new section was added in 2018

The museum is located on a large property in St. Marys, covering about 32 acres. This area also includes four baseball fields. These fields were designed by a landscape architect named Art Lierman.

How People Get Nominated

To be considered for the Hall of Fame, people must follow these rules:

• A player must have been retired from playing for at least three years.
• To be inducted, a person needs to get 75 percent of the votes.
• If the person is not Canadian, they must have done something very important for baseball in Canada.
• A nominated person stays on the ballot for nine years. They need to receive at least one vote every two years to stay on the list.
• All information for nominations must be submitted by December 1st to be considered for the next year.

Hall of Fame Inductees

Tip O'Neill was one of the first players inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

Umpire Ernie Quigley was inducted in 2021.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame honors many individuals and groups. The symbol next to a name means that person is also a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. This includes winners of the Ford C. Frick Award and BBWAA Career Excellence Award.

Honored Individuals

The Hall of Fame has inducted many players, managers, builders, and others who made a big difference in Canadian baseball. Some famous names include:

• Roberto Alomar (Player, inducted 2010)
• Gary Carter (Player, inducted 2001)
• Joe Carter (Player, inducted 2003)
• Ferguson Jenkins (Player, inducted 1987)
• Larry Walker (Player, inducted 2009)
• Roy Halladay (Player, inducted 2017)
• Justin Morneau (Player, inducted 2020)
• Russell Martin (Player, inducted 2024)

Honored Groups

The Hall of Fame also recognizes important groups and teams from Canadian baseball history:

See also

• History of baseball outside the United States#Canada
• London Tecumsehs#Early baseball in Canada
• Category:Baseball in Canada
• Baseball awards#Canada