Topic spans: 1838 - 1977
Major League Baseball Comes to Canada
Play ball! From the impromptu games of "town ball" in the 1800s, through Jackie Robinson's Montreal Royals to the Expos and Blue Jays, Canadians have always been infatuated with baseball. But getting big league teams to come to Canada proved harder than hitting a grand slam. It took decades of persuading, promoting, wheeling and dealing, but eventually America's favourite pastime found a home in the great white north.
8 television clips
13 radio clips
Will Toronto ever get a franchise?
Broadcast Date: April 4, 1976
In January 1976, Metro Toronto chair Paul Godfrey thought he had a major league baseball team for Toronto. But the U.S. courts quash a deal to purchase the National League's San Francisco Giants. When the American League offers Toronto an expansion franchise, the deal is threatened by an unexpected interloper: U.S. President Gerald Ford, who demands a team in Washington first. As we see in this clip, the bid to get a Toronto team seems jinxed.Will Toronto ever get a franchise?
• Toronto was eventually awarded an American League expansion franchise, but many Toronto fans would have preferred to see the "Toronto Giants." Purchasing the team from San Francisco would have given Toronto an established franchise; instead, they had to build up a team from scratch using players waived from other teams. It also would have likely put Toronto in the National League east where a rivalry with the Expos could have been fostered.• Washington was the home of one of the original eight American League teams. The Washington Senators won three pennants and one World Series, but finished in or near last place 33 times. In 1961 they moved to Minnesota and are now the Twins.
• Both the National and American Leagues ignored Ford's wishes and Washington had no Major League Baseball franchise until the demise of the Expos in 2004.
• Paul Godfrey was chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto and created the Sun Media Corporation newspaper group. In 1977 he successfully brought the major leagues to Toronto with the establishment of the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2003 he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Blue Jays.
Will Toronto ever get a franchise?
Medium: Television
Program: CBC Television News
Broadcast Date: April 4, 1976
Guest(s): Paul Godfrey
Reporter: Suzanne Howden
Duration: 2:03
Last updated:
Oct. 27, 2003
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21 clips in this topic . page
Television
2:03
April 14, 1969
After beating the Mets on opening day in New York, the Montreal Expos stun the Cardinals at Montreal's Jarry Park.
Television
3:46
April 18, 1946
In 1946 a rookie second baseman for the Montreal Royals changes the face of baseball forever.
Baseball's 'real home' celebrates game's 150th anniversary- Baseball strike halts best-ever Expos team
- Fergie Jenkins, 1st Cdn. in Baseball Hall of Fame
Montreal snags baseball franchise- Baseball the Beeston way
- Jackie Robinson talks race relations
Still Standing: The People's Champion George Chuvalo
Will Toronto ever get a franchise?.
The CBC Digital Archives Website.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Last updated: Oct. 27, 2003.
[Page consulted on Nov. 22, 2009.]