Late baseball owner loomed large over amateur sports scene

COURTESY TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS BASEBALL
By R.S. Konjek
As local lore will have it, the Toronto sports scene was forever changed one afternoon in the summer of 1968.
By R.S. Konjek
As local lore will have it, the Toronto sports scene was forever changed one afternoon in the summer of 1968.
By R.S. Konjek
Summer is almost over, but the Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping to stretch it out a while longer.
By R.S. Konjek
Player-manager Damon Topolie hits one out during a game in Burlington May 2018.
R.S. KONJEK/GLEANER NEWS
A recent ESPN column declared that “parts of baseball are disappearing before our very eyes”.
Tags: General
PHOTO BY R.S. KONJEK/GLEANER NEWS: Justin Marra blasts a home run for the Toronto Maple Leafs during a playoff game against the Brantford Red Sox at Christie Pits.
By R.S. Konjek
“Who are these guys anyway?”
PHOTO BY R.S. KONJEK/GLEANER NEWS: Grant Tamane and his Intercounty Baseball League teammates in 2017.
By R.S. Konjek
In some quarters of Toronto, this year’s Canada Day celebrations were a time of spirited debate.
PHOTO BY R.S. KONJEK/GLEANER NEWS: The Toronto Maple Leafs take batting practice during a spring training session at Christie Pits on April 26.
By R.S. Konjek
It’s a casual April evening at Christie Pits Park.
PHOTO BY R.S. KONJEK/GLEANER NEWS: Brett van Pelt of the Toronto Maple Leafs delivers a pitch on July 31 during the final game of the regular season.
By R.S. Konjek
Baseball won’t be rushed.
It is a pastime to be sipped and savoured.
Tags: Annex · Sports · General
PHOTO BY R.S. KONJEK: Jon Waltenbury patrols the outfield at Christie Pits during the Toronto Maple Leafs’ game against the Brantford Red Sox on May 22. Waltenbury’s three-run homer put the Leafs ahead for good, and ensured an 8-6 victory. R. S. Konjek summarizes a month of Maple Leafs in his baseball column.
Tags: Annex · Sports · Maple Leafs Baseball
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN HAMILTON/VANTAGE POINT STUDIOS: Toronto Maple Leafs baseball returned to Dominico Field at Christie Pits with a bang on May 8. First baseman Jon Waltenbury blasted one of the Leafs’ four home runs on opening day, powering the club to a 13 to 2 victory over the Guelph Royals. Next game is 2 p.m. on May 15 versus the Burlington Bandits. This summer, the Gleaner will feature a monthly Maple Leafs Baseball column by R.S. Konjek.