Sport Slices

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum recently named the winner of the Tip O'Neill Award. It is presented to a Canadian baseball player “judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals”.

Jamie Romak won the award this year. He was selected from an impressive list including Joey Votto, Vladimir Guerrero, Jordan Romano, Rowan Wick, Cal Quantrill, and Brock Dykxhoorn, who pitched in the Chinese Professional League.

Romak, who hails from London, Ontario, played 139 games for the SK Wyverns of the Korean Baseball Organization. “Jamie is one of the most feared power hitters in the Korean Baseball Organization,” said Scott Crawford, the director of operations for the Canadian Hall. He had 39 home runs, and had 91 runs-batted-in. He was also recognized as being a great ambassador of the game for Canada.

That was his fourth season with the team in Korea. He has consistently put up big power-hitting numbers, including 43 home runs in 2018. He had brief major league stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014, and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015.

The list of previous winners of the award is most impressive. Larry Walker won the award many times, as did Joey Votto and Jason Bay. Last year's winner was Mike Soroka. Also on the distinguished list: Ryan Dempster, Corey Koskie, Eric Gagne, John Axford, Russell Martin, and Rob Butler. The first recipient was Terry Puhl in 1984.

Romak was recognized for his charitable and community work as well. He has been a strong supporter of Baseball Canada, and Boys and Girls Clubs.

The award is named after James “Tip” O'Neill, one of Major League Baseball's first legitimate stars. He played for the St. Louis Browns in 1887 in the American Association. He set big league recors in hits, doubles, slugging percentage, and total bases, while batting .492.

Hockey authorities in Canada are determined to ice the World Junior Tournament over the next couple of weeks in Western Canada. They have already run into problems resulting from the COVID 19 virus. Practices and games have been cancelled. Teams have been changing their lineups. Coaches and administrator have been left behind. It will be interesting.

Brooke Henderson finished well at the final golf tournament of the year in Naples, Florida. She picked up more than $ 50 000 for finishing seventh.

For the first time in 25 years, the Buffalo Bills have finished atop the American Football Conference East Division. Playoffs in a couple of weeks.

Stay safe. The vaccine is on the horizon, for all of us. But in the meantime, please follow the suggestions. Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!!

# posted by James Hurst @ 8:34 PM