Toronto Blue Jays 1980 & Beyond

[canadianman29]

July 15
Willie Stargell reached a milestone today, smashing his 500th home run in a 6-2 Yankees win over the Indians. Stargell is only the twelfth man in major league baseball history to hit 500 home runs, and is 12th on the all time home run list.

July 17
JENKINS WHIPS REDS FOR #250
San Francisco ace Fergie Jenkins solidfied his place in league history with his 250th career victory at Riverfront Stadium. Jenkins and the Giants bested Cincinnati 2-1.
"I've worked had for this day," Jenkins said. "Sometimes I didn't think it would happen. Most of the time it seemed so far off. Now it's here. It's like a dream!"

[canadianman29]

BLUE JAY NEWS
July 17
Signed free agent C Rick Dempsey to a 2-year contract worth a total of $1,155,610.
Placed C Ernie Whitt on the 15-day disabled list.
Placed C Rick Dempsey on the active roster.

[canadianman29]

IN THE NEWS
July 19
The 1980 Summer Olympic Games opened in Moscow, Russia. Only 81 nations would be represented in the Games (Liberia would withdraw after the opening ceremony, so only 80 actually competed). This is the lowest number of nations to compete in the Games since 1956 in Melbourne, Australia when only 72 nations competed. Thirty countries took part in a U.S. led boycott of the games, as an official protest against Russia's invasion of Afghanistan, including Canada. As a form of protest against the invasion, 15 of the countries that elected to participate marched under the Olympic flag as opposed to their nations flag in the Opening Ceremonies. The Olympic flag and Olympic Hymn would be used when athletes from these countries won medals. china and Iran also boycotted the games, but cited political reasons and were not part of the U.S. led boycott.

[canadianman29]

BLUE JAY NEWS
July 23
Placed CF Jesse Barfield on the 15-day disabled list.
Purchased the contract of LF Otto Velez from Triple A.

July 24
Released 1B Chris Chambliss.

[canadianman29]

IN THE NEWS
July 27
Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope has reached, Orillia and Gravenhurst, Ontario. CBC Radio's Sound of Sports has been one of the few media outlets that has covered the Marathon of Hope all the way from it's start in St. John's, Newfoundland, 106 days ago. Terry's goal of running from the Atlantic to the Pacific is nearly half over, but this week marked a first for Sound of Sports host Fred Walker. After dozens of telephone interviews, he finally gets to meet Terry Fox face to face. It's a chance to recap Terry's amazing story, and wish Terry a happy 22nd birthday.
Terry Fox celebrated his 22nd birthday July 28, 1980 in Gravenhurst, Ontario. Though it was raining when Terry ran into town, crowds of people turned out to sing happy birthday to him on every corner. Always practical jokers, Terry's friends discussed having his brother Darrell throw a whipped-cream cake at Terry on his arrival at the Holiday Inn. They changed their minds, thinking Terry might not be in the mood, and Darrell handed the cake to Terry instead. Terry immediately threw it at Darrell and flung the remaining pieces at the rest of his crew.
Terry's birthday breakfast was black forest cake and Coke at the Holiday Inn. He refused to take the day off, but trimmed his run to 20 miles from his usual 26 miles. For dinner Terry was invited to visit the minimum security Beaver Creek Correctional Camp, a federal penitentiary where inmates had raised $900 for the Marathon of Hope by holding a car wash and barbeque.
After dinner Terry visited Gravenhurst Civic Center. He was greeted by 2,000 people singing Happy Birthday, and given telegrams from across the country. Among his gifts: a new artificial leg, a Playboy magazine, and a toilet seat inscribed "To a good ****." Terry put his face in it and posed for photos, to the mild displeasure of the Canadian Cancer Society. To Terry's delight the town of Gravenhurst raised $14,000: almost two dollars per resident.
Terry Fox took every opportunity to speak with the public or the press. In his book Terry, Douglas Coupland writes, "Most people who work in the media and look at how Terry dealt with the press say they have no idea how he possibly could have done it. Even minus his marathon exertions, his press efforts alone would have taxed even the most seasoned politician or movie star.

[canadianman29]

BLUE JAY NEWS
July 27
Signed LF Otto Velez to a 3-year contract extension worth a total of $2,933,415.
Placed 3B Mickey Klutts on the 15-day disabled list.
Purchased the contract of 3B Ángel Martínez from Triple A

[canadianman29]

[canadianman29]

IN THE NEWS

July 30
Queen Elizabeth II has augmented the coat of arms of Alberta to include a crest, supports, and a motto. The original coat of arms of Alberta was granted by King Edward the VII on May 30, 1907. The shield features, from top to bottom, a red St. George's cross on a white background, (an allusion to the arms of the Hudson's Bay Company, which once controlled what is now Alberta.), blue sky, snow-capped mountains, green hills, prarie, and a wheat field.
The crest sits above the shield and consists of a helmet crowned with a red and silver wreath, on top of which sits a beaver, resting on top of which is the royal crown. White and red are the official colors of Canada, and the beaver is the official animal of Canada.
The supporters sit on either side of the shield and consist of a golden lion on the left (representing power) and a pronghorn antelope on the right (representing Alberta's natural resources). Neither of these is the official animal of Alberta (which is the bighorn sheep).
The compartment or base is a grassy mount with wild roses, the official flower of Alberta, and beneath that is a scroll with the motto of Alberta: Fortis et Liber, meaning Strong and Free, a phrase from the english lyrics of "O Canada".

[canadianman29]

BLUE JAYS FRONT OFFICE
July 31
We let the trade deadline pass silently. We had a few offers, but nothing that offered anything really interesting. We've already made a few moves to improve the club and shed payroll (at the same time...imagine that...), and believe we have a group that can win it all for us again this season. Hopefully we're right...

July Review
Team Record: 64 - 46
July Record: 11 - 14
Runs Scored: 113
Runs Allowed: 129

[canadianman29]

IN THE NEWS

August 2
The 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow Russia held their closing ceremonies today. North America didn't pay much attention as both Canada and the US had boycotted the Olympic Games in protest of Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. 21% of the competetitors at the Games were female, a higher percentage than any previous Olympics. There were 203 events, more than any other previous Olympics. 36 World Records, 39 European Records, and 74 Olympic Records were set. In total this is more records than were set in Montreal. Olympic Records were improved on 241 times in the course of the competition. and world records were beaten 97 times. The Russians headed the medal table by a landslide, winning 195 medals (East Germany was second with 126, Bulgaria third with 41) including 80 golds. At the closing ceremony, the Los Angeles city flag - rather than the United States flag - was raised to symbolize the next host of the Games.
Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope is nearing Sudbury, in the north of Ontario's cottage country. Doug Alward - Terry Fox's childhood friend and van driver is downplaying rumors of problems with the stump of Terry's amputated leg. A week earlier in Gravenhurst Terry had been given a new artificial leg as a birthday present. He wore the new leg the next day, and after 15 km found that his stump was bloody and raw. He stopped for a shower, and apparently scalded his stump. Using his old leg, Terry ran another 18 kilometers, but a local reporter had seen the blood and notified news wires. Asked for comment, War Amputations of Canada head Cliff Chaderton speculated that the beating his stump was taking could cause Terry "terrible problems". The War Amps suggested Terry take a break to consult a specialist. Terry said he appreciated the concern, but refused to see a doctor. "If I ran to a doctor every time I got a little cyst or abrasion I'd still be in Nova Scotia." He said.
The concern for Terry's health was repeated in newspapers. The Peterborough Examiner went so far as to run an editorial with the heading, "Give it up, Terry!" "It's not a celebration of life to push heroic gesture to the point of self damage." the column argued. The Sault Daily Star stated that "concerned Canadians should implore him to call off his efforts before he jeopardizes his entire future." Terry kept running and his stump healed.

August 4
Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope has now reached Sudbury, ON. It's a big milestone for Terry: he's now halfway across Canada. As he approaches Sudbury, ON well-wishers cheer on the amputee runner on even the most remote stretches of highway. In tiny Pointe au Baril, there is nothing but praise and optimism that Terry will complete his run. "He's got all the guts in the world," says one man. The fundraising is going so well that Terry's target is raised form $1 million to $10 million.
Today, Terry learned of a problem with his van's odometer. The instrument was under recording his distance by four percent, or 105 km so far. This meant that Terry had actually already past the halfway point sometime the previous day. Though he was that much closer to finishing his run, Terry was angry that the big moment passed unnoticed. Reaching the halfway point had long been one of Terry's major goals, and a psychological motivator. He felt it had been snatched away.
Though Sudbury marked the halfway point of Terry's route, people would be congratulating him on the accomplishment for the next 600 kilometers. He saw signs marking the feat in Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Wawa, Marathon, and Nipigon, and it wore on his nerves. "The halfway point really bothered me," he said. "I figured it's all downhill, mileage-wise...Then I see this huge sign: COME ON TERRY! YOUR HALFWAY!" Terry would actually stop running to correct people on their mistake.

August 10
Terry Fox's Marathon of hope, now in it's 121st day, has reached the town of Bruce Mines, Ontario. Terry Fox is getting a little tired of questions from the media...and you can hear it in his voice. He has run more than halfway across Canada. He has already raised more than one million dollars for cancer research. But all reporters want to talk about is how much pain he's in. As Terry runs through northern Ontario, he takes a moment to chat with CBC about bleeding on his amputated stump. And he dismisses any thought of giving up his quest.
Terry Fox was upset about all the attention being paid to the chafing and bleeding on the stump of his amputated leg. But, according to author Leslie Scrivener, Terry was incensed by a profile that had just appeared in the Globe and Mail. It depicted him as "a tyrannical brother while Darrell had the Cinderella role as van-sweeper." The story also claimed Terry was running to carry out a grudge against a doctor at Simon Fraser University who had misdiagnosed his condition.
The Globe story weakened Terry's trust in the media, which he had considered a partner in his fundraising run. "If they are not positive about the run, I won't talk to them," Terry said, "I'm not here to play games with the media. I don't need all that extra pressure." Terry felt that the newspapers misrepresented what Darrell had said, but he prohibited Darrell from speaking to the media for the rest of the run.
Terry did have a quick temper, exacerbated by the strain of running, media demands and health issues. It is true that he would sometimes lash out at his brother Darrell, driver Doug Alward or others in his entourage. But Darrell always acknowledged that it was only a result of the strain, and said he didn't mind being an outlet for his big brothers frustrations. He regretted his comments to the Globe, saying, "it bugged me for the rest of the trip."
On a more positive note, at this point Terry's older brother Fred arrived for a vacation. And Terry and his entourage got a welcome gift: a new, larger, 22 foot, camper van for them to sleep in. It was provided by General Motors and a Vancouver car dealer.
When a Sault Ste. Marie radio station mentioned that a spring had broken in the knee joint of Terry's artificial leg, a local welder immediately drove out to where Terry's run was stalled and fixed the spring on the spot.

[canadianman29]

[canadianman29]

IN THE NEWS

August 18
Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope has reached the town of Wawa, Ontario. Whether he like it or not, Terry Fox has become an icon, celebrated from coast to coast. He's currently running through Wawa, Ontario, but residents of his home province of British Columbia are already gearing up for Terry Fox frenzy. To help collect money for cancer research, his face adorns grocery bags, T-shirts and donation boxes province wide. But Fox refuses to endorse any product, or profit personally. "I think that it would ruin what I am doing." he tells CBC Television.
The commercial aspect of Terry's odyssey has grown too great to ignore. The Canadian Cancer Society is working on establishing guidelines for promotions and fundraising schemes. For his part, Terry remains cautious of being exploited by commercial interests. "The only thing I want to sponsor is cancer, and cancer can be beaten," he tells CBC, "Not any other product. And I hope nobody tries to use me, because I won't let them."
With the exception of his donated vans (which sported the name of the dealer) Terry Fox eschewed corporate ties to his Marathon of Hope, insisting that the only beneficiary should be the Canadian Cancer Society. He refused to wear any clothing that had a logo. Throughout the run, Terry sported only his "Marathon of Hope" T-shirts (often with various locations or statements ironed onto them.)
Terry's aversion to logos created problems when his clothing wore out. Unbranded clothing was hard to find on the road, and Darrell Fox said Terry refused to spend any of the donated money on himself. So Terry's family, mainly his mother Betty, continually mended his road weary socks, shorts, and track pants. Terry was particularly fond of one ratty sock, which he wore on his artificial leg for the entire Marathon of Hope and for three months after it ended.
As Terry approached Wawa, Ontario he had to run up the Montreal River Hill, a notorious three kilometer uphill climb. The shirt Terry wore that day read, "Montreal River Here I Come!" on the front, and "I've Got You Beat!" on the back.
In White River, Ontario, a documentary film crew reviewing tape of Fox fear that his health is declining as they notice he has a persistent hacking cough, they fear he's coming down with a cold. Terry also experience a bout of tendonitis in his ankle. He had been icing it down and continuing running, but it was slow to heal. On the advice of his doctor, he agreed to a hospital visit in Sault Ste. Marie, where he was given painkillers and told to rest 36 hours before continueing. Terry was relieved. He had feared it was a stress fracture that could delay the run for months.

[canadianman29]

August 19
SEATTLE SS MACKANIN SUSPENDED
The Seattle Mariners were not very happy with the home plate umpire in the loss to Cleveland at Cleveland Stadium. One in particular - Pete Mackanin. Upon being called out strikes, the Mariners shortstop gave the ump quite an earful. For that, the man in blue gave him the thumb and sent him to an early shower.
But the disgruntled Mackanin lingered on the field for another five minutes, berating the umpire. Finally his manager got him off the field and into the clubhouse.
But it got worse after the game, when Mackanin told reporters, "He was blind. They played 'Three blind mice' for him. If he doesn't know the words to the song, I'm sure we can get it Braille, so he can follow along."
For his escapades and after the game oration, the league office suspended Mackanin for 7 games.

[canadianman29]

BLUE JAY NEWS
August 20
Placed SP Jim Acker on the 15-day disabled list.
Placed SP Rick Langford on the 15-day disabled list.
Purchased the contract of MR Joe Sambito from Triple A
Purchased the contract of MR Steve Bedrosian from Triple A

[canadianman29]

August 21
MYLES AND WILCOX FIGHT, SUSPENDED 3 GAMES
If there wasn't a history between Michael Myles of Montreal and Milt Wilcox of Pittsburgh, then there is one now. The incident between the two sparked a bench clearing scrum with those two being the center of attention. Now they will miss 3 games as a result of their actions. The league office announced their suspensions.
"We're both really competitive," Myles said later, "and sometimes things go a little too far because of it."

[canadianman29]

IN THE NEWS
August 22
Over the past week (August 16-23) the first session of the Youth Parliament of Canada was held in the Senate Chambers of the Canadian Parliament buildings in Ottawa. The Youth Parliament modelled itself after the Westminster parliamentary system, adopting it's own rules based on House of Commons procedures. While the Parliament had a Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, cabinet, and shadow cabinet, and commitee system similar to real parliament, the members did not represent any political parties. At all times each member, including cabinet ministers, was entitled to vote according to conscience. There were eight cabinet ministers, one from each of the provincial Youth Parliaments. Each minister would introduce legislation for debate. Unlike some of the provincial youth parliaments, legislation was not meant for the establishment of any form of ongoing project. The bills would be limited to the consideration of local, national, and international issues of the day. Debates occurred in both English and French, with simultaneous translation available for all delegates.

[canadianman29]

BLUE JAY NEWS
August 23
Placed LF Barry Bonnell on the 15-day disabled list.
Placed SS Alfredo Griffin on the Triple A disabled list.
Placed 1B Leroy Atcheson on the Triple A disabled list.
Purchased the contract of RF Hosken Powell from Triple A

[canadianman29]

August 24
LEAGUE RULES MORELAND OUT 5 GAMES
The league commissioner's office has notified the Boston Red Sox that cather Keith Moreland has been given a 5 game suspension for his involvement in an incident with the home plate umpire in the Boston-Seattle game at the Kingdome. After being called out on a pitch that he deemed a ball, Moreland aggressively expressed his displeasure and was promptly ejected from the game.
In the league suspension notice it sated that he was suspended for making an obscene gesture toward the umpires prior to entering the dugout. The league said that type of behaviour would not be tolerated.
Moreland and the Red Sox were unavailable for comment.

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