Could the success of the Blue Jays bring pro baseball back to Calgary?
Dear Calgary baseball fans — we won't judge you if you skip out of work early today to watch the game.
This afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays host the Texas Rangers in Game 1 of the American League Divisional series. It's the first time since 1993 the Jays are in the Major League Baseball playoffs, and fans across the country are excited.
But is fan fever enough to bring the professional game back to Calgary?
"I hate to be negative, but I don't see that happening again," said Tom Valcke, GM and head coach of the I-CASE Baseball Academy in Stratford, Ontario.
Valcke was the general manager of the Triple-A Calgary Cannons back in 1996 and said it was tough back then to convince major league teams to place their farms teams in locations in Canada.
"Now, post-911 it's even tougher in far of getting visas and properly allowing people into our country to work 11, 12, 13 days when they get in for those three series [and to] get a proper visa, have the right ID, not have criminal records," he said.
There are no more Triple-A baseball teams in Canada. The Cannons moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2002 and the city has not had a professional baseball club since 2011 — when the Calgary Vipers closed shop.
And though Valcke doesn't envision another minor league pro team in Calgary, he believes the success of the Jays will have an impact on the little league game.
"The top has always had a direct impact on the bottom. For example, in the early 90s, registration in Canada for baseball were booming as far of kids, as far as coaches going to clinics, etc. So I really expect this to happen again," he said.
The Calgary Eyeopener asked Calgarians if they long for the return of minor league pro baseball — and the Twittersphere answered.
While some were enthusiastic, others responded with a big, fat yawn.
- Would you like to see professional baseball return to Calgary? Tell us what you think below, in the comments section.
