Farmers’ Almanac be damned! Spring doesn’t start until the Blue Jays report to Dunedin

It was never the weather.

When pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training; when our gaze shifted to Florida and Arizona, that’s when spring would start…in my head.

So, here we are, waiting for the owners to stop diddling with the players. Waiting for a new collective bargaining agreement. The longer we wait for baseball, the longer we wait for warmer temperatures.

The sun won’t shine until the Jays converge on Dunedin…in my head.

For now, I’m forced to look at rain and snow. Turning away, memories of previous Spring Trainings flood my mind.

Thinking about my childhood when mornings would be incomplete without Bill Stephenson’s Spring Training report on CFRB. This, of course, was before all-sports radio. Evenings were similar; finishing my dinner in time to watch CFTO sports and Dunedin dispatches from Lance Brown, Suneel Joshi or Gerry Dobson.

Thinking about those times the team would fly in and play a couple of pre-season games at SkyDome. A prelude to the season; a chance for a sneak peek. Unique sights of palm trees behind the outfield wall and players running along the warning track during matches. It’s probably been over 20 years since the Jays hosted those games.

Thinking about that time City TV ran a “non-traditional baseball broadcast” from Dunedin. Gord Martineau and Hugh Burrill handled the play-by-play duties, while Kathryn Humphreys conducted interviews around the ballpark.

What does a non-traditional baseball broadcast look like? Imagine you’re watching the game when producers decide to cut away and run a feature involving the pitching coach. In all seriousness, the presentation was to encourage ticket sales and excitement. It was a meaningless match after all.

Thinking about 10 years ago when the stress of adulthood was affecting me (as it still does). A Google search for images of Blue Jay players working out in the Florida sun calmed my demons. By then, the content was easily accessible; a blessing or curse, depending on who you spoke to. And how great did they look in their new/old blue colour schemes?!

Thinking of the optimism every Spring Training would provide. That optimism is still present, but concealed by this lockout.

Commissioner, kindly inform the owners that this charade has run its course. The players just want to be compensated fairly and deservingly so. They are your key assets. Without them, there are no stories, no heroes, no banter, no memories and no profit.

They are ready and so are the fans. There’s no reason to delay any longer.

ER

I have a GREAT idea: Dave Van Horne does play-by-play on a Blue Jays broadcast or two!

Remember when Mike Wilner ran a successful campaign to get the late Tom Cheek enshrined in Cooperstown through the Ford C. Frick award? There was a constant message:

“Tom was the voice of summer in Canada.”

Wilner was right. The soundtrack of sunshine and baseball for a generation of fans was Cheek’s voice.

And it wasn’t only Tom.

Jerry Howarth was certainly a “voice of summer” and one day, perhaps Ben Wagner will be viewed that way.

But there’s one other “voice of summer” that might not be familiar to some fans, but worthy of such prestige: Dave Van Horne.

From 1969 to 2000, Van Horne was the English voice of the Montreal Expos. He had a front-row seat for all the achievements and sorrows and painted hundreds of pictures for fans in Quebec and across Canada.

His signature calls of “Up, up and away” and “El Presidente, El Perfecto” are akin to “There she goes!” and “Touch ’em all, Joe.”

Following his 32 seasons in Montreal, Van Horne put in an additional 22 seasons with the Miami Marlins. Like Cheek, he also won the Ford C. Frick award, capturing the honour in 2011.

Over 50 seasons doing play-by-play. An incredible feat! Unfortunately, Van Horne’s illustrious career recently ended abruptly.

Last month, the 82-year-old told the Miami Herald he was retiring. It appears the Marlins were willing to include him on broadcasts, but on a limited schedule. Van Horne declined the team’s offer and ceased his vocation….just like that. According to the Herald article, it’s not how he wanted to end things, but he was “at peace” with the decision.

I’m glad Van Horne’s at peace. He has every right to retire. However, a part of me wishes he could have a proper goodbye and appropriately feted.

It’s not fair, especially for the voice of Nos Amours.

It’s also unfortunate given Van Horne’s departure from Montreal. In 2000, the Expos were unable to secure an English radio deal and were forced to broadcast games through their website. With such uncertainty for the following season, Van Horne headed south. A long tenure ended – again – just like that.

I’m not asking for a parade or the metaphoric key to the city. It just seems that a person who did play-by-play for half of a century, witnessed the birth and development of Major League Baseball in Canada and captivated fans across the country should be recognized.

I have an idea: Sportsnet hires Van Horne to do play-by-play of a Jays game or two.

Could be on TV or radio or both. They can fly him in or meet up with him when the team visits Tropicana Field. It’s a fantastic way for Expo and Canadian baseball fans to hear him call innings one last time. Also gives us a chance to thank him for his body of work.

Of course, he might not resonate with segments of the Jays’ fan base. Some might not even know who he is.

Doesn’t matter. He should still be honoured.

Let’s also not forget that his French-language contemporaries and fellow Expo broadcasters, Jacques Doucette and Roger Brulotte, have called Jays games on TVA Sports.

Maybe I’m being overzealous and making too much of this. But I can’t help it!

I care about history and Dave Van Horne played an integral part as a narrator and storyteller. He means a lot to the Canadian baseball scene. So, let’s honour him!

Just a game or two. That’s all I’m asking.

ER