Life changed for José Bautista after his iconic bat-flip homer, but the former Toronto Blue Jays slugger felt most rewarded by the blast’s lasting impact on Canadian baseball, uniting fans from coast to coast.
The 44-year-old Bautista was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday, alongside former MLB pitcher Erik Bedard, junior national team head coach Greg Hamilton, and women’s national team star Amanda Asay.
Asay, a trailblazer in women’s baseball, will be inducted posthumously, along with veterans’ committee selections Arleene Noga and Gerry Snyder. The ceremony is set for June 7 in St. Marys, Ont.
“I think everybody remembers the big moments like that,” Bautista said, comparing his homer to Joe Carter’s World Series-winning blast in 1993 and Kawhi Leonard’s iconic buzzer-beater during the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 championship run.
The three-run homer in the wild seventh inning of the 2015 ALDS and Bautista’s celebratory bat flip propelled the Blue Jays past the Texas Rangers, creating an unforgettable moment in baseball history.
Toronto acquired Bautista in 2008 in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over 10 seasons with the Blue Jays, Bautista became a franchise icon, including smashing a club-record 54 homers in 2010.
Now, Bautista splits his time between being the owner of the Las Vegas Lights FC and serving as a special adviser for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Professional Baseball League.
Greg Hamilton, another inductee, has been instrumental in Canadian baseball, coaching MLB stars such as Jason Bay, Russell Martin, and Josh Naylor. “We’re a tight, close community in Canada,” Hamilton said, noting the country’s impressive contributions to the game.
The late Amanda Asay, who tragically passed in 2022, inspired countless players during her 16 years with the women’s national team. Her father, George, recalled her passion for playing and coaching, a legacy that continues to resonate.
Other inductees include Arleene Noga, a former player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and Gerry Snyder, who helped bring the Montreal Expos to Canada. Erik Bedard, another honoree, enjoyed a solid MLB career, including stints with Bautista on the Orioles.
Source: Swifteradio.com
