Canadian’s Welcome Johnny Bench

As the Vancouver Canadians are in the stretch run with three home games remaining, this game welcomes former “Big Leaguer” Johnny Bench to the mound for the opening pitch.

Each year the Vancouver Canadians are one franchise that is far more professional that others and when they continue to bring former MLB players to the “Nat’ it’s no wonder why they sell-out most games.

That alone is one reason they have not only looked but requested an upgrade to the famous ball park on Canada’s West Coast.

The addition from what I am told is an extension to the bleachers on the left field side as well as the outfield fence, which should will increase the attendance from 5,100 to over 7,000 which help attract more fans to the already sold out Nat Bailey Stadium.

This game however is the annual Broadcasters Hall Of Fame induction ceremonies which will add two names to the wall in the lobby.

The two welcome additions are long time broadcaster for the Spokane Indians Bob Robertson and Vancouver Province writer Steve Ewen.

If you ask anyone Bob Robertson and Cougar football are in its 44th season Saturday afternoons and Cougar football than the veteran sports broadcaster is something sports fans welcome on a weekly basis.

While Cougar fans continue to show their approval and appreciation for this play-by-play broadcaster, his peers have voted him Washington Sportscaster of the Year 15 times.

Robertson, who was inducted into both the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame and the Inland Empire Hall of Fame in 2001-02, and in August 2004, received the prestigious Chris Schenkel Award at ceremonies held at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.

The long-time Cougar broadcaster began his association with WSU football in 1964 and with the exception of a three-year period in 1969-71, he’s been calling the Cougar action ever since.

Robertson, who is set to turn 85 on March 15, becomes the first non-Vancouver broadcaster to be inducted although his ties to the city run deep.

The former Templeton Jr. High standout eventually relocated to the United States with his family where he would soon find his way behind a microphone for the first time in 1947 and has not been off the air since.

Canada’s entry to the hall is Steve Ewen who is a well known writer for the Vancouver Province, which is a daily paper with the exception of a Saturday paper.

His insight into various sport is unique and  honest and he is one of the more honest writers in today’s world of sports, which is a “breath of fresh air” for sports fans.

If you’re going to get inducted into a hall of fame, what would be better than inviting Johnny Bench to the game and given the super stars summer, the line up this summer was impressive.

This summer, the Canadians will welcome former Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Steve Garvey on Wednesday, July 2^nd, as well as former Expos great Steve Rogers (July 23), former Toronto Blue Jays Shawn Green (August 19) and Tom ‘The Terminator’ Henke (August 12) and Johnny Bench to wind the season down.