In terms of North American sporting pop culture, there is probably no higher honour than to be the subject of a namesake bobblehead giveaway game.
Pitcher Claire Eccles of the Victoria HarbourCats, who last year became the first female player in the West Coast League, will receive that rare accolade today at Wilson鈥檚 Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.
鈥淚t鈥檚 weird, but cool,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t doesn't look anything like me. But it鈥檚 an honour and I鈥檒l take it.鈥�
The HarbourCats play the sa国际传媒 Senior A champion Coquitlam Angels at 1 p.m. in an exhibition game. Eccles won鈥檛 start, but will be a reliever coming into the game at some point.
鈥淢y family and friends are more excited than me,鈥� the slider-throwing Eccles said.
鈥淚鈥檒l be a bit more nervous, because it鈥檚 my bobblehead day, but it鈥檚 the same game out there that you always play. That doesn鈥檛 change. I feel good.鈥�
The Coquitlam-Victoria exhibition set began with a game Saturday night at Royal Athletic Park. The honorary coach for the set is former Toronto Blue Jays star Kelly Gruber, the two-time AL all-star third-baseman, who rocked a mullet as part of the 1992 World Series champion team.
鈥淚 never got a bobblehead during my career, and so good on Claire,鈥� Gruber said.
Fans met Gruber and got pictures taken with him Saturday and can do the same during today鈥檚 game. 鈥淚 still have fans across sa国际传媒 鈥� it鈥檚 quite an honour and something that is special,鈥� said Gruber, who lives in Austin, Texas. 鈥淎nd I hear from those fans when the Jays aren鈥檛 playing well.鈥�
He will never forget being part of the franchise鈥檚 first World Series in 1992. 鈥淚 grew up a Houston Astros fan, and they finally won their first World Series. It was much the same way for the Jays鈥� fans across sa国际传媒 in 1992. It鈥檚 a memory that will never go away. It will always be a part of me.鈥�
Eccles joined the 2017 WCL runner-up HarbourCats this weekend after playing softball earlier this season as an outfielder for the UBC Thunderbirds.
鈥淭he [HarbourCats] guys have been welcoming again, although this year鈥檚 group seems quieter than last year鈥檚,鈥� she said.
Eccles baseball assignments this year include national team duty with sa国际传媒, which is preparing for the 2018 women鈥檚 World Cup from Aug. 22 to 31 in Florida. Although there are 12聽national teams in the baseball women鈥檚 World Cup, it is women's softball, however, that is in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
鈥淲omen鈥檚 baseball needs to get more exposure and grow bigger. I聽would love to see that,鈥� said Eccles, leaving no doubt which diamond game is her preference."
DIAMOND DUST: The HarbourCats (3-3) return to WCL action Tuesday night in Kelowna against the Falcons . . . There were 72 current or alumni WCL players selected last week in the 2018 MLB draft, including 12聽from the HarbourCats.
