Sometimes the honorary featured guest or guests at a sporting function seem so pitch-perfect as to be obvious choices 鈥� such as Vancouver 1954 Miracle Milers Roger Bannister and John Landy were at the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games.
The same with Pat Gillick for today鈥檚 2013 West Coast League all-star game at Royal Athletic Park.
Although an American, the man has been vitally integral to the history of baseball in sa国际传媒, particularly as GM of the Toronto Blue Jays from 1978 to 1994 in a span that included the 1992 and 1993 World Series champion Jays.
鈥淏efore the Montreal Expos came along in 1969, and later the Blue Jays, the dream of Canadian kids was to play in the NHL,鈥� noted Gillick, now senior adviser to the Philadelphia Phillies, as he made several appearances Monday around town at all-star functions.
鈥淧utting major-league baseball in sa国际传媒 allowed young people to see there is an alternative to hockey; and provided baseball idols for people in sa国际传媒 to look up to.鈥�
He pointed to Victoria as an example, and not only because it is hosting the WCL all-star game with 3,100 tickets already sold for it.
鈥淭here is a culture and history of baseball here in Victoria, which has produced major-leaguers such as Michael Saunders and Rich Harden,鈥� noted Gillick, who also won a World Series as GM of the Phillies, and who has also been GM of the Mariners and Orioles.
鈥淚鈥檝e been here four or five times. This is a baseball town.鈥�
Gillick will address the 50 WCL all-stars this afternoon at Royal Athletic during the major league scouting combine that will be held before the home-run derby at 5 p.m. and game at 7 p.m.
He rated the WCL, Northwoods League of the U.S. midwest and Cape Cod League as the three premier summer-collegiate leagues of the several operating across North America and added the Phillies assign scouts to all three.
鈥淪ome of the all-star players you see playing [tonight] will be in the majors,鈥� he predicted.
And this is a guy who would know.
But only a percentage will make it, of course.
鈥淵ou have to have passion, dedication and love for the game to get to the major leagues,鈥� said Gillick.
鈥淏aseball is one of the most difficult sports to play because there are so many different skills to learn, both on defence and offence. You have to be a self-starter and you have to want it. It鈥檚 about repetition, repetition, repetition.鈥�
Gillick鈥檚 message to the players today will be simple: 鈥淔ollow you passion, whatever that passion is 鈥� but have a work ethic about it. If you work hard, something good is going to happen. Throw yourself into it and let fly.鈥�
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