Six legends to be enshrined at CBHFM’s June 20 Induction Day
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Submitted by Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (CBHFM) is hosting its annual Induction Ceremony June 20 on the hall of fame grounds in St. Marys, which will honour six new inductees.
The Induction Ceremony under the ceremonial tent is free to attend. There will also be an autograph session hosted after the Ceremony.
Schedule of events, Induction Day, June 20
• 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Ballgames on the site
• 9:15-10:15 a.m. – Inductee press conference inside Museum (386 Church St. S.) (media only)
• 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Museum open to public for tours
• 1 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. – Induction Ceremony for Devon White, Bill Stoneman, Stubby Clapp, Kate Psota, Paul Runge and Jim Baba, and the Jack Graney award presentation for Hazel Mae at the hall of fame
• 3:45-5:15 p.m. – Autograph session with inductees and special guests (Devon White, Bill Stoneman, Stubby Clapp, Kate Psota, Paul Runge, Rob Thomson, Lloyd Moseby, Steve Rogers, Matt Stairs, Jeff Francis, Ashley Stephenson, Pat Gillick, Gord Ash, Billy Atkinson, George Kottaras, Rob Butler, Steve Green)
*Celebrities signing autographs are subject to change.
*Autographs are not guaranteed and autograph session can only last set amount of time due to other private events.
Autograph session rules:
• Members are $35 each to enter autograph session;
• Non-members are $45 each to enter autograph session;
• Autographs are not guaranteed;
• Hall of fame 2026 members enter first;
• Autograph session is 90 minutes long;
• Autographs are limited to one item per person per inductee/special guest;
• Autographs will be signed on a first-come first-serve basis;
• Hall of Fame staff reserve the right to cut the line at any time;
• No posed photos.
Former Toronto Blue Jays centre fielder Devon White will be inducted alongside national team legend and current St. Louis Cardinals coach Stubby Clapp (Windsor), former Women’s National Team star Kate Psota (Burlington) and early Montreal Expos ace and later executive Bill Stoneman.
Longtime Baseball Canada executive director Jim Baba (Moose Jaw, Sask.) will also be inducted posthumously.
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s veterans committee has also elected former major league umpire Paul Runge (St. Catharines).
“We look forward to celebrating the outstanding careers of this year’s inductees in St. Marys this June,” said Scott Crawford, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s director of operations. “Each of them, in their own way, has made a tremendous impact on the game of baseball in our country.”
Stubby Clapp
“This is an absolute honour to receive the call from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame,” said Clapp. “I was totally caught off guard. It’s a great blessing to get this news on my daughter’s birthday.”
Born in 1973 in Windsor, Clapp is known as “Captain Canada” for his long commitment to the national team. He joined the Junior National Team in 1991 and helped them to a gold medal at the World Youth Baseball Championship in Brandon, Man., that summer.
Five years later, the scrappy infielder was selected in the 36th round of the 1996 MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. In total, Clapp played 23 games with the Cardinals and 11 seasons in the pro ranks.
But even during his pro career, Clapp never forgot his roots. In 1999, he suited up for Canada at the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Man., and delivered a walk-off, bases-loaded single in Canada’s extra-inning, upset win over the U.S. to help propel Canada to an eventual bronze medal.
Following his playing career, Clapp managed the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds to Pacific Coast League championships in 2017 and 2018. That earned him a promotion to the position of first base coach with the Cardinals in 2019, a post he has held for the last seven seasons.
Over the years, Clapp has also served as a coach for the national team, including on the 2015 Pan Am Games gold-medal-winning squad. Clapp was inducted onto Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence in January 2025.
Devon White
“Receiving the phone call last night informing me that I was being inducted into the Canadian hall of fame was a dream come true! Toronto has always felt like home to me and to now be etched into history is a legacy I could have only hoped for. I am deeply humbled and grateful.”
Born in 1962 in Kingston, Jamaica, White cemented his reputation as one of the greatest defensive centre fielders in major league history while with the Toronto Blue Jays from 1991-1995.
After being selected in the sixth round of the 1981 MLB draft by the California Angels, he spent parts of six big-league seasons with the club before being traded to the Blue Jays on Dec. 2, 1990. In his first season with the Blue Jays, White batted .282 with 17 home runs and 33 stolen bases and captured his first of five consecutive Gold Glove awards.
He followed that up with another strong season in 1992 that saw him lead the majors with a 3.9 dWAR (Defensive Wins Above Replacement). In the World Series that year, he made what is arguably the most famous defensive play in franchise history. In the fourth inning of Game 3, Atlanta Braves slugger Dave Justice belted a ball deep to centre field at SkyDome. White leapt into the wall and made a miraculous catch to begin what should’ve been a triple play.
White returned in 1993 to serve as a catalyst atop the Blue Jays’ order and help them to their second consecutive championship. He collected two more Gold Gloves in 1994 and 1995 before signing with the Florida Marlins.
White still ranks in the top 10 in several all-time Blue Jays statistical categories, including second in stolen base percentage (84.6 per cent), sixth in stolen bases (126) and seventh in triples (34).
Since hanging up his playing spikes after 17 major league seasons in 2001, White has worked as a coach in the minor-league ranks. His most recent position is special assistant to player development in the Blue Jays’ organization.
Kate Psota
“I was surprised to get that call from Scott on a frosty January morning. I am genuinely honoured and humbled to be part of the 2026 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction class,” said Psota. “There is no better feeling than representing Canada on the international stage. I have always been so proud to be associated with such an amazing group of women and our support staff. I am excited to share the weekend with the other inductees and all of the people who helped me get here.”
Born in 1986 in Burlington, Psota joined the Women’s National Team in 2004 and evolved into one of its best and longest tenured players.
Psota honed her skills with the Burlington Organized Minor Baseball Association (BOMBA) where she cracked the roster of a boys’ Triple-A rep team at age nine. In 2002, she became the first female to be named the Baseball Ontario Junior Player of the Year.
When the Women’s National Team was formed in 2004, Psota made the team and developed into a star at first base. In 2008, she won Baseball Canada’s Ashley Stephenson Award, which is handed out annually to a women’s team member to recognize their on-field accomplishments, team spirit and leadership. She followed that up by being named the Women’s National Team MVP in back-to-back years (2009, 2010).
In her 15 seasons competing for Canada, Psota was on teams that captured six Women’s World Cup medals, including silvers at the 2008 and 2016 tournaments. In total, Psota was named to the World Cup All-Star team four times (2010, 2012, 2016 and 2018).
She hung up her playing spikes in 2021 and became a coach with the Women’s National Team. For her efforts, she was inducted into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
Jim Baba
“We are incredibly proud of our dad and the impact he had on the baseball community across Canada. He poured his heart into baseball and we are deeply grateful to celebrate the legacy he leaves behind. While we wish he were here to experience this honour himself, it means so much to see his contributions recognized in such a meaningful way.” – Melani, Jamie and Mitch Baba
Born in 1956 in Moose Jaw, Sask., Jim Baba devoted more than three decades to the growth and development of baseball in Canada.
Throughout his career, Jim Baba’s greatest passion was coaching, and he taught countless National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) courses. In the early ‘90s, Jim Baba began his association with Baseball Canada, coaching and managing national teams at international competitions, including at the 1991 Pan Am Games.
In 2000, Jim Baba became Baseball Canada’s Manager of Baseball Operations prior to transitioning to the executive director position. Some of his most notable achievements as executive director included supporting men’s senior national team gold medal wins at the 2011 and 2015 Pan Am Games and overseeing the implementation of national programs like Rally Cap and Girls Baseball.
Between 2002 and 2021, he also served as a technical official for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) at 25 international events, including Olympic qualifiers, Pan Am Games, the Women’s Baseball World Cup and the World Baseball Classic.
For his efforts, he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.
He passed away on Sept. 12, 2025, at the age of 69.
Bill Stoneman
“I was totally surprised to hear the news that I would be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame,” said Stoneman. “I am looking forward to joining the group in St. Marys in June.”
Born in 1944 in Oak Park, Ill., Stoneman was the ace of the Montreal Expos during their early years. He later became a key executive with the club.
Chosen by the Expos from the Chicago Cubs in the 1968 expansion draft, the right-hander cracked the Expos’ inaugural Opening Day roster and on April 17, 1969, in just the ninth regular-season game in Expos’ history, he tossed a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium. This made him the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter for a Canadian major league team.
In 1971, Stoneman recorded a career-high 17 wins and posted a 3.15 ERA in 39 appearances (38 starts) and established then Expos’ records in complete games (19), innings pitched (294-2/3) and strikeouts (251). He followed that up with another outstanding season in 1972 when he registered a career-best 2.98 ERA in 35 starts. On Oct. 2 of that year, he threw his second no-hitter. This one came at home, at Montreal’s Jarry Park, in a 7-0 victory over the New York Mets. This made him the first pitcher from a Canadian major league team to throw a no-hitter in Canada.
After one more season with the Expos, Stoneman completed his playing career with the California Angels in 1974. He returned to the Expos as an assistant to the president in 1983 and rose to the position of vice president of baseball operations. Following the 1999 season, he was hired to be the general manager of the Angels. In 2002, he assembled the Angels’ only World Series-winning team.
Paul Runge
“This news came as a wonderful surprise and I am truly honored to be recognized,” said Runge. “It is a pleasure to be accepted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.”
Born in 1940 in St. Catharines, Runge was a highly respected National League umpire for parts of 25 major league seasons.
He polished his skills as a minor league umpire for parts of nine seasons before graduating to the National League in 1973. Over his quarter century as a big-league umpire, Runge was selected to umpire nine National League Championship Series, four World Series and three All-Star Games.
On Oct. 23, 1993, he was umpiring second base when Blue Jays slugger Joe Carter belted his walk-off, World Series-winning home run against Phillies closer Mitch Williams.
In total, Runge umpired 3,194 regular season MLB games, 43 championship series contests and 22 World Series games. Just three Canadians have umpired more MLB games: Bob Emslie (Guelph), Jim McKean (Montreal, Que.) and Ernie Quigley (Newcastle, N.B.).
In 1998, Runge became the National League’s director of umpires. He served in that post through 1999.
As a family tradition, his father, Ed, was an American League umpire from 1954-1970 and his son, Brian, umpired in the National League from 1999-2012.
During the Induction Ceremony, the 2025 Jack Graney Award will be present to Hazel Mae.
The St. Marys based shrine presents this award annually to a member of the media who has made significant contributions to baseball in Canada through their life’s work.
“Hazel Mae has set the bar extremely high for Major League Baseball’s in-game reporters,” said Crawford. “For many years, her in-depth player interviews and in-game insights have often been the highlight of Sportsnet’s Blue Jays coverage, but her impact on baseball in Canada reaches far beyond her work on the field. She has been a tremendous ambassador for baseball across the country.”
Born in the Philippines, Mae grew up in Toronto and got her start in sports journalism at the campus radio station at York University.
Her professional career in the Toronto sports media began in 2001 when she was hired to anchor the morning edition of Sportsnet Central and was the host of Jzone, a weekly show devoted to the Blue Jays.
Prior to the 2004 season, she accepted a position in Boston as the lead anchor on the New England Sports Network’s (NESN) Sportsnet desk. She also hosted The Ultimate Red Sox Show, which was NESN’s weekly Red Sox show and was part of the Sox broadcast team in 2004 when they captured their first World Series in 86 years.
In 2008, Mae was the first on-air talent hired by the MLB Network where she worked on the Emmy Award-winning studio show, MLB Tonight, and hosted a program called Quick Pitch, while also working as a sideline reporter for Thursday Night Baseball.
In September 2011, she returned to Sportsnet to anchor the 6 p.m. edition of Sportsnet Central. Four years later, she began her current job as in-game reporter during Toronto Blue Jays telecasts. She also serves as guest host of Blue Jays Central throughout the season and has become the go-to reporter for in-depth interviews for Sportsnet’s Blue Jays coverage.
In recent years, she has also worked for TBS as an in-game reporter during the post-season.
Over the years, she has also generously lent her talent to numerous charitable events across the country as an emcee.
“Thank you to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s board of directors and selection committee,” said Mae. “Joining the distinguished group of Jack Graney Award winners leaves me feeling deeply humbled and profoundly grateful. This group includes incredible writers, broadcasters and storytellers whom I have long admired, been inspired by and proudly call colleagues and friends. While each of us reached this milestone through our own very unique path, we all share a common passion and unwavering love for the game, and for this great country. Words cannot begin to express how honoured I am by this recognition.”