Blue Jays founder Don McDougall leaving his mark on Canadian communities.
Former Labatt's Breweries President and Toronto Blue Jays Co-founder Don McDougall is building a baseball and recreational complex on the Mill River Resort in western P.E.I.
As a youngster growing up in western P.E.I., Don McDougall developed a love for baseball, a sport that would play a big role in his professional career.
McDougall and his friends spent many hours playing baseball under what can be described as unique conditions but displayed a true passion for a sport long referred to as America's pastime.
«I played baseball in a cow pasture (in Bloomfield Station),» said McDougall. Kids today no longer have to play in cow pastures or make-shift fields, and they will soon have access to what McDougall said will be one of the finest baseball facilities in Atlantic Canada.
The new facility will be located across from the West Prince Curling Club on the grounds of the Mill River Resort.
«We hope and will continue to work with others to ensure this facility serves as a catalyst for the development of baseball not just in West Prince but all across Prince Edward Island,» said McDougall. The complex will be named Don McDougall Park.
McDougall, who grew up in Bloomfield Station and attended a one-room school, owns the Mill River Resort and donated seven acres of prime land for the new facility.
«This is a very special day for me,» said McDougall, who was thrilled to share the announcement with family members in attendance. «The naming of this state-of-the art facility as the Don McDougall Park is simply overwhelming.» Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster, former Major League Baseball player and Manager Buck Martinez participated in the announcement as a representative for the Jays Care Foundation.
Martinez and McDougall have been friends since 1981.
That is when Martinez was traded to the Blue Jays and McDougall was president of Labatt Breweries, owners of the Jays.
In fact, it was McDougall who led the way in Labatt's being granted an expansion team for Toronto. The Blue Jays began play in 1977.
«When (McDougall) makes up his mind to do something, it gets done,» said Martinez. «He had an idea when he was the president of Labatt's Breweries in Ontario, that they needed a vehicle to sell more beer. Beer and baseball, it was a natural thing.» Martinez explained McDougall originally struck a deal for Labatt's to purchase and move San Francisco Giants to Toronto.
However, a last-ditch attempt to save the Giants kept the team in San Francisco.
«But he done such a great job of campaigning for the City of Toronto, the province of Ontario, the country of Canada, that baseball always remembered his efforts and decided, 'We are going to give Don McDougall a baseball team,'» said Martinez. «They awarded a franchise, the Toronto Blue Jays, an expansion (team), in the American League. When he sets out his mind to do something, he generally gets it done.» Don McDougall Park is expected to be built in two phases. Phase 1, which will include the baseball field, is expected to be completed in August 2025 with construction beginning in the spring.
«When you see the impact (McDougall) has on this part of P.E.I., West Prince, it's pretty special,» said Martinez, who will enter his 37th year as a Jays' broadcaster. «He's so aware that he wants to give back so much to this community. It's a great privilege to be here.» Like McDougall, Martinez also spent a lot of time playing baseball growing up. Martinez recalled his father made a built a field in the backyard of the family home.
«We played baseball from sunup to sundown and that's all we did,» said Martinez. «We didn't know exit velocity, or we didn't know spin rate, we didn't know how far we hit it but we knew we loved to play baseball. Because of that, I was able to play baseball for a long time.» Martinez noted this was his first-ever visit to P.E.I.
«Ricky Vaive (who grew up in Charlottetown) kept telling me I needed to come here when he was playing for the (Toronto Maple) Leafs, but I never made it out here,» said Martinez. «It's great to be here now and I hope to come back in the summer when (the weather is) a little bit nicer.» Martinez smiled when asked if that could possibly be for Opening Day at Don McDougall Park.
«When you think of Mill River and you think of Don McDougall, when he says it's time to do something, he's going to deliver,» said Martinez. «He delivered the Blue Jays, he delivered Mill River and now he has delivered Don McDougall Field. It's an honor to be a friend of Don McDougall's.» For all your current Toronto Blue Jays and MLB baseball news check out BlueJaysCentral.com on Facebook, X and Blue Sky.
SOURCE: The Gaurdian
Credit: Jason Simmonds
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JANVIER 27 | 85 ANSWERS Blue Jays founder Don McDougall leaving his mark on Canadian communities. Do we need more baseball parks like Don McDougall Park and Recreational Complex to help the development of baseball in Canada? |
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