Stubby Clapp inducted into Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

St. Thomas, ONT- Stubby Clapp's place in Canadian baseball history is now official.

The Windsor-born infielder was enshrined in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday in St. Marys, Ontario, joining a six-person class that includes former Blue Jays centre fielder Devon White and early Montreal Expos ace Bill Stoneman.

Clapp, 53, has spent the better part of his life in service to the game — first as a player with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, where he reached the majors in 2001, and later as a manager and coach. He's been the Cardinals' first base coach since 2019.

His connection to the national team runs deep. Clapp first represented Canada as a junior player in 1991 and remained involved for decades, returning in later years as a coach at events including the World Baseball Classic and Pan Am Games.

Along the way, he delivered some memorable moments in a Canadian uniform — none bigger than a walk-off hit at the 1999 Pan Am Games that helped Canada stun the United States. Baseball Canada later named an annual award after him, given to a Canadian player who best embodies perseverance and character, a fitting tribute to someone who came to be known as "Captain Canada."

"This is an absolute honour," Clapp said when he learned of his induction. "I was totally caught off guard. It's a great blessing to get this news on my daughter's birthday."

A product of Windsor, Clapp is one of the more beloved figures to come out of the local sports community and Saturday, he got the recognition to match.