June 2, 2023

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Over the years we have heard many well-delivered speeches from the podium under the tent at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys.

Like a Jesse Barfield throw from right field to nab a runner at the plate. Or a John Olerud sweet swing driving the ball to the wall in left centre. Or a curveball from Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.) for strike three at the knee. Or an ERA as tiny as Rich Harden’s (Victoria, BC) or a field or a museum manicured by Joe Wiwchar (Morden, Man.).

Montreal Expos president John McHale gave a great speech, as did his dear friend Jim Fanning. Lloyd Moseby made people laugh and cry. Larry Walker’s words were delf-deprecating and humble. Cooperstowner in Canada Hall of Famer Pat Gillick was one of the first to be inducted after the Hall moved to St. Marys, Ont. and he delivered a deeply moving speech. Jason Bay told his kids, “I was cool at one point.” Andre Dawson and Tom Henke, who both winged it and spoke from their hearts.

Or as our expert Kevin Glew suggests, there was Kirk McCaskill (Kapuskasing, Ont.) joking about giving up back-to-back homers to Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey, Jr. And how he saw Mrs. Griffey in the on-deck circle. Or Jeff Francis (North Delta, BC) sharing a story about his relentlessly positive dad, Mike. Or Dave McKay (Vancouver, BC) turning around so he wouldn’t see his brother in the audience. Or Rheal Cormier (Cap Pele, NB) getting emotional talking about his parents. And Wayne Norton, courageously making his speech in his wheelchair while his wife, Trudy, held the mike.

Yet, one that will always stand out to me was not made by an inductee but by former Blue Jays coach John Sullivan as he introduced closer Tom Henke, one of the most popular Blue Jays ever.

Sullivan’s speech was funny. It provided insight into the inductee. It told us a lot about the man Canadian fans from coast-to-coast knew as the Aqua Velva Man or the Terminator.

If I remember Sullivan read his speech and then at the end he went off script.

“Driving over here ...” said Sullivan as he began to lose control, “my wife Betsy ... asked me ... she asked ‘what kind of man Tom Henke was? ... Really?”

And he was crying as he said:

“Tom Henke ... is the type of man,” Sullivan sobbed, “... that you wish your daughter ... would marry.”

Now that’s an Triple-A plus compliment.

They didn’t need any applause signs under the tent that day as Sullivan hugged Henke and then Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) put on the Hall of Fame jacket.

Sullivan, nicknamed Bunker, we think because he had a bunker-like mentality, passed away Thursday night south of Dansville, N.Y., which is south of Rochester.

Sullivan began managing in minor league baseball in 1973 and in six seasons, he won four league championships and compiling a .601 winning percentage. His only under .500 club, the 1978 Omaha Royals finished three games below .500 yet still won their division and defeated the Indianapolis Indians for the American Association championship.

In 1979, Sullivan began a 15-year run as a big-league league coach, serving with the Royals (1979) under Hall of Famer manager Whitey Herzog and Atlanta Braves (1980–81, under Hall of Famer manager Bobby Cox). He then joined the Toronto Blue Jays (1982–93 under Cox, Jimy Williams, Cito Gaston).

Former Blue Jays coach John Sullivan and World Series hero Joe Carter

He earned World Series rings with the 1992-1993 Jays and an hour or so after Joe Carter’s game-winning home run against Mitch Williams gave Carter the ball which had landed in the Toronto bullpen.

Early in 1993 he made it known that he was retiring at the end of the season. One afternoon after early hitting at the King Dome I asked Sully what he was going to do next year?

“What do you mean by that?” he snarled.

Well, are you going to fish and hunt or stay with the team as a scout?

“Robert every day you are in this game you are scouting,” and off he stomped to the clubhouse.

Sullivan caught in 116 games with the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies in parts of five seasons. One of his best friends from his Blue Jays days was pitching coach (and hunting buddy) Galen Cisco.

Deepest sympathies are extended.

Elliott: R. I. P. Former Blue Jays coach John Sullivan