August 23, 2024

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Hall of Famer George Brett thinks there is another contract in Joey Votto's future.

“It's a shame he could not finish his career with the Cincinnati Reds,” said Brett Thursday night. “Cincinnati should sign him to a one-day contract and have him retire as a member of the Reds.

“I didn't even know he was from Toronto. I know now that he's Canadian, but he's not a Toronto Blue Jay. He's a Cincinnati Red.” 

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As for what other baseball people had to say about the second-round pick of the Reds in 2002, who influenced many young Canadians to take up the game, in the same way as RHP Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) and Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC):

”I was called down to the stadium to see a couple of prospects the Reds were looking at in a pre-draft workout in 2002. There was a shortstop-pitcher that had all the tools with a great arm. There was a kid who could really hit.

"After watching batting practice. I said if I was doing the drafting  I would be taking the hitter first. The kid from Canada was born to hit. He proved it. An amazing career. He was passionate about the game with a total commitment to hitting. Congrats Joey on a tremendous  career.” _ Johnny Bench, played 17 years for the Reds, Hall of Famer, class of 1989.

“Everyone talks about how great Joe was on offence, but one thing I'll never forget is his relentless pursuit of becoming a Gold Glove first baseman. He was drafted as a catcher and a few months later became a first baseman. His move to first wasn't easy. His work ethic was unreal. Every morning he would be out there putting in the work. Years later, he earned that Gold Glove.

“I remember getting a call from him in November 2011, telling me that he won. That was the best news I've ever gotten as a coach. And to top it all off, he invited my family and I to the Gold Glove ceremony in New York to share the accomplishment with him. A week later we're home and a package arrives from Rawlings. Inside is the Gold Glove Trophy, the most incredible gift I've ever received. People knew he was an amazing ball player, but to me he's an even better person off the field.” _ Freddie Benavides, bench coach Cincinnati Reds.

"I will always remember Joey for being the first one to the park, I was the coach's kid and Joey beat us there almost every home game. He even had his own key to Connorvale Park. I will always remember arriving at the park and seeing Joey with a bucket of balls, soft tossing them himself at home plate, emptying the bucket and then being able to walk to CF and collect all the balls and hit them back to home plate. Not many balls ended up in left or right field.” _ Kevin Breitner (Mississauga, Ont.), former Etobicoke Ranger.

“Unfortunately I only saw him play spring training games, both the Royals and Reds are in Arizona. I do know that his name is synonymous with the Reds. He is obviously a great hitter. and he is a great guy -- (former Red and Blue Jays 3B) Scotty Rolen came to our Clubby Night (held the night before the start of spring training each night where Brett entertains the clubhouse guys with the Royals) when he was with the Reds and told me in my living room.” _ George Brett, Hall of Famer, class of 1999.

“Joey was a terrific player. He mostly led by example more than words. He should be a Hall of Famer.“ _ Reds scout Chris Buckley, former Reds and Toronto Blue Jays scouting director.

“I remember watching Joey hit in the cage at Bob Smyth’s indoor facility with John Castleberry (Reds scout). It was something that I’ve never seen to this day. In multiple rounds and probably 50 swings, Joey squared every ball up. He never mishit one.” _ Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC), Minnesota Twins scout head of Canadian Scouting Bureau and most experienced scout in Canada.

“Joey Votto has been the face of the Cincinnati Reds for almost two decades. He will go down as one of the greatest Reds of all time and deserves a place in Cooperstown.” _ Bill Byckowski (Erin, Ont.) Cincinnati Reds cross checker.

“What I'll always remember about Joey is at a young age (high school), with all of us learning how to hit at Bobby Smyth's facility, Joey had an unwavering focus, tireless work ethic, and dedication to be perfect at an imperfect game. He had a professional mentality before he was a pro. For those around him, myself specifically, this left an indelible mark on a commitment to excellence that I carried with me into my collegiate and amateur career. Another thing that stands out to me and I'll always remember, I'm confident we'll continue to see this into his retirement, is his generous spirit and willingness to give you his time. It could be for a moment, a quick selfie, a conversation about hitting, signing autographs, a chirp back at you or a smile and wave, his personality shone through his interactions with fans.

“This connection went beyond the professional spotlight creating countless memories for kids, former teammates, coaches, friends/family, baseball fans of all ages across the country. We as a family saw this firsthand last week, what we now know to be one of his final pro games, cheering him on, he took the time to chat with my kids and pose for a selfie while on deck in Scranton Penn. with the Bisons. I think his legacy for Canadian baseball will come out in all these stories and how he made people feel valued with his time.” _ Mark Capone (Etobicoke, Ont.), former University of British Columbia Thunderbirds infielder and current member of the 2024 Etobicoke Rangers COBA champs.

“I wish Joey all the best in retirement and congratulate him on an amazing career. He is an outstanding representative and supporter of Baseball Canada, whether it is his time as a player, supporting our alumni or sharing advice with our up-and-coming junior team players as he did in April when our team was training at the Blue Jays player development complex in Dunedin. He has and continues to do so much for baseball in Canada. Thank you Joey!” _ Jason Dickson (Ottawa, Ont.), Baseball Canada CEO.

“When Joey was a 17 year old high schooler, I had recently retired from playing and begun to coach my own young kids.Bob Smyth was operating the indoor training facility in Etobicoke and he invited me to bring all the Etobicoke neighborhood kids I could find in one night a week, at no charge, so I could coach and teach them baseball skills. One night I arrived a bit early with my own sons to get ready and noticed a young player hitting in the batting cage off the pitching machine. The sound of the barrel hitting the ball was the thing that I remember.I turned to Bobby Smyth to ask who this kid was and, from his fold-up lawn chair and between drags on his cigarette, he told me it was Joey Votto and I should know because Joey played for my dad at Bloordale when he was a kid. I watched for another few minutes before I turned to Bob and told him the kid looked like a potential big leaguer to me. Bob's reply was typical of him.  He said to me with a chuckle, "Johnny, he's not going to be an f—in’ big leaguer. He's going to be an f—in’ big league all-star!" _ John Ferracuti (Etobicoke, Ont.) manager Etobicoke Rangers senior club.

“Joey gave so much to his community, often without fanfare or recognition. While his loyalty to the Cincinnati Reds and dedication to his craft were well-known, Joey’s true character shone brightest in the quiet moments. Whether it was supporting the Etobicoke Rangers by donating equipment, offering words of encouragement, posing for photos, or signing autographs, Joey was always there for the next generation without hesitation. He extended the same generosity to his Cincinnati community. Joey wasn’t just a great player—he was a genuinely good guy who made a difference wherever he went. Not sure Joey realizes how much he’s impacted the lives of people he’s crossed paths with over his lifetime. It is not easy to be a pro athlete at the highest level while remaining grounded and humble. Great player, better person. Pretty good combination if you ask me.” _ Mike (The General) Gauthier (Menomonee Falls, Wisc.), former Etobicoke Ranger.

“Joey Votto was Mr. Consistency, a real superstar. He's another great, impactful Canadian player.” _ John Gibbons, New York Mets bench coach, former Toronto Blue Jays manager.

“Obviously his unwavering approach and discipline at the plate is highly regarded, but what has impressed me is his toughness, work ethic and leadership. Toughness in the majors is knowing that your name is in pen everyday in the lineup and taking care of yourself physically and mentally to bring your best on a daily basis. Joey knew what it took to answer the call. One example is all I need to describe Joey’s work ethic. It came when I arrived at our stadium fairly early and Joey was already at first base taking ground balls -- to this day as a player and coach, I’ve never witnessed an opposing player working on defence that early in the day on the road. And when it comes to his leadership, not only how he led by example, but I’ve always admired his excitement during his teammates’ success which just epitomizes what a leader is. Congrats on a great career Joey! Proud to call you a Canadian teammate!” _ James Henderson (Calgary, Alta.), Okotoks Dawgs Hall of Famer, Milwaukee Brewers, assistant pitching coach.

“Joey Votto was a true role model for young athletes. He never forgot the coaches and players that helped him become an outstanding major league player (especially his former Etobicoke coach Bobby Smyth).” _ Pat Gillick, Philadelphia Phillies, Hall of Fame, class of 2011.

“What I'll always remember about Joey Votto was his incredible work habits as a young professional. His relentless desire led him to become the elite of the elite. A true professional on and off the field. A hometown kid that grew up to be a generational player.” _ Rick Johnston (Peterborough, Ont.), co-owner The Baseball Zone/Terriers.

“When we first opened The Baseball Zone, this guy walked in and asked for a couple of balls so he could do some tee work. I got up from behind my desk and gave him two balls. He started to walk away and returned. He correctly said, "You're new to baseball, right?” He wanted two buckets of balls – not two balls. I got to know him a little over the winters ... he just may have been the most polite person to ever walk into the building.” _ Mike McCarthy (Hamilton, Ont.), former co-owner of The Baseball Zone.

“When I think amateur ball in this province I think of Greg Cranker and Mr. Ron Cabot at Erindale, George Moore and Glenn Alvin Turner in Oakville, Jim Lutton in Oshawa, Howie Birnie in Leaside, and I guess I have to mention Bernie Soulliere in Windsor (he always did his best for Windsor which usually meant trying to stick it to Etobicoke and Toronto) In Etobicoke, we had Nifty (Bobby Smyth), Smoothie (Ric Fleury), Whitey (Steve Breitner), Bobby Hunter, Nick Rico, and Carmen Bush. -- true volunteers and champions of amateur ball.

“When I think of Joey, I am always impressed with the way he respects his Etobicoke legends/mentors and the way he goes out of his way to ensure he mentions them as part of his baseball development. When I think of Joey, I will always remember him as somebody who respected the game to the maximum, who worked as hard as he could to be the best, and how he always took care of those who helped him become the player he was.” _ Joe Jurus (Milton, Ont.), former Etobicoke Ranger.

“The Prince of Process, Joey Votto made pitchers work, knew his strike zone and had a rare combo of discipline and damage along with hitting knowledge.” _ Former Blue Jays reliever Dan Plesac, MLB Network.

“Joey Votto was an outstanding teammate who quickly made his mark on our Etobicoke Junior team as a call-up. His ability to fit in seamlessly, coupled with his strong work ethic, made him a valuable asset both on and off the field. While coaching at West Toronto, I often saw Joey in the offseason dedicating himself to training at Pro Teach Baseball facility. He consistently took the time to engage with our players, offering guidance and encouragement, which made him an inspiring figure for young ball players. His commitment to improvement and his willingness to share his experiences left a lasting impression on everyone around him.” _ David Quattrociocchi (Etobicoke, Ont.), coach of the Canada Summer Games winning Gold medal team and former Etobicoke Ranger.

“Congratulations to Joey Votto on a historic career. A select few ever become the ‘face of the franchise' as Joey did. His impact on the city of Cincinnati and all of Canada was and will remain remarkable for a very long time.” _ Jamie Romak (London, Ont.), Tip O;Neill award winner 2020, Great Lake Canadians.

"What I’ll always remember about Joey is how unapologetic he was to be himself. A future Hall of Famer that no matter how large or successful he became, never forgot his roots. Joey never missed an opportunity to give back to his community, or pay homage to those who impacted his life or career over the years. In our interactions, I never once saw him shy away from a picture, an autograph or even a five-minute conversation with someone who just wanted to say hi. There’s no denying his talent on the diamond, but even harder to refute how he continuously demonstrates and exemplifies being a class act off the field as well.” _ Tony Tedesco (Etobicoke, Ont.), who retired from the Rangers in 2023.

“Joey was always convicted with his work ethic and his hitting approach, dating back to his early days in the minor league off-season hitting workouts at The Baseball Zone in the cold off season months with a bunch of pro ball guys tuning up for spring training it was very clear what he wanted to do at the plate and how his preparation was at an elite level carrying him through a tremendous career and inspiring many young Canadian players.” _ Scott Thorman (Kitchener, Ont.) minor league field coordinator, Kansas City Royals.

“I remember there were two teams that were very high on drafting Joey in 2002. Obviously, the Cincinnati Reds and the other was the New York Yankees. Funny thing is after Joey had a private workout for the Yankees, the person that drove him to Riverfront. Stadium in Cincinnati was Yankee scout Richard Clemons.” _ Sean Travers (Mississauga, Ont.), Mississauga North Tigers.

“The thing I will always remember about Joey is even as a young kid he had a passion for the game which was relentless. His work ethic to get better at the game he loved was something I think his friends and teammates all appreciated. He is also someone who always gave credit to those who helped him along the way and appreciated how good some of his teammates were and their love for the game. What I will always remember about Joey is the respect for which he treated the game and his place in it as a major leaguer. He never saw himself as someone who was bigger than the game. He played the game hard and respected the history and those who not only came before him but played alongside him and the younger players who are the future of this beautiful game.” _ Andrew Tulshi (Etobicoke, Ont.) former Etobicoke Ranger.

“What I’ll remember most about Joey Votto is if the point of the game is simply to get on base, not many did it better. In terms of on-base percentage since World War II, Votto is on the short list with illustrious names like Barry Bonds, Ted Williams and Albert Pujols. He retires as the greatest Canadian position player ever, even ahead of Larry Walker who he will one day join at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Early in his career, people weren’t sure how to categorize his personality but by the end, everyone saw how much Votto loved the game and how genuinely funny he was. Whether it was dressing up as Mountie or giving Chris “Mad Dog” Russo a tongue in cheek tongue lashing on MLB Network, Votto was hilarious and an example of how ball players, as great as they may be, can be colorful and playful off the field. He was a cerebral hitter and an entertainer wrapped up in a symbolic Canadian flag.” _ Adnan Virk (Morven, Ont.) MLB Network.

“Every time Joey stepped into the box he had a game plan for that at bat. And that was never a good thing for the opposing pitcher” _ Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC), who played 17 seasons for the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals OF, Hall of Fame, class of 2020.