ST. MARYS, Ontario - Reliever Tom Henke, early major leaguer George "Dandy" Wood and Baseball America founder Allan Simpson have been chosen for induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Henke was 41-42 with 311 saves from 1982-95, 17th on the career list. The Taos, Mo., native had a record 217 saves for the Toronto Blue Jays and also pitched for Texas and St. Louis.
In its announcement about Henke's selection, the Hall of Fame's website reported:
"An imposing figure on the mound standing 6'5" and wearing large-rimmed glasses, Henke's best season with the Blue Jays was 1987, when he was named to the All-Star team and led the American League with 34 saves. In 1992, his final season with the Blue Jays, he chalked up a pair of saves and pitched in three of the Blue Jays four amazing one-run victories over the Atlanta Braves, bringing home Canada's first World Series title. Henke, who also made the All-Star team as a Cardinal in 1995, struck out an average of 9.8 hitters per nine innings over his career."
Henke told reporters he is looking forward to returning to Canada, which he considers a second home, for the induction ceremonies at the hall in St. Marys.
The other inductees: Wood was the eighth Canadian to reach the major leagues, and one of only three to come from Prince Edward Island. He hit. 273 played from 1980-92 for Worcester, Detroit, Philadelphia and Cincinnati of the National League, Baltimore of the American Association, Philadelphia of the Players League and Philadelphia of the American Association.
Simpson is from Kelowna, British Colombia.
All three men will be inducted on June 18.
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