Ahead by a century

Myrtle McGinnis still throws a pretty mean sinker for someone who turned 100 on Friday.

A lifelong baseball fan – don’t call her phone when her Toronto Blue Jays are on TV – the country’s latest centenarian was honoured Saturday night, chosen to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Canada/Cuba duel at the World Junior Baseball Championship at Port Arthur Stadium.

She arrived at the mound in style, taking a tour of the stadium in a shiny blue Corvette, adorned with the tournament logo on its hood.

Still sharp as a tack, McGinnis could barely contain her excitement after firing one in at Canadian catcher Kellin Deglan, born some 81 odd years after his temporary battery mate.

“I’m telling you, I felt like the Queen of England, and I just feel like I’m so lucky. And I hope all Canadians appreciate living here. And everybody else I wish good luck, health and may the Lord help you,” she said, surrounded by about 80 family members from around the country who joined McGinnis this weekend in Thunder Bay for her 100th birthday.

Baseball has come a long way since McGinnis was born. In 1910, for example, Cy Young was still an active pitcher, going 7-10 for the Cleveland Naps, a season that saw him pick up his 500th career win. The Chicago Cubs were just two years removed from their most recent World Series title and in the title hunt again, Nap Lajoie won the American League batting title, hitting .384 and Jack Coombs led the Majors with 31 wins, a regular occurrence in those days.

There’s more.

The New York Yankees were still known as the Highlanders, and there were teams named the Doves and Robins fighting for the NL cellar.

It matters little to McGinnis, who enjoys the game along with whatever else life brings her way.

“I love baseball. I like everything,” she said, adding it’s the throwing she likes so much about the sport. No wonder she seemed such a natural taking the field on Saturday.

Her nephew, Neil Murray, said seeing his aunt throw out the first pitch was a thrill of a lifetime.

“It’s absolutely wonderful. We’re just so honoured,” he said. “This is the culmination for my aunt Myrtle. She’s just a huge baseball fan and she just loves baseball and she just loves sports.”

McGinnis, despite her advanced age, said she’d take a wait-and-see approach when asked how she thought the home team might fare at the world juniors.

“I’ll have to watch them play first to know,” she said.

Canada went on to lose to the Cubans 3-0, but not before Team Canada manager Greg Hamilton gave her an autographed jersey and Cuba manager Jose Castillo supplied her with a gift from his country as well.