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The quote in the tile below is how Mike Janacek described his fellow Canadian, George Selkirk. As Mike relates, there haven’t been a lot of Canadians who made it to the majors, but there have sure been some good ones…and George Selkirk was one of the best. Check out Mike’s essay…I think you’ll enjoy it. -GL

“A good ole Canadian boy makes good!”

Let’s Remember George Selkirk

When I was a kid, I had a lot of trouble with Charley horses. A coach named Spike Garnish told me that if I ran on my toes, I might get over it. So, I did. It not only made me faster but also cleared up the leg trouble. When I was with Jersey City, Ernie Lanigan [a Jersey sportswriter] pinned the label on me. The name stuck. –George “Twinkle Toes” Selkirk (1)

Canada, known for its passion for hockey and lacrosse, has still produced many outstanding baseball players over the years. Hall of Famers Larry Walker and Ferguson Jenkins, MVPs Justin Morneau and Joey Votto, and yes, we will claim Freddie Freeman, Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne, and Triple Crown winner Tippy O’Neil. Baseball is played across Canada, but relatively few Canadians make it to the major leagues. This is mainly due to the short season, which lasts only from mid-May to late September, and the intense competition from hockey.

Interest in baseball took a massive leap in youth registrations in the years following the back-to-back Toronto Blue Jays World Series wins in 1992 and 1993. Baseball is not Canada’s first sporting priority, but despite these challenges, more Canadians are starting to reach the major league level and leaving their mark on the game.

One of the players we are most proud of was a little-known outfielder from a small community in North Central Ontario who made it to the big Leagues in 1934.

The most challenging assignment in the history of Major League Baseball would be replacing the great Babe Ruth. George ‘Twinkletoes’ Selkirk was given that task in 1935 when Ruth retired and George became the Yankees’ right fielder.   

Hailing from Huntsville, Ontario, Selkirk’s family moved to Rochester, New York, where he signed a contract at 18 with Rochester of the International League. George was originally a catcher, batting left-handed and throwing right. Selkirk switched to the outfield in a case of mistaken identity. Sent to the Cambridge Canners, who needed a catcher, George arrived at the ballpark with his catcher’s gear but entered the wrong clubhouse. “Hell, I don’t want a catcher; I want an outfielder,” said manager Dan Pasquelli (2)

Selkirk assured him that he was as good an outfielder as he was a catcher. He just wanted to play.

“I had to borrow a glove from one of the other players, and I was shaking all over. However, the breaks were with me. Not a single ball was batted into my field during the game. I got hold of a couple at the plate, and everything was fine. At least, so I thought. However, it wasn’t. After the game, there was hell-a-popping.” (3)

In 1934, Yankee left fielder Earle Combs crashed into the outfield wall, breaking his left shoulder and fracturing his skull. Selkirk was called up from Newark, where he was hitting .357, to replace Combs. He then batted .313 in 176 at-bats over the balance of the season.

Over his nine-year career, all as a Yankee, George played in 846 games and batted .290 with 108 home runs, 131 doubles, 41 triples, and 576 RBIs. He had two seasons with 100-plus RBIs, and batted over .300 in five seasons. He appeared in and won five World Series titles, was twice an All-Star, and was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983. Selkirk also had two games in which he drove in eight runs. While he was no Babe Ruth, George was an integral part of the Yankees’ five World Series wins during his career. 

After serving in the US Navy during World War II, George managed the Class A and Triple-A teams for the Yankees and Milwaukee Braves. Then, he became General Manager of the Washington Senators.

His manager, Hall of Famer Joe McCarthy, paid George Selkirk this compliment:

“Selkirk was one of my favorite players, taking over Ruth’s spot at bat and in right field; George was under heavy pressure that first year but came through brilliantly. No player ever had a tougher assignment.” (4)

Mike Janacek

1. Trachtenberg, “George Selkirk: The Answer To: Who Replaced Babe Ruth in Right Field for the Yankees?” Yankees Magazine, October 13, 1983, 18–19.

2 DeGeer, Sport Gossip, July 31, 1936.

3 DeGeer, Sport Gossip, July 31, 1936.

4 Trachtenberg, “George Selkirk,” 18

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