The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame removed former Blue Jays third baseman Kelly Gruber from its induction weekend festivities Friday after his actions during a B次元官网网址漃itch TalksB次元官网网址� panel discussion a day earlier.
Gruber made a brief, awkward appearance on stage at the Homestand Sports event Thursday night with host Ashley Docking and Rogers Sportsnet broadcaster Kevin Barker in Toronto. In a joint statement, Pitch Talks and the Hall said the proceedings at the downtown Rec Room venue were stopped 45 minutes early due to GruberB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渦nacceptable and inappropriate behaviour.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淏asically what happened was by the time he got on stage he appeared to be inebriated,B次元官网网址� said Homestand Sports founder Kevin Kennedy. B次元官网网址淗e was just acting sort of obnoxious, kind of erratic, he was confrontational with our host, Ashley, and quite quickly I knew that this wasnB次元官网网址檛 going in the right direction.B次元官网网址�
Gruber was one of several former Blue Jays tabbed to participate in various Hall events in the leadup to SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 ceremony in St. Marys, Ont., where former big-league stars Pedro Martinez and Lloyd Moseby will be inducted with baseball historian William Humber.
GruberB次元官网网址檚 representative, Don Graham, emailed a statement from the former player to The Canadian Press on Friday evening.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 two sides to every story and I would love to tell mine,B次元官网网址� Gruber said. B次元官网网址淢aybe what I said was taken the wrong way. My intention for being there was to honour my teammate and buddy Lloyd, and the interview part went south for a variety of reasons which I will detail at a later date.B次元官网网址�
On Thursday night, Gruber joined Docking and Barker on stage for what spectators thought would be a breezy, interactive chat about baseball as part of a Hall fundraiser. Instead, things turned uncomfortable shortly after Gruber was introduced.
The former player picked up a microphone from his chair and pointed across the stage at Docking.
B次元官网网址淗ey, we donB次元官网网址檛 really need this girl here, right?B次元官网网址� he said, to groans from the crowd.
Docking, who kept her cool throughout, had a quick reply.
B次元官网网址淲ow, respect at an all-time high I see,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淵eah, well IB次元官网网址檓 not vying for a job,B次元官网网址� Gruber replied.
B次元官网网址淥h youB次元官网网址檙e in a pleasant mood today, Kelly,B次元官网网址� Docking said. B次元官网网址淗i, nice to meet you.B次元官网网址�
Gruber later said he was kidding around, and that he could take any ribbing that might come his way. He then turned his attention to Barker, seated on a stool beside him.
B次元官网网址淵ou my friend, real quick, you replaced Zaunnie?B次元官网网址� Gruber asked, referring to Gregg Zaun, who was fired as a baseball analyst last year after multiple female Sportsnet employees complained about his inappropriate behaviour in the workplace.
B次元官网网址淲hoB次元官网网址檚 that?B次元官网网址� Barker said.
B次元官网网址淥K, weB次元官网网址檝e got to work on the wardrobe because itB次元官网网址檚 big shoes to fill,B次元官网网址� Gruber replied.
Moments later, Kennedy, who was by the soundboard area at the time, gestured at Docking to stop the event.
B次元官网网址淚t was erratic,B次元官网网址� Kennedy said. B次元官网网址淚t was kind of an unstable situation in my mind.B次元官网网址�
Venue staff made sure Gruber left the building shortly thereafter, Kennedy added.
B次元官网网址淚t is our firm belief that no one should be made to feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or should endure forms of harassment whether it be in the workplace, at home, or on the street,B次元官网网址� Pitch Talks and the Hall said in their statement. B次元官网网址漈he Homestand team, including talent and crew, is a family with a shared love for sports. We look out for each other, and we have a zero tolerance policy for hatred and bullying, including sexism and harassment of any kind.
B次元官网网址淭his event was meant to honour the Hall of Fame inductees for 2018, and to raise money for a good cause. Not only was Kelly GruberB次元官网网址檚 behaviour inappropriate, it defies the spirit of this special night as well as the entire weekend of slated programming for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.B次元官网网址�
Hall organizers also hold a celebrity golf tournament, banquet, autograph sessions and concerts as part of the weekend festivities.
B次元官网网址淭hese events are for the fans, it gives them a chance to interact with some of their favourite past players, sports media personalities, and other industry professionals,B次元官网网址� Kennedy said. B次元官网网址淲e expect all of our guests and speakers to approach these events with a level of professionalism, maturity, and above all else, human decency.
B次元官网网址淎nyone who cannot adhere to these basic standards has no place at any of the Homestand Talks.B次元官网网址�
Gruber, 56, made his big-league debut with the Blue Jays in 1984.
He won a World Series with Toronto in 1992 and closed out his career with an 18-game stint with the California Angels the following year.
The Canadian Press
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