As a youngster, Morneau used to imagine he was Larry Walker as he endlessly smashed whiffle balls all over his back yard.  When Morneau made it to the Major Leagues two years ago, Walker, indisputedly the greatest Canadian hitter of all time, sent a signed bat over to him that read: "Justin: Make Canada proud!."  The two left-handed sluggers then teamed up this past March when the greatest Team Canada ever assembled took on the rest of the world in the inaugural World Baseball Classic (WBC).  Morneau was the clean-up hitter and Walker, who had retired a year earlier, was a coach.  Morneau knocked in 130 runs this past season, tying the season record by a Canadian, previously held by who else but the legendary Walker from Maple Ridge, British Columbia.  Now, they are the only two Canadians ever to win an MVP award.  Walker claimed the National League's MVP award in 1997 when he batted .366, and hammered 49 homeruns along with his 130 RBI.

The two have bonded and stayed in touch ever since the WBC, and obviously have become close friends because they traded both compliments and barbs when on the line with officials from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

"He's a nuthead," declared Walker, who seems to have his own personal glossary, from his home in Florida.

When asked to clarify, Walker declined but Morneau explained: "We're both nutheads.  Basically, that translates to guys that don't take things like baseball too seriously."

Prior to the Canada's game versus the Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, the Canadians did something typical of Canadians but not typically done in the climate of Phoenix - they played a road hockey game together.

“If I had to pick one thing that might have catapulted me this past season, I would credit Larry and my other Canadian teammates who reminded me constantly that baseball is supposed to be fun," said Morneau, who was spending Thanksgiving in Minnesota.

“In trying to establish myself in the Major Leagues, the fun element may have taken a back seat too often."

An argument can certainly be made that this current laid back trend of Canadians is working.  The 23 Canucks who played in the Major Leagues this past season was the most in once season since 1884, and recently Jason Bay snagged the 2004 NL Rookie of the Year award while Eric Gagné won the 2003 Cy Young.  Walker also nailed down three batting titles, three Silver Slugger awards and seven Gold Glove awards.

“All kidding aside, Larry is the man," added Morneau, who led the Twins to the playoffs with his .321 batting average, 34 homers and 130 RBI, and recently became the second Canadian to win a Silver Slugger award.

Walker replied: "The best thing about the kid winning this is that it won't change him.  He's figuring out this game quicker than most, he comes from a solid background, and his work ethic is outstanding."

"Besides that, none of us would let him get a big head anyway - we'd take him down in a hurry!"

In the 1999 draft, Morneau was selected out of high school by the Twins in the third round.  One of his club teammates was Jeff Francis, who just signed a four year $13 million dollar deal with the Colorado Rockies.

Morneau was signed by Howie Norsetter, who had previously signed Canadian Corey Koskie and is responsible for the Twins' international scouting.

“Plain and simple, Justin was the best high school hitter I had ever seen," said Norsetter from his home in Australia while his two-year old son Joshua bartered for time while dad was on the phone long distance.

“I was hoping we'd choose him in first round and I remember being on pins and needles until we grabbed him in the third.  I couldn't believe his name was still up on the board."

“Justin has always worked his butt off both offensively and defensively, so he deserves everything that has come his way.  His actions, his poise, his confidence were all advanced, but there was no question that his bat was his ticket.  It was like he would step in the box and time would stand still."

Walt Burrows, who heads the Canadian branch of the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, had the rarity of scouting Steve Nash as a baseball player, and still feels that he could have made it to the big leagues.

Burrows didn't care much for Morneau as a high school catcher, but the hulking youngster's swing brought Burrows and all the fans to the edge of their seats every time he came to bat.

“Justin had a strong, yet smooth, classic left-handed swing from the beginning," said Burrows from his home Victoria, BC.

“Coupled with his size and strength, he reminded me of a young Paul O'Neill, and he had power from foul pole to foul pole."

So pass the maple syrup and celebrate.  With Erik Bedard winning 15 games for the Orioles this past season, Rich Harden solidifying himself as a premier starter in Oakland, Adam Loewen bursting onto the scene in Baltimore, Russell Martin emerging as the Dodgers' every day catcher, Francis improving every year, and Bay racking up big numbers in Pittsburgh, the next time a Canadian wins a major award in the Major Leagues, it may not be such a surprise, eh?

ST. MARYS – 24 November 2006