Former Rockies ace Francis named to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Sportsnet Staff @SportsnetFebruary 02, 2022 - 5:02pm

Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Francis discusses spending the majority of his career with the Colorado Rockies and how he never thought of how hard it was to pitch in Colorado through the ups and downs of his playing career there.

Former Colorado Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Jeff Francis elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame for 2022.
Former Colorado Rockies ace will be inducted alongside the 2020 inductees on June 18https://t.co/GpPdbQVh5e pic.twitter.com/U9tmR5Xzdc

— Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (@CDNBaseballHOF) February 2, 2022

The Vancouver native will be inducted to the Hall on June 18 alongside slugger Justin Morneau, former Toronto Blue Jays first baseman John Olerud, Blue Jays set-up man and closer Duane Ward and longtime Montreal Expos broadcaster Jacques Doucet who were 2020 nominees. The Hall hasn’t made an in-person induction ceremony since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was so excited to get the news from the Hall of Fame of my induction,” said Francis in a statement. “When I see the list of people and players that I will be joining on the walls in St. Marys, I’m honoured and humbled to be considered to be on that level.”

Congratulations to Jeff Francis on being named to the @CDNBaseballHOF Class of 2022! pic.twitter.com/TSVMZA3rH9

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) February 2, 2022

“This is not something that is ever in an athlete’s mind during his or her playing days, but in the time since my last days of playing, I’ve become proud of what I accomplished in baseball. I consider this not just a recognition of my achievements in the game, but of the coaching, mentorship, and support I’ve received from so many other people.”

Francis was selected ninth overall by the Rockies in the 2002 MLB draft. He was part of Colorado’s National League pennant race in 2007, making three postseason starts and became the first Canadian pitcher to start in Game 1 of a World Series.

Francis played 11 seasons for six different Major League teams including the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees before capping off his career with a second stint with the Blue Jays.

Internationally, Francis represented the Canadian national team and most notably won gold at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto.

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