Fresh off a World Series appearance that captivated Canadians, Toronto Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman joined Sportsnet’s Blue Jays Central host Jamie Campbell to headline the Swift Current 57’s Field of Dreams event.
A packed Swift Current Legion, with more than 250 people in attendance Saturday, got a rare chance to spend the evening with a current Major League Baseball player while supporting the Swift Current 57’s and Swift Current Minor Baseball.
Heineman, who flew into Saskatchewan from San Diego, was excited for his first trip to Swift Current and to meet Blue Jays fans outside of southern Ontario.
“Just to be able to see a different part of Canada that I haven’t seen is really awesome,” he said.
Heineman stopping at one of the countless tables at the event to autograph an item. (Photo: Swift Current 57’s Facebook page)
“It’s really cool to be able to interact with them (Blue Jays fans). Being only in the city, in Toronto, it’s difficult to know how wide of a scope you have of influence, being a team that a whole country is represented by.”
Doors opened to the public at 5:30 p.m., with a line of baseball enthusiasts flooding the main floor of the Legion, eager to meet, talk to and obtain autographs from Heineman and Campbell. Following supper, the two took to the stage and shared stories, with the crowd taking part in a Q-and-A session that included questions about the Blue Jays’ recent World Series run.
“I think it’s pretty cool to see how many people care about the Blue Jays and how many more people re-sparked their interest in baseball from the year we had,” Heineman said.
Heineman (left) and Campbell (right) on-stage sharing stories and answering questions from attendees. (Photo: Swift Current 57’s Facebook page)
“I haven’t really been able to process it as well as I would have liked. Because we ended up playing an extra month, and then I went home and wanted to be a dad. Everyone told me it was a really good World Series. To me, it just felt like two really good baseball teams that played against each other. I think when I’m done playing or a little bit later I’ll be able to reflect on that, and really enjoy how much of a cool experience it was.”
It was also Campbell’s first visit to Swift Current. He’s known as a big supporter of baseball at the grassroots level and of the Western Canadian Baseball League.
“If these are the people that support the Blue Jays, as they support the 57’s, they’re my type of people and I want to spend some time with them,” Campbell said.
Campbell enjoying a visit with some Blue Jays fan. (Photo: Swift Current 57’s Facebook page)
The longtime sportscaster was excited to experience the hometown of former MLBer Reggie Cleveland, a baseball card he remembers from his childhood. Campbell was hopeful to visit Cleveland’s monument at Frank Rempel Centennial Plaza before departing the city.
“I certainly have a great admiration for Mr. Cleveland,” Campbell said. “I know he was born here but he moved away to Alberta at some point. Any time I think of Swift Current, I think of him. He pitched in the 1975 World Series. It’s nice to know Swift Current has that baseball legacy.”
Earlier in the day, Heineman also visited Prime Training’s indoor facility to take in some baseball ahead of pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training Wednesday.
“I was able to go to a facility earlier today, I was able to do my baseball stuff, it really cool,” he said.
Listen below for Magic 97’s Colin Powers full interviews with Heineman and Campbell.