Windsor's Stubby Clapp Earns Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Induction
Stubby Clapp, a native of Windsor, Ontario, has received one of baseball's highest honors in his home country. The 53-year-old has been named to the 2026 induction class for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, joining five other distinguished individuals in this year's ceremony.
Surprise Announcement During Spring Training
The announcement came as a complete surprise to Clapp, who was focused on his duties as a coach for the St. Louis Cardinals during spring training preparations in Jupiter, Florida. "I had no clue," Clapp admitted. "It wasn't on my radar. I was worried about Spring Training and getting ready for a new season. This totally caught me off guard."
Clapp made the drive from his home in Savannah, Tennessee, to the Cardinals' training facility just one day before learning about his Hall of Fame selection. The Cardinals organization has cleared his schedule to ensure he can attend the induction ceremony scheduled for June 20th in St. Marys, Ontario.
A Career Built on Canadian Baseball Foundations
Clapp's baseball journey began with significant achievements in Canadian baseball programs:
- In 1991, he earned a spot on Canada's world youth team that won gold in Brandon, Manitoba
- This remains Canada's only gold medal in the tournament since its inception in 1981
- He progressed through the Windsor Selects program to Team Ontario and eventually the national junior team
"Baseball Canada was a springboard for my whole career," Clapp reflected. "If I don't have an opportunity to play for the Selects, I don't have an opportunity for Team Ontario, for Team Canada, I don't get the opportunity to go to the ABC (Academie Baseball Canada) in Montreal, I don't get the opportunity to go down south and I don't get drafted. It all trickles down."
Professional Career and Lasting Canadian Identity
After his success in Canadian baseball programs, Clapp continued his development at Texas Tech University before being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1996. Five years later, he achieved his major league dream by joining the Cardinals roster.
Though his time with St. Louis was brief, Clapp played eleven seasons of professional baseball while maintaining strong connections to his Canadian roots. Now living in Tennessee with his family, he still faces good-natured teasing about his Canadian accent.
"My wife is very southern and so is my daughter while my sons are more like me," Clapp shared with humor. "We get some interesting looks as a group when we try to order at a restaurant."
Gratitude and Recognition
Clapp expressed profound gratitude for the honor, acknowledging the many people who contributed to his success. "It's been a very humbling experience and I'm very grateful for all that people have poured themselves into me and pushed me to get better," he said.
The 2026 induction class represents a diverse group of Canadian baseball contributors, including Jim Baba, Kate Psota, Paul Runge, Bill Stoneman, and Devon White. For Clapp, this recognition represents not just personal achievement but validation of the Canadian baseball system that nurtured his talent and helped shape his career.
As he prepares for both the upcoming MLB season and his Hall of Fame induction, Clapp's story serves as an inspiration to young Canadian baseball players, demonstrating how dedication to the sport can lead to recognition at the highest levels of the game.
