Known for his formidable end to games, it was on the starting lineup of the Montreal Jets that former relief pitcher Éric Gagné instead made his entrance onto the baseball field on Friday. And it was to a standing ovation from more than a thousand people that he left the mound, for one last time, in Montreal.
“I was surprised by how good I felt,” said the Mascouche native, after completing two and a third innings on the mound at the Raymond-Daviault ballpark in Montreal’s East End. “I felt better than I thought.”
“But now, I’m done!” assured the player with a laugh. If the fans were hoping that Éric Gagné would return more than once to the LBMQ, the 48-year-old athlete confirmed that his return to the mound was exceptional.
After an impressive first inning, which was sealed by three consecutive outs, Gagné made his last quick attempts at the top of the third inning, after allowing a home run to the opposing team, the Acton Vale Castors.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
The pitcher still holds the MLB record for consecutive saves, with 84.
“The 1,100 tickets have been sold, it’s packed,” said Sébastien Richer, general manager and coach of the Montreal Jets La Cave. According to the organization, about 150 to 200 people usually fill the stands.
Among the team, which is made up of players ranging in age from 23 to 44, some have followed the athlete’s career in real time, while others knew the player once he had accomplished his feats. It was Jets receiver Kevin Young, with whom he trains, who had the idea of bringing him to the Quebec Major League Baseball.
The Cy Young Trophy winner not only participated in three MLB All-Star games, but he is also the first Quebecer to win the World Series, with the Red Sox in 2007.
“It’s quite special for the players [des Jets] to prepare with Éric Gagné!” confided the GM before the start of the match.
The pitcher still holds the MLB record for consecutive saves, with 84.
Although the athlete struck out a total of 139 batters during this stretch, he never allowed a runner who reached the base to score a run.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, the team with which he accomplished this feat, also highlighted the 20e anniversary of this record in early July.
From the next generation
On Monday, second baseman Émilien Pitre, a native of Repentigny, was selected in the second round of the MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. Since 2007, no Quebec player has been chosen so early in the draft.
“I saw him yesterday, we talked about it,” said Gagné, who was honoured Thursday by his former junior team in Repentigny. The number 38, which he wore in the LBJEQ, has been retired by the team.
The pitcher is certain of the love that Quebecers still have for baseball to this day, especially when he thinks of the Quebec Capitales. The player, who lives in Arizona, was also present at the Frontier League All-Star Game at Stade Canac in Quebec City earlier this week.
“It’s definitely not the same since the Expos left. But that’s why it’s super important for me to be present everywhere when I come to Quebec,” assured Éric Gagné, honoured by all the compliments he’s received since the beginning of the month.
A second Quebec player, Louis-Philippe Langevin, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round on Monday.
Delighted supporters
By 6 p.m., hundreds of fans were already there to get the player’s signature. This was the case for Sébastien Houde, a proud fan, who had brought a frame immortalizing the star pitcher’s records.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Sebastien Houde
“We came to bring our chairs yesterday!” exclaimed Réjean Turenne with a laugh. Behind home plate, he and his wife, Reine Robitaille, probably had the best seat in the audience to see Éric Gagné’s rapids up close. “Our grandson, Tristan Aspeck, is a shortstop for the Jets,” added Mr. Turenne.
In attendance were families, but also entire baseball teams, young and old.
“The kids are really happy to see Éric Gagné pitch. They don’t know him, but the dads do!” said Julie Villeneuve, mother of a young player. Her son and his teammates, who play on a pee-wee AA team in Laval, were right next to home plate to watch the LBMQ game.
And some, to their great delight, were even able to benefit from Gagné’s valuable fastball advice in the pitching pen at the end of the game.