Former Rockies' Lefthander Jeff Francis Set for Induction in Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Jeff Francis was the Rockies first-round draft choice in 2002, the ninth player selected overall, and what today is the third-highest selection of a Canadian in MLB draft history. Adam Loewen was the fifth selection overall, going to Baltimore in 2002, and Minnesota selected Cal Quantrill with the eighth pick in 2016.

And he is a baseball legend in his native Canada, where hockey easily overshadows the American Pastime.

How big a legend?

Well, it was announced on Wednesday that Francis will be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Justin Morneau, who spent two years with the Rockies at the end of his career, and former Blue Jays first baseman John Olerud as part of the Class of 2022. Former Blue Jays set-up man and closer Duane Ward and longtime Montreal Expos broadcaster Jacques Doucet, whose induction ceremony in 2020 was cancelled because of COVID-19, also will be part of the 2022 event.

“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.

"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 made his Major League debut with the Rockies on Aug. 25, 2004, making seven starts in which he was 3-2 with a 5.15 ERA. He went on to pitch for the Rockies in eight of his 11 big-league seasons, including 2007 when he started Game 1 in the NL Division Series, NL Championship Series and World Series. He beat the Phillies and Diamondbacks as the Rockies swept the Division and NL Championship Series. But after a 12-day break between the start in the NLCS and World Series, he suffered the loss.

Morneau, who spent the bulk of his career with Minnesota, hit .316 in 184 games with the Rockies during the 2014-15 seasons, winning the NL batting title in 2014 when he hit .319. He retired after appearing in 58 games with the Chicago White Sox in 2016.