Rob Fai interviews Toronto Blue Jays Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar prior to a game outside Nat Bailey Stadium in 2018.
There will be a new play-by-play announcer for the Vancouver Canadians whenever baseball resumes. Rob Fai announced on Twitter that he is moving on from Monty’s Mounties after 15 seasons behind the microphone. In a two-minute video address from the Canadians clubhouse at Nat Bailey Stadium, he thanked everyone associated with the organization including former managers John Schneider and Clayton McCullough, owners Jake Kerr, Jeff Mooney and Andy Dunn and all the fans, urging them to continue supporting the club in 2021 and beyond. Rob has 1,000-plus games called on the back of his baseball card, including the C’s championship titles in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2017. Rob also teamed up with former Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero and Caroline Frolic for six TV broadcasts at the Nat on Sportsnet this past season.
The good news is Rob will not be dropping the mic completely as Rob Fai Nation returns to TSN Radio in Vancouver next week.
You can also check out the Rob Fai Nation Podcast right here.
It turns out I was in the house for both his final home game radio broadcast at Nat Bailey Stadium and his final road game in Everett on the Labour Day Monday. The AquaSox let everyone in attendance at Everett Memorial Stadium run the bases after the game. I saluted Rob—who was packing up his broadcast gear in the press box—while standing near third base. Little did I know the good-bye salute for the season would be one for his time with the C’s as well.
To say Rob has done a lot for me would be a massive understatement. He helped me realize a bucket list dream at 11:42 pm on Thursday, June 27 when this text conversation took place.
The only thing I regret about that conversation was not putting more exclamation marks in my response. I could not believe it. I was absolutely shocked and I don’t think I got a lot of sleep that night. I always idolized Murray Eldon and the way he introduced the Blue Jays players during games at Exhibition Stadium and SkyDome growing up. It really was, as Rob put it, ‘a bucket list item.’
I was already grateful Rob had already asked me to help him out on Vancouver Canadians Game Day and the pre-game show on TSN 1040 during home games for the 2018 season. For him to show faith in me to do all that and the PA position is something I will never forget. As it turned out, I wound up pinch-hitting in the PA booth for eight more games in 2018 before Rob offered me the full-time gig for 2019. Even though it was a trying season on the field last year, working with the press box crew was really enjoyable and Rob was the one who set the tone for a great workplace environment with his sense of humour.
Rob noticed my work writing about the C’s with Batter’s Box during the 2013 championship run and he extended me press pass privileges the following year. He also supported this blog that officially started up in 2017 and was always available for a comment whenever I needed one.
Rob, I’m very sad to see you hang up your play-by-play mic. You will be missed. Thank you for everything!
C's Plus Baseball | A Vancouver Canadians Blog 