Jose Canseco to make appearance in Mentor Golf Tips

Jose Canseco to make appearance in Mentor

July 17, 2011, 9:26 pm

Former major leaguer Jose Canseco hits during a home run derby against former Los Angeles Angels’ Tim Salmon, Sunday, July 3, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. The derby and a old timers/celebrity game to fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was played following the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels. Canseco won the event. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Jose Canseco never did get to the magic number of 500 career home runs, finishing his major-league career at 462.

Now, the player/manager of the Yuma Scorpions of the Northern American League, author of “Juiced,” a tell-all book which essentially blew the lid off Major League Baseball’s steroid era, reality TV show star and celebrity boxer, is in pursuit of another record.

Canseco, 47, is attempting to become the first person to hit a softball 600 feet. One report has Canseco hitting a ball 572 feet.

The quest for 600 continues on Sunday at noon at the baseball fields next to Mentor High School. Canseco, along with his brother, Ozzie, will be part of a home run derby contest in conjunction with the Matt Henk Softball Tournament this weekend.

The derby will pit the Canseco brothers, national softball star Shannon Hebb and area softball slugger and Lakeland Community College baseball coach Howie Krause against the top four finishers from another home run derby contest from among the players in the Matt Henk Memorial Softball Tournament.

“I think it’s going to be great,” said tournament director Bill Malovrh. “(Canseco) is coming here to support a great cause.”

Matt Henk is a former Mentor firefighter who died of cancer in 2010. The tournament has become so successful the Matt Henk Foundation was formed. The tournament is in its third year and will host over 40 teams, several from out of state. Money raised throughout the weekend go to the foundation.

Malovrh said Canseco’s appearance was buoyed by Hebb, who participated in last year’s Matt Henk tournament. Hebb is a friend of Canseco.

Krause, 45, spent 2004 and 2005 traveling the country for Major League Baseball entertaining fans with his powerful softball swing. At Pro Players Stadium before a Marlins game, he reached the third deck with one shot. He’s looking forward to Sunday, but said fans shouldn’t expect a 600-foot shot from Canseco or anyone else.

“It should be hot and humid on Sunday, so I don’t think you’ll (a 600-foot home run),” Krause said with a laugh. “That’s a long way, but you should see some that go 450 feet.”

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