ST. MARYS, Ont. – Author W.P. Kinsella won the Canadian Hall of Fame’s Jack Graney Award on Wednesday for his 1982 novel “Shoeless Joe.”
It was one of a dozen baseball-themed books written by the Edmonton author. “Shoeless Joe” was later adapted into the 1989 film “Field of Dreams,” starring Kevin Costner.
The Jack Graney Award is for a significant contribution to the game of baseball in Canada through a life’s work or a singular outstanding achievement.
“I wrote it 30 years ago, and the fact that people are still discovering it makes me proud,” Kinsella said Wednesday in a release. “It looks like it will stand the test of time.”
The original publication by Houghton Mifflin produced 25,000 hardcover copies. There have also been countless paperback versions worldwide.
The film grossed $85 million worldwide and is considered one of the greatest baseball movies of all-time.
“I still remember sitting in a local movie house in White Rock (B.C.) watching the movie when it came out, and hearing the whole place cry when Ray (the main character) asked his father at the end if they could have a game of catch,” Kinsella said.
The 76-year-old author, who now lives in Yale, B.C., will be honoured by the Hall in a ceremony next year.
Sun Media reporter Bob Elliott won the award last year.
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