Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (Sep 26/05) - June Eirikson admits she has an addiction - the Toronto Blue Jays.

Eirikson, 73, has been a big fan of the baseball team since its birth in 1978, and catches almost every game on TV.

"I like to see every hit," she says. "I like to see every pitch."

However, she notes some people think it's unusual for a person her age to be so dedicated to a baseball team.

"I just say I'm a fan and I love the game," she says, adding she especially likes baseball's lack of violence.

She was not a baseball fan before the Blue Jays existed and never played the game, although she remembers throwing a baseball as a child in Saskatchewan.

Eirikson has seen four Blue Jays' games in Toronto - one in 1999, two in 2001 and another in July of this year.

When visiting Ontario, mainly to see relatives, she takes advantage of the opportunity to see the Jays in action.

Eirikson has never actually met any Blue Jays in person, even though she says she would love to get close to the field where the players sign autographs. "But I haven't got the nerve."

However, she has a collection of souvenirs, including a baseball signed by players in 1999 and two team hats.

"This is my pride and joy," she says of a T-shirt from 'Tony Fernandez Day' on Sept. 23, 2001, when the team honoured the now-retired star shortstop - her all-time favourite Blue Jay - and she was in the crowd.

Eirikson knows the Blue Jays so well she can recognize them just by their batting stances.

Her favourite player on this year's team is second baseman Orlando Hudson. "I just like his spirit," she says.

However, she is not impressed with relief pitcher Miguel Batista, especially after he recently surrendered a grand slam in the ninth inning.

When Eirikson needs to console herself about a loss or talk about a win, she often calls another Blue Jays fan - her 81-year-old sister in Moose Jaw.

Eirikson says she doesn't shout and cheer when watching the Blue Jays on TV. "But inside I am."

Her passion for baseball is not really shared by her husband Allan.

"It keeps her out of trouble," he jokes. He said his wife downloads the Blue Jays' schedule from the Internet every spring.

June Eirikson is pleased with this year's Blue Jays, who were in contention most of the summer.

She is confident they will contend even more next year, and predicts they will win the World Series in 2007. "At least I hope so."