Matt Stairs
From SoSH
| Born: | February 27, 1968 |
| Birthplace: | St. John, NB CAN |
| Hometown: | Bangor, Maine |
| Height: | 5' 9" |
| Weight: | 175 lbs |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
| Drafted: | Amateur Free Agent, 1989 Montreal Expos |
| College: | None |
| High School: | Fredericton (NB) |
| Other Teams: | Montreal Expos 1993-1994 Oakland A's 1996-2000 Chicago Cubs 2001 Milwaukee Brewers 2002 Pittsburgh Pirates 2003 KC Royals 2004-2006 Texas Rangers 2006 Detroit Tigers 2006 Toronto Blue Jays 2007-Pres |
| Years with Boston: | 1995 |
Contents |
Overall Career
Signed by the Montreal Expos to a minor league contract, Stairs played AA ball in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he led the league in hitting and was voted the league’s 1991 M.V.P. In 1992, he moved up to AAA ball in Indianapolis then played the following season in Japan (Chunichi Dragons). In 1995, he signed with the Boston Red Sox and assigned to Pawtucket Red Sox until being called up in June 1995. At the end of the season, he accepted an offer to play with the Oakland Athletics.
He is only the second Canadian born player to ever hit more than thirty-five home runs in a season and only the second to hit more than 25 home runs and drive in more than 100 runs in back-to-back seasons. He ranks either first or second in power hitting categories of any Canadian to ever play in the Major Leagues. He is one of only two Canadian MLB players to hit more than 200 career home runs, (the other is former major league outfielder Larry Walker).
Stairs can play left field, right field, and first base, though his age and increasingly poor speed have earned him a reputation as a defensive liability in the outfield. He still possesses a strong throwing arm, however, and is considered a perfectly capable fielder at first.
At the 2006 Major League Baseball trade deadline, he was traded to the Texas Rangers from the Kansas City Royals. On September 15, 2006, the Detroit Tigers claimed him off waivers from the Rangers.
Stairs signed a one-year minor-league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on December 7, 2006.
Stairs's Moments in the Sun
- Played for the Canadian Olympic Team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea
- Tied a Major League Baseball record for driving in six runs in one inning in 1996
Trivia
- Stairs played for Canada at the inaugural World Baseball Classic as the team's Designated Hitter.
External Links
- Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
