Matt Stairs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matt Stairs |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Stairs with the Washington Nationals in 2011
|
|||
| Outfielder / Designated hitter / First baseman | |||
| Born: February 27, 1968 Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
|||
|
|||
| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: May 29, 1992, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| NPB: June 15, 1993, for the Chunichi Dragons | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| NPB: October 18, 1993, for the Chunichi Dragons | |||
| MLB: July 22, 2011, for the Washington Nationals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .262 | ||
| Home runs | 265 | ||
| Runs batted in | 899 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .250 | ||
| Home runs | 6 | ||
| Runs batted in | 23 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
 Baseball Hall of Fame |
|||
| Induction | 2015 | ||
Matthew Wade Stairs (born February 27, 1968) is a Canadian former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder, first baseman, and designated hitter. Matt Stairs holds the record for the most pinch-hit home runs in Major League Baseball (MLB) history with 23.
He played for more teams than any other position player in MLB history. He was part of 12 different teams (13 if you count the Montreal Expos and Washington Nationals as separate teams, but they are the same franchise). Matt Stairs is also one of only four Canadians to play for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos.
Stairs was the second Canadian-born player to hit more than 35 home runs in a season. He was also the second to hit more than 25 home runs and get over 100 runs batted in in two seasons in a row. His amazing ability to hit well as a pinch-hitter earned him the nickname "Matt Stairs – Professional Hitter". In 2015, Stairs was chosen for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Contents
- Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
- Minor League Journey
- Major League Career Highlights
- Starting with the Montreal Expos
- Playing for the Boston Red Sox
- Success with the Oakland Athletics
- Time with the Chicago Cubs
- Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates
- Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers
- Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays
- Winning a World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies
- San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals
- Coaching Career
- Other Work and Personal Life
- See also
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Matt Stairs was born in Saint John, New Brunswick and grew up in Tay Creek, New Brunswick, Canada. He showed great athletic talent from a young age. He played baseball a year before he was old enough and was also very good at hockey.
After playing in youth baseball leagues, he joined the local Marysville Royals. He was named "Rookie of The Year" in 1984 and the league's Most Valuable Player in 1985. He also won MVP awards in the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League in 1987 and 1988.
Stairs attended the National Baseball Institute in Vancouver, British Columbia for one year. He played for Canada in the 1987 World Amateur Championships in Italy. He was even named to the "World All-Star" team. In 1988, he joined the Canadian Junior National team after finishing high school. He then played for the Canadian Olympic Team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Minor League Journey
On January 17, 1989, Matt Stairs signed with the Montreal Expos as a free agent. He started playing for their minor league team, the Jamestown Expos. He played second and third base there.
He moved up to Double-A ball in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for the Harrisburg Senators. In 1991, he was the best hitter in the league and was voted the Eastern League's Most Valuable Player. In 1992 and 1993, he played in Triple-A for the Indianapolis Indians and Ottawa Lynx. He also made a few short appearances in the major leagues during this time.
On June 8, 1993, Stairs' contract was bought by the Chunichi Dragons in Japan. He played 60 games for them that season. He hit .250, with six home runs and 23 runs batted in.
Major League Career Highlights
Starting with the Montreal Expos
Matt Stairs began his Major League career in 1992 with the Montreal Expos. He played a few games for them in 1992 and 1993. On February 18, 1994, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox.
Playing for the Boston Red Sox
Stairs started the 1995 season with the Red Sox's minor league team, the Pawtucket Red Sox. He was called up to the major leagues in June 1995. He played in 39 games for the Red Sox, hitting one home run and getting 17 runs batted in. After this season, he decided to join the Oakland Athletics.
Success with the Oakland Athletics
Matt Stairs had some of his best years playing for the Athletics. He joined the team in 1996. He played mostly in right field and as a designated hitter. He played alongside famous players like Rickey Henderson and Mark McGwire.
In his first game with Oakland on July 5, 1996, Stairs tied a major league record. He got six runs batted in during just one inning! This included a grand slam and a two-run single. In 1999, he had a great season, hitting 38 home runs and getting 102 runs batted in. After five seasons with the Athletics, where he hit 122 home runs, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2000.
Time with the Chicago Cubs
In 2001, Stairs played as the first baseman for the Chicago Cubs. He played in 128 games, hitting 17 home runs and getting 61 runs batted in. After this season, he became a free agent.
Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates
In 2002, Stairs signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. He hit 16 home runs and had 41 runs batted in. In 2003, he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates. This was a strong year for him. He hit .292 with 20 home runs and 57 runs batted in. He played both first base and outfield. During a series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Canada, Stairs had five hits in eight tries, including two long home runs.
Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers
Stairs signed with the Kansas City Royals in 2003. He had three good years with them, hitting 39 home runs. Even though the Royals were not a top team, Stairs helped younger players learn about the major leagues. In 2006, he was traded to the Texas Rangers. He played 26 games for the Rangers before being picked up by the Detroit Tigers.
Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays
The Detroit Tigers hoped Stairs' experience would help them win their division. He played 14 games for them. The Tigers made it to the World Series that year, but Stairs could not play in the playoffs because he joined the team too late.
In 2006, Stairs signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. He played a lot because other players were injured. He played very well, hitting .289 with 21 home runs and 64 runs batted in in 2007. This was great for a 39-year-old player! On August 8, 2007, Stairs became the first Blue Jays player to hit five doubles in five at-bats in a row. He signed a new two-year contract with the Blue Jays.
Winning a World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies
On August 30, 2008, Stairs was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. This was a very important move for him.
On October 13, 2008, Stairs hit his first ever postseason home run. It was in Game 4 of the 2008 National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This home run gave the Phillies the lead and helped them win the game.
He won his first World Series ring on October 29, 2008. The Phillies won the series against the Tampa Bay Rays. On April 12, 2009, Stairs hit a game-winning home run against the Colorado Rockies. This was the last home run called by famous broadcaster Harry Kalas before he passed away. Stairs and the Phillies made it to the World Series again in 2009, but they lost to the New York Yankees.
San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals
On January 23, 2010, Stairs joined the San Diego Padres. He became the only player in MLB history to play for all four of the teams that started in the 1969 expansion (the Padres, Royals, Expos, and Brewers). On August 21, Stairs hit his 21st home run as a pinch hitter. This broke the Major League record for pinch-hit home runs.
On December 14, 2010, the Washington Nationals signed Stairs. He was mostly used as a pinch hitter. He played 65 times, getting 10 hits. He announced his retirement from playing baseball on August 3, 2011.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Matt Stairs became a coach. On November 2, 2016, he was hired as the hitting coach for the Philadelphia Phillies.
On October 30, 2017, Stairs became the hitting coach for the San Diego Padres. He coached there for one season. In 2024, Stairs joined the Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Club as a hitting coordinator.
Other Work and Personal Life
In January 2012, Stairs started working for NESN, a sports news station. He was a studio analyst for the Boston Red Sox. In 2014, he joined the Phillies' television broadcasting team as a color analyst. He later became the Phillies' hitting coach in 2017.
Matt Stairs is married to Lisa Astle. They have three daughters: Nicole, Alicia, and Chandler. He lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In 2012, he became the coach of the Fredericton High School ice hockey team, which he called his dream job.
Stairs was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in June 2012. On June 15, 2015, he was also inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
