Matt Stairs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matt Stairs |
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Stairs with the Washington Nationals in 2011
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| Outfielder / Designated hitter / First baseman | |||
| Born: February 27, 1968 Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
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| 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
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2015 | ||
Matthew "Matt" Wade Stairs (born February 27, 1968) is a Canadian former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder, first baseman, and designated hitter. Stairs is famous for holding the Major League Baseball (MLB) record for the most career home runs as a pinch hitter, with 23. A pinch hitter is a player who substitutes for another batter, often in an important moment of the game.
One of his most famous moments was a pinch-hit home run during the 2008 National League Championship Series. Playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, he hit a powerful home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers that helped his team win the game. Many people call it one of the greatest home runs in Phillies history.
Stairs played for 12 different MLB teams, which is a record for a position player. He is also one of only four Canadians to have played for both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Expos. In 2015, he was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and Start in Baseball
Matt Stairs was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. He was a talented athlete from a young age, playing both baseball and ice hockey. He was so good at baseball that he played in leagues for older kids.
He later attended the National Baseball Institute in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1988, he played for the Canadian Olympic Team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. This experience helped him get noticed by professional teams.
Professional Baseball Career
Minor Leagues and First MLB Chance
In 1989, the Montreal Expos signed Stairs. He started in the minor leagues, which are professional leagues where players develop their skills before reaching the majors. He played well and was named the Eastern League's Most Valuable Player in 1991.
He briefly played for the Expos in 1992 and 1993. He also played one season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons. After returning to North America, he played for the Boston Red Sox in 1995 before joining the Oakland Athletics.
Star Player in Oakland
Stairs had his best years with the Oakland Athletics from 1996 to 2000. He became a powerful hitter for the team, playing alongside famous players like Rickey Henderson and Mark McGwire.
In his first game with Oakland, Stairs tied a major league record by getting six runs batted in (RBIs) in a single inning. In 1999, he had an amazing season, hitting 38 home runs and 102 RBIs. During his five seasons in Oakland, he hit 122 home runs.
A Journey Through Many Teams
After leaving Oakland, Stairs became known for playing for many different teams. He was a valuable player because he could come off the bench and get a big hit when his team needed it most. This earned him the nickname "Matt Stairs – Professional Hitter."
He played for the Chicago Cubs (2001), Milwaukee Brewers (2002), Pittsburgh Pirates (2003), and Kansas City Royals (2004–2006). In 2006, he even played for two different teams in the same season: the Texas Rangers and the Detroit Tigers.
Success with the Blue Jays and Phillies
In 2007, Stairs joined the Toronto Blue Jays. He had a great season, hitting 21 home runs. He became a fan favorite in his home country.
In 2008, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. This is where he had his most famous moment, hitting the game-winning home run in the playoffs. The Phillies went on to win the 2008 World Series, and Stairs earned his first and only championship ring. He played for the Phillies again in 2009, helping them return to the World Series.
Final Years and Retirement
Stairs joined the San Diego Padres in 2010. While playing for them, he hit his 21st career pinch-hit home run, which set a new MLB record.
He played his final season in 2011 with the Washington Nationals. After retiring, he had played for 12 different MLB franchises, more than any other position player in history.
Life After Playing
After he stopped playing, Stairs did not leave baseball. He worked as a TV announcer for the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies.
In 2017, he became the hitting coach for the Phillies. The next year, he was the hitting coach for the San Diego Padres. He has also coached high school ice hockey in his hometown of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Stairs has received many honors. He was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Matt Stairs para niños
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
