Matt Stairs

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Lore & Background

Matt Stairs' career is a story of persistence and timely hitting — a Canadian kid from tiny Tay Creek, New Brunswick, who kept proving people wrong. Born in Saint John, he showed early athletic promise by playing Beaver League baseball a year before he was age-eligible. After starring for Canada at the 1987 World Amateur Championships in Italy (where he was named to the 'World All-Star' team) and the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, he signed as an international free agent with the Montreal Expos on January 17, 1989. His minor league breakout came in 1991 with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, where he led the league in hitting and was voted Eastern League MVP. Stairs had his best years with the Oakland Athletics, debuting on July 5, 1996, with a jaw-dropping performance: he tied a major league record by driving in six runs in a single inning, including a grand slam. Over five seasons in Oakland, he mashed 122 home runs and drove in 315 runs before being traded to the Cubs. His journeyman odyssey then wound through the Brewers, Pirates, Royals, Rangers, and Tigers before a 2007 season with the Toronto Blue Jays revived his career. On August 8, 2007, Stairs became the first Blue Jay to hit five consecutive doubles in five at-bats — and the first Major Leaguer to double in five straight at-bats in 14 years. He finished that season batting .289 with 21 homers and 64 RBIs. His knack for delivering in big moments off the bench earned him the perfect nickname: 'Matt Stairs – Professional Hitter.'

In Their Own Story

The moment that defined Matt Stairs' career came in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the 2008 National League Championship Series. The Philadelphia Phillies were locked in a tense battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Stairs, already the all-time leader in pinch-hit home runs, stepped to the plate as a pinch-hitter against Dodgers flamethrower Jonathan Broxton. On a 3-1 count, he connected — a towering, no-doubt shot that sailed deep into the Los Angeles night, sending the Phillies dugout into a frenzy. The blast was instantly called 'one of the most memorable home runs in Phillies history' and propelled Philadelphia toward the World Series. But Stairs' career was built on such moments. He played for more teams than any position player in MLB history (12 franchises, technically 13 teams), and each stop seemed to add another chapter to his legend as a man who could change a game with one swing.

Reader's Guide

Matt Stairs played for the Washington Nationals as part of his record-setting career across 12 MLB franchises. He is one of only four Canadians to have played for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos, the others being Denis Boucher, Rob Ducey, and Shawn Hill. He was the second Canadian-born player ever to 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. Stairs holds the all-time MLB record of home runs hit as a pinch-hitter with 23. His ability to pinch hit made him a valuable asset to several teams and earned him the nickname "Matt Stairs – Professional Hitter". Stairs, Larry Walker, Justin Morneau, Jason Bay, and Joey Votto are the only Canadian MLB players to hit at least 200 career home runs. On February 4, 2015, Stairs was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. For fans looking to understand his impact, focus on his record-setting pinch-hit home runs and his role as a Canadian baseball pioneer.

Did You Know?

• Matt Stairs holds the MLB record for most pinch-hit home runs in history with 23.
• He played for more teams than any position player in MLB history (12 franchises, technically 13 teams).
• He is one of only four Canadians to have played for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos.
• In his July 5, 1996, debut with Oakland, Stairs tied a major league record with six runs batted in during one inning.
• On February 4, 2015, Stairs was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.