Matt Stairs #12

Matthew Wade Stairs...graduated from Fredericton High School in New Brunswick (Canada) in 1988...spurned a hockey scholarship from Michigan State to play baseball professionally...coaches hockey in the offseason.

2010

4 pinch homers tied for MLB lead and helped the unsung Padres win 90 games and nearly earn a post-season spot...hit MLB-record 21st career pinch homer, a 2-run 8th-inning shot, on Aug. 22 at MIL off Kameron Loe.

2009

Spent the entire year with Philadelphia, appearing primarily as a pinch-hitter...made 85 pinch-hit appearances, one start as designated hitter and 12 starts in the field...Among Major League pinch-hitters, ranked with leaders in homers (1st, 5), RBI (T1st, 15), walks (2nd, 16), runs (T2nd, 12), at-bats (T3rd, 62) and hits (T7th, 13)...Tied a Phillies record with five pinch homers in one season (Gene Freese, 1959) and ended the season one pinch homer shy of the all-time ML record (Cliff Johnson, 20)...Ended the season as the active MLB leader in pinch homers (19) and tied for the lead in pinch grand slams (Gregg Zaun, 2)...Slugged a pinch grand slam, 9/10 at WSH, snapping his hitless streak at a career-high 30 at-bats (7 BB), which had dropped his average from .283 to .189.

2008

Began the season with TOR...Slugged his 11th career grand slam, 5/14 at MIN (Boof Bonser)...Designated for assignment on 8/29 and traded to the Phillies on 8/30...Batted .286 (4-14), 2 HR, 4 RBI as a pinch-hitter for the Phillies; overall, batted .333 (9-27), 2 HR, 6 RBI as a pinch-hitter...Hit the game-winning 2-run HR in the 8th inning of Game 4 of the NLCS at LAD (Jonathan Broxton).

2007

In 125 games this season, batted .289 with 21 home runs in 357 at bats...The 21 home runs were the most since 2000 when he hit 21 as a member of the Oakland Athletics...Made 89 starts this year (37-1B, 35-LF, 13-RF and 4-DH)...Had an RBI in eight straight games from Aug. 28-Sept. 8 (13 total)...The eight consecutive games with an RBI tied a Club record (4th time), previously done back on June 4-12, 2003 by Carlos Delgado...O CANADA: Became the 13th Canadian born player to appear in aMajor League game as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays...On Aug. 5 vs. TEX, became the 3rd Canadian in ML history to reach the 1,500 games plateau (Larry Walker & Terry Puhl)...On Sept. 18, passed Terry Puhl for 2nd among Canadian- born players with 1,532 games played in the Majors... Among active Canadian-born ML players, leads in games (1541), home runs (241), runs (691), walks (632), at bats (4600), hits (1228), RBI (815), doubles (271) and total bases (2246)...INTERLEAGUE ACTION: Among all players this season in Interleague play, ranked 2nd in SLG (.828), T-3rd in HR (7), 6th in runs (17) and 9th in batting average (.397)...GOING, GOING, GONE: Did not hit his 1st home run until May 13 vs. TB (23rd game)...From May 18-20, homered in three consecutive games for the first time since 2001, when he went deep in four consecutive contests as a member of the Chicago Cubs (June 2-6)...From Aug. 28-Sept. 2 hit a home run in three straight games (spanning over six at bats)...It represented the 2nd time he had homered in three consecutive games this season... May 10 at PHI hit his 10th career grand slam (off Condrey)...Hit two pinch hit home runs, on May 18 at PHI and Aug. 29 at OAK (11 career PH-HR)...The two pinch hit home runs were the most by a Jay since Chris Gomez hit two in 2004...EXTRA EXTRA: Became the 1st Blue Jay to double in five consecutive at bats & the 1st Major League player to do so since Colorado's Charles Johnson (May 31-June 1, 2004)... Sept. 3 at BOS, had a string of nine consecutive hits for extra bases snapped when he singled in his 2nd at bat in the 3rd inning...The nine straight extra base hits (6-2B/3-HR) were the most by a Blue Jay since Lyle Overbay accomplished it last season (nine straight)...The Club record is 11 consecutive set by Jose Cruz Jr. in 2000....Apr. 20 at BAL stole his first base since 2005, also against Baltimore...June 23 vs. COL tied a career high with a four-hit game...His previous four-hit contest occurred on June 14, 2000 vs. MIN (with OAK)...Batted .625 (5-for-8) with the bases loaded and posted a .301 batting average with runners in scoring position (25-83)...A HOT AUGUST: Had his best month offensively in August when he batted .400 (18-45) with 12 doubles, three home runs and nine RBI...Among the AL leaders in August, ranked 1st in SLG (.867) and OBP (.509)...Ranked 2nd in batting average (.400) and in doubles (12).

On Aug. 5 vs. TEX, became the 3rd Canadian in ML history to reach the 1,500 games plateau (Larry Walker & Terry Puhl)...On Sept. 18, passed Terry Puhl for 2nd among Canadian-born players with 1,532 games played in the Majors...Among active Canadian-born ML players, leads in games (1541), home runs (241), runs (691), walks (632), at bats (4600), hits (1228), RBI (815), doubles (271) and total bases (2246)...Is tied for 12th among active Major Leaguers with 10 grand slams.

2006

His appearance on April 12 at New York marked his 1,300th career game...Hit his 1st home run of the season May 3 at Minnesota off Brad Radke...Started 16 of KC's 1st 17 games following the All-Star break (8 at DH, 8 at 1B)... Traded to the Texas Rangers on July 31 for RHP Jose Diaz... Acquired off waivers by the Detroit Tigers on Sept. 15.

2005

Had a solid 2nd season with the Royals, leading the team in walks (60) and on-base percentage (.373) and finishing 3rd in home runs (13) and RBI (66)...Hit his 200th career home run June 2 vs. New York (AL)... Became just the 2nd Canadian to reach the 200-home run plateau (also Larry Walker-383)...Notched the club's only pinch-hit home run of 2005 on June 26 at Colorado...Homered twice July 14 at Detroit, his 12th multi-homer game... Hit a 2-run home run in the 1st inning and his 9th-career grand slam in the 8th... Equalled a career-high with 6 RBI (4th time)... The grand slam was his 10th home run of the season, giving him 10 straight seasons with 10 or more home runs...Recorded his 700th career RBI on Oct. 1, 2005 at Toronto.

2004

Played in the most games since playing in 128 in 2001 for the Chicago Cubs...Teamed with Aaron Guiel to form the 1st Canadian-born duo to ever play for the Royals... Led the team in walks with 49...Hit a grand slam in the 6th inning at Cleveland on April20... it was the 8th grand slam of his career... Tied a career high with 6 RBI in that game (3rd time)...Recorded the 10th 2-home run game of his career on June 18 at Philadelphia... Reached double- digit home runs for the 9th consecutive season with his 10th on June 20 at Philadelphia...Went 2-for-4 with 2 HRs and 4 RBI vs. Chicago on Aug. 5... Marked his 11th multi-homer game of his career and 2nd of the season... Placed on the 15-Day D.L. with a strained left oblique on Aug. 7... Activated on Aug. 22 after missing 13 games.

2003

Spent the season with Pittsburgh after signing as a free agent on Dec. 18, 2002...Hit a 461-ft solo home run on April 5 at Houston, what was the longest home run in Minute Maid Park history at that time...Was placed on the 15-Day D.L. on May 22 (retro to May 19) with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left middle finger... Was reinstated from the D.L. on June 9... Went deep twice on July 3 vs. Cincinnati, his 9th career multi-homer game... Bounced a home run into the Allegheny River on July 21 vs. Houston (also homered into the river while playing with the Cubs on 9/24/01)... Appeared in his 1,000th career game on July 28 at St. Louis, becoming the 11th Canadian-born player to amass 1,000 games played...Homered into the Allegheny River for the 2nd time in 2003 (3rd career) on Sept. 15 vs. Cincinnati.

2002

Was on 15-Day Disabled List from May 19 (retro to 5/16) through June 2 with a strained left hamstring... Homered twice on June 29 at Minnesota, his 8th career multi-homer game... Hit his 5th career pinch-hit home run and collected his 500th career RBI on Aug. 30 at Cincinnati.

2001

Was Chicago's Opening Day 1st baseman after entering the campaign with only 16 big-league appearances at that position... Became just the 4th player to open a season at 1st base for the Cubs since 1978, following Bill Buckner (1978-1983), Leon Durham (1984-1988) and Mark Grace (1989-2000)... Homered in 4 straight contests from June 2-6... Was his 7th career homer streak of at least 3 games... recorded 7th career 2-homer affair on June 24 vs. Milwaukee (took Ben Sheets deep twice)... Switched from uniform No. 24 to No. 30 on July 24 and went 3-for-5 that night against Pittsburgh...Left the game on Oct. 4 vs. Cincinnati with a left forearm contusion and missed the final weekend of the campaign.

2000

Homered in 3 consecutive contests from April 19-21... Hit a game-ending, 3-run homer on May 12 in Oakland's come-from-behind victory over Seattle (it was the 5th walk-off homer of his career)... Connected off San Diego's Rodrigo Lopez for his 7th career grand slam on June 6.

2000 POST-SEASON: Went 1-for-9 with a double in 3 games against the Yankees in the American League Division Series.

1999

Led Oakland in home runs (38) and tied for 8th in the American League in that department...His 67 extra-base hits represented the 10th-highest mark in club history... Hit a pair of grand slams; on April 30 off Boston's Kip Gross and on Aug. 13 at Toronto off Paul Spoljaric... Recorded his 6th multi-homer game by hitting a pair on Aug. 13 at Toronto... Recorded 3 walk-off home runs (May 14 vs. Minnesota, May 31 vs. Tampa Bay and Aug. 8 vs. Chicago-A.L.)... Connected off Sidney Ponson at Baltimore on Sept. 23 (game 1) for his 100th career homer.

1998

Became the 1st Canadian-born player to hit 25 or more homers in consecutive seasons...Was limited to designated hitter duties for most of the season due to a left shoulder subluxation and left achilles tendinitis... Ranked 3rd among A.L. designated hitters in RBI and 4th in home runs (made a total of 119 starts as the DH)... Hit a pair of grand slams - on April 16 off Kansas City's Tim Belcher and on June 24 off Steve Reed at San Francisco (the June 24 shot was the 100th grand slam in Oakland's club history)... Homered in 5 consecutive games from July 30 through Aug. 3, tying the Athletics' franchise record for consecutive games with a home run... tied career high with 6 RBI on May 9 vs. Chicago (AL)... Batted .409 (18-for-44) during career-high 12-game hitting streak from May 4-21... went 5-for-11 (.455) as a pinch hitter and shared the league lead with 8 RBI.

1997

Spent his 1st full season in the Majors with Oakland... Had 1st Major League 2-homer game on May 14 vs. Milwaukee...Earned American League Player-of-the-Week honors for the week of July 14-20 after going 11-for-18 (.611) with 10 runs scored, 5 home runs and 11 RBI... Hit a grand slam off Norm Charlton on Sept. 28 at Seattle in his final at bat of the season.

1996

Tied a Major League record for outfielders with 2 assists in the 4th inning on April 16 at Texas... was designated for assignment on April 23... Returned to the Athletics on July 4 and spent the rest of season in the Majors... Matched a Major League record (12th time) with 6 RBI in an inning in a 16-8 win vs. California on July 5... Hit his 1st career grand slam and delivered a 2-run single in the 1st inning.

1995

Began season with Pawtucket (Red Sox AAA)... Hit .347 with 8 doubles, 7 homers and 22 RBI during the month of May to earn International League Player of the Month honors... Was recalled by Boston on June 23... Connected off Tom Gordon at Kansas City for his 1st Major League home run on July5...Was optioned back to Triple-A on Aug. 15, but returned to Boston on Aug. 30.

1995 POST-SEASON: Went hitless in 1 at bat during the Division Series against Cleveland.

1994

Was named to the Eastern League mid-season All-Star team and won MVP honors in the game.

1993

Played in 3 different cities in 3 different countries... Began the season with Montreal, but was sent to Ottawa (AAA) on April 8 before appearing in a game with the Expos... Recalled by Montreal on May 30 and appeared in just 6 games, 5 as a pinch hitter...Had contract sold and was assigned to the Chunichi Dragons of the Japanese Central League on June 8.

1992

Was recalled by Montreal on May 28... Became the 7th Canadian player to play for the Expos when he appeared as a pinch hitter at Cincinnati on May 29 (ML Debut)... Recorded his 1st Major League hit on May 31, a 2-run single off Jose Rijo on May 31 at Cincinnati... Was optioned back to Indy on June 11, but returned to Montreal on June 19.

1991

Was selected the Eastern League's Most Valuable Player and also earned league mid-season and post-season all-star honors... led the league in batting, hits, slugging percentage (.509) and total bases (257)...Tied for the league lead in triples and intentional walks (8)... Hit for the cycle on Aug. 23 vs. New Britain, finishing the feat with a bunt single.

1990

Split season between West Palm Beach (Expos' A) and Jacksonville (Expos' AA) ... Hit .287 with six homers and 64 RBI in 134 contests ... Was named to Florida State League mid-season All-Star team ... Earned Player-of-the-Week honors in the Florida State League for the week of 4/6-15 and was named Montreal's organizational Player-of-the-Month for the month of April after hitting .417 with 15 RBI ... Made a total of 89 appearances at third base, 23 at shortstop, 18 in the outfield and four at second base.

1989

Signed with Montreal as a non-drafted free agent on 1/17 ... Played at three different levels in the Expos' farm system and combined to hit .244 in 94 games.