Matt Stairs

Matt Stairs, born on February 27, 1968, is a distinguished Canadian former professional baseball player and coach, renowned for his exceptional skills as an outfielder, first baseman, and designated hitter. He holds the remarkable record for the most pinch-hit home runs in Major League Baseball (MLB) history, with twenty-three to his name. One of his most iconic moments came during the eighth inning of Game 4 in the 2008 National League Championship Series, where he hit a memorable pinch-hit home run off Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Jonathan Broxton, a moment celebrated as one of the most significant in Philadelphia Phillies history.

Throughout his illustrious career, Stairs played for a total of twelve teams, making him the player with the most teams in MLB history. This includes a unique distinction of playing for both the Montreal Expos and Washington Nationals. His versatility and power at the plate have placed him among the elite Canadian players, as he is one of only four Canadians to have played for both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Expos, alongside Denis Boucher, Rob Ducey, and Shawn Hill.

Stairs made history as the second Canadian-born player to hit more than thirty-five home runs in a single season and was also one of the few to achieve over twenty-five home runs and one hundred runs batted in during consecutive seasons. His prowess in power-hitting ranks him among the top Canadian major leaguers, and he is celebrated for his ability to deliver in clutch situations, earning him the nickname 'Matt Stairs – Professional Hitter'.

In addition to his impressive home run record, Stairs is part of an elite group of Canadian MLB players, including Larry Walker, Justin Morneau, Jason Bay, and Joey Votto, all of whom have hit at least two hundred career home runs. His contributions to the sport were recognized when he was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on February 4, 2015, solidifying his legacy in the annals of baseball history.