Happy Birthday Matt Stairs

by Tom Dakers on Feb 27, 2011 10:39 PM EST in Toronto Blue Jays Birthdays

Today is Matt Stairs 43rd birthday.

Matt, as you know, is a good Canadian boy. He played 2 seasons with the Jays and started his major league career with the Expos, long ago. Of his two years with the Jays, the first was terrific. He hit 21 home runs, 64 RBI, with a .289/.373/.549. The Jays signed him with the idea he could be a bench player but he got into 125 games playing first base, left and right field and a little DH.

The second season, he played a lot, especially after the Jays released Frank Thomas and he wasn't as successful. We traded him to the Phillies near the end of the season for Fabio Castro (who signed with the Mariners as a free agent this off-season). Matt had a big pinch hit home run for Philadelphia in their drive for the playoffs.

Matt has been a favorite of mine since seeing him years ago in Toronto when Matt was an Oakland A. Warming up between innings, Matt was throwing to a ball boy in front of us and he took the time to show the teenager how to throw properly, straight overtop instead of 3/4 so that his throws would go straight and not tail. I thought it was great the a major league player would spend the time to give a little lesson during a game.

Stairs signed with the Nationals back in December. I haven't heard if he has much chance of making the team, but I hope he makes it.

Happy Birthday, Matt. Hope it has been a good one.

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Comments

Matte is a total class act

Hope he had a great birthday

If you can't pay em' trade em' and pay for someone else

by jaysfan100 on Feb 27, 2011 10:59 PM EST reply actions

Dumb mobile updates

Matt not Matte

If you can't pay em' trade em' and pay for someone else

by jaysfan100 on Feb 27, 2011 11:00 PM EST up reply actions

Just thought of an endorsement opportunity!

Tired of drabby-looking concrete stairs in front of your house? Hit a home run with the all-Canadian Home Hardware® Beauti-tone® Matte Stairs Paint™ —guaranteed to make a splash! (Also available in gloss, silk semi-gloss, and suede velvet.)

by Minor Leaguer on Feb 27, 2011 11:23 PM EST up reply actions

Rec'd for sheer use of Matt as "Color" commentator...

Festina Lente

by HESS2479 on Feb 28, 2011 9:28 AM EST up reply actions

guaranteed to make a splash!

Guaranteed to be long lasting and durable!

by siggian on Feb 28, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

Nice

Hope he has a great one, fabulous person.

by B-R_O-C on Feb 27, 2011 11:02 PM EST reply actions

I loved him

I recently bought that shirt that says “In case of emergency, use Stairs”

Jose Bautista has a higher midi-chlorian count than you do.

by Jays11 on Feb 27, 2011 11:02 PM EST reply actions

^
LOL that hilarious

by Lesean25 on Feb 28, 2011 12:42 AM EST up reply actions

pinch hit HR for philly

man, i remember that hit. huge was dwarfed by that hit! i’m not sure, but i heard on discovery that that baseball is still orbiting the earth. … too much? nah. that was an awesome hit. absolutely love how that guy comes out of his shoes every time he swings. what a guy!

by KennySauce on Feb 28, 2011 1:31 AM EST reply actions

Broxton was never the same after that

The next season Stairs was sent in to face Broxton again, can’t remember the circumstances, but Broxton wouldn’t come near the plate. Now THAT was intimidation!
You rarely see something like that, especially from a supposed closer.

Happy b-day, Matt!!

by TigerJay on Feb 28, 2011 12:57 PM EST up reply actions