Matt Stairs' House Robbed

Alright...I'll say it.  This sucks.

Former Major Leaguer (and all around good guy) Matt Stairs' home was broken into while he was away to be inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame.

And the worst part about it, dude thinks it was targeted.

"Well I've got a feeling they knew what they wanted. I believe they were looking for the World Series ring and, of course, I had that with me," Stairs told CBC News.  "They took all kinds of jewelry. There was the NLCS division championship (ring), the American League (ring), the National League ring, my wife's National League pendant, watches and jewellery and stuff. So there was quite a bit of stuff stolen."

The 19-year big leaguer also added that the thieves weren't very smart.

"If they're trying to pawn off my rings, they have my name and the year and all that stuff," Stairs said.  "So, if you get a 16, 17, 18-year-old punk who's trying to sell stuff to the pawn shops, we talked to all the pawn shops and gave them a heads-up."

The slugger retired from baseball last August and with 265 career home runs, 897 RBI and a .263 batting average.  He holds Major League records for the most pinch-hit home runs (23) and the most teams played for (13). 

Stairs won a World Series title with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 and even hit a game-winning home run in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.

Matt Stairs Hangs it Up

I'm a Matt Stairs guy...it's true. I remember watching the guy while he was in A-ball with the Montreal Expos.

Now, 19 seasons and 265 career home runs later...the 43-year-old Stairs is calling it quits.

"I'm not sad. I had a great career, a long career," Stairs told CBC News Wednesday. "And it's one of those things where I can walk away today and not be sad about it."

Stairs suited up for and played for 13 different Major League franchises, his 23 pinch-hit home runs is a big league record.

But, I think it is safe to say that it was his game-winning home run in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 that he'll be best remembered.

The Season That Was...August

As long as guys like Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols are swinging a bat...the baseball world stands a good chance at seeing some milestones broken.

That said...welcome to August!

Right out of the gate, on August 4th, "A-Rod" joined Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey Jr. as the one of the only players to slug 600 or more home runs for their career...and he did it exactly three years to the day after he slugged number 500.

Rodriguez also became the youngest player to hit 600, at 35 years and eight days old...a year and 188 days younger than "The Bambino" was when he swatted 600. "A-Rod" was also the fourth quickest to the mark in terms of at-bats, hitting number 600 in his 8,689th at-bat. Ruth did it in 6,921.

Less than a week later, Rodriguez made history again when he stole his 300th base. Only Barry (762-514) and Bobby Bonds (332-461), Willie Mays (660-338), Andre Dawson (438-314), Reggie Sanders (305-304) and Steve Finley (304-320) have achieved 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases.

The Season That Was...July

As the "Year of the Pitcher" hit its midway point...the baseball world lost a boss, saw a hawk soar to new heights and wondered aloud if Matt Stairs is the game's best (pinch) hitter.

Wait...what?!?

On July 7, Matt Stairs went yard against Matt Capps for the 20th time as a pinch hitter. This milestone by Stairs earned him a tie with Cliff Johnson atop the all-time home run list among pinch hitters.

This was Stairs' second homer as a member of his 12th team...the San Diego Padres. His first one of the season (which was hit in May) meant that the Canadien had gone deep for a record eleven different teams...a feat matched only by Todd Zeile.

Matt Stairs...Professional Hitter, Part Two

After nearly a month on the disabled list, San Diego Padres pinch hitter (does he even have a natural position anymore?) Matt Stairs made his way back to the dugout just over a week ago.

Wednesday night…he tied history.

With a ninth inning home run off Washington closer Matt Capps, Stairs tied Cliff Johnson with his 20th pinch hit home run.

"Personally, being a pinch-hitter most of your career, that's what is tops," Stairs said following the milestone.

Earlier this season, the 18-year veteran became the first position player (and third player overall) to suit up for 12 teams. In May, he tied journeyman Todd Zeile by being the only players in Major League history to go deep for eleven different ball clubs.

So what’s left for Stairs to accomplish?

Two things if you ask me…he needs to suit up for team number 13 and surpass Johnson and become the all-time leader in home runs as a pinch hitter.

Hop in the Delorean and check out last month's Matt Stairs...Professional Hitter.

Matt Stairs...Professional Hitter

I'm not sure how I missed it...but I did. Last weekend, journeyman Matt Stairs did the improbable.

He hit another home run.

I know, I know...the guy it a professional hitter who makes a living coming off the bench and taking care of business with one swing of the bat.

But after last season with Philadelphia, it didn't look like Stairs would ever suit up again.

He had taken a job as hitting coach at the University of Maine and started making plans to coach his daughter’s softball team...when his agent called. A few months later, the grizzled 42 year-old found himself fighting for a job with San Diego big league team.

He had dropped more than 30 pounds and was chasing a litany of obscure baseball records.

First, making the Padres would mean that Stairs would join his record tying twelfth Major League team. The other two players he shares the honor with (Mike Morgan and Ron Villone) are both pitchers...making Stairs the only position player to suit up for a dozen teams.

Next, with 259 career home runs in his rearview mirror, Stairs was looking for career home run number 260 with the Friars...a feat he accomplaished May 22.

You see, with his fourth inning bomb off Mariners pitcher Ian Snell, Stairs became just the second player to go deep for eleven different teams. And while it took him a sleepy 24.14 seconds to round the bases (big thanks Larry over at the Tater Trot Tracker)...I have a feeling the New Brunswick native is holding out for his next milestone.

The most career pinch hit home runs.

Currently, Cliff Johnson is the king when it comes to pinch hit home runs, Throughout his 15 year career, the former designated hitter had 20 home runs off the bench.

Stairs currently sits at 19.

“You need to accept pinch hitting,” Stairs told Yahoo! Sports back in March. “One at-bat is your time. The manager has the faith that I’m a guy in a certain situation."

“That is such a difficult role to succeed in, to be productive,” Padres manager Bud Black said in the same interview to Yahoo! Sports. “To come to the park at 2 and hit at 9:30, one at-bat, in most cases, against the other teams’ best relievers, it’s not easy to perform.”

Oh, and in case you were wondering which of his 12 teams Stairs didn’t hit a home run with…it would be that same team that drafted him.

The Montreal Expos.