Image: Wikicommons by Keith Allison
About This Quiz
Canada may only have one Major League Baseball team to call its own — we're looking at you, Toronto Blue Jays! — but what the country lacks in terms of official teams it makes up for with an impressive roster of phenomenal talent! Baseball has been a national pastime in Canada for well over a century, but it became a true national obsession when the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series Championship not once, but twice in a row, during the 1992 and 1993 seasons. At that point, Canadians across the entire country became obsessed — every newspaper, magazine and TV show featured fascinating stories about how the team achieved such a stupendous feat of athletic showmanship.
While Canadian baseball fans are waiting for the next big World Series win, there are still plenty of Major League Baseball players to celebrate. Many of the players in this quiz came from humble beginnings, often playing their first game in small towns and in farming communities. On the flip side, you'll also learn all about legacy families, where baseball was and always will be as important and (seemingly) effortless as breathing.
We're going to be quizzing you on Major League Baseball players born over a hundred years ago, and you'll also need to know about players who are just getting started with their professional baseball careers and all of the players in between.
Are you ready to explore the world of Canadian Major League Baseball players? Then let's get started!
Rowan Wick
Harvey Shank
Tug Thompson
Abraham Toro
Thanks to his French-Canadian and Venezuelan heritage, Abraham Toro speaks English, French and Spanish fluently. He currently plays as third baseman for the Houston Astros, after being drafted during the fifth round in the 2016 MLB official draft.
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Russell Martin
Born in East York, Ontario, catcher Russell Martin is a free agent as of 2019. He has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. Not only is Martin a four-time All-Star, but he was also the recipient of the Silver Slugger Award and the Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2007.
Dalton Pompey
Larry Walker
Ferguson Jenkins
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Matt Maysey
Scott Mathieson
Scott Mathieson, a Canadian pitcher from Vancouver, British Columbia, played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006 and throughout 2010 and 2011. In 2006, he suffered an elbow injury, which led to a prolonged period of rehabilitation. After his time pitching for the Phillies, he played for the Yomiuri Giants as part of the Nippon Professional Baseball league.
Ed Pinnance
Jeff Heath
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Jim Adduci
Josh Naylor
John Axford
John Axford is a professional pitcher and Major League Baseball free agent as of 2019. His team credits include the Toronto Blue Jays, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Oakland Athletics, the Colorado Rockies, the Cleveland Indians, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Joey Votto
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Josh Naylor
Jordan Romano
Paul Quantrill
Cal Quantrill
Cal Quantrill was born in Port Hope, Ontario, into a baseball family: his father, Paul Quantrill, was a right-handed relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Florida Marlins, to name just a few. Cal began playing for the San Diego Padres on May 1, 2019.
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Oscar Judd
Rob Zastryzny
A pitcher for the Chicago Cubs between the years 2016 and 2018, Rob Zastryzny was born in Edmonton, Alberta. His family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, when he was an infant, and he holds dual citizenship. In the spring of 2019, Zastryzny signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and in the fall, he signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.
Joey Votto
Jeff Zimmerman
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Jason Bay
Terry Puhl
Justin Morneau
Even though Justin Morneau spent a significant portion of his career suffering from various injuries, the former Chicago White Sox first baseman won numerous accolades. His awards include the 2006 American League MVP, two Silver Slugger Awards and the 2008 Home Run Derby.
Ryan Dempster
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Jeff Heath
Born in Fort William, Ontario, on April 1, 1915, Jeff Heath spent most of his career playing for the Cleveland Indians between 1936 and 1945. He famously became the first member of the American League to join the 20-20-20 club — this impressive feat meant that Heath hit 20 doubles, 20 triples and 20 home runs, all in the same season.
Nig Clarke
Jason Bay
Ralph Buxton
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Bob Addy
Jason Dickson
Larry Walker
Jason Bay
At a 2006 Pearl Jam concert, Eddie Vedder asked his fans to vote for Jason Bay so that he could play as starting outfielder during that year's All-Star game. At the time, Bay was playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he got the All-Star game vote. He picked up three Tip O'Neill Awards for best Canadian player during his time with the Major League.
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Jason Dickson
Vladimir Guerrero Ramos Jr.
Son of former right fielder, designated hitter and Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr., Vladimir Guerrero Ramos Jr. appears to be following closely in his father's footsteps. He began playing for the Toronto Blue Jays on April 26, 2019, and he is considered a top prospect for his incredible hitting ability.
James Paxton
Vladimir Guerrero Sr.
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Jim Adduci
James Alducci played for the Korean KBO League's Lotte Giants during their 2015-2016 season. In June of 2016, Alducci tested positive for oxycodone, which resulted in a 36-game ban — eventually leading to his departure from the league. Alducci is now a free agent after playing with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs.
Josh Naylor
Nick Pivetta
Dalton Pompey
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Ralph Buxton
Stubby Clapp
Bob Emslie
Josh Naylor
From Mississauga, Ontario, Josh Naylor made his Major League Baseball debut playing for the San Diego Padres in the spring of 2019. Naylor is considered a power hitter, thanks to an impressive .249 batting average. His brother Noah Naylor also plays MLB, for the Cleveland Indians.
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Phillippe Aumont
Phillippe Aumont was born in Gatineau, Quebec, and grew up playing for regional teams in the surrounding area. Aumont played for the Philadelphia Phillies between 2012 and 2015, where he was praised for the speed of his pitches. He ultimately lost his position on the team and became a free agent until early December of 2019, when he signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Ed Bahr
Frank Colman
Reggie Jackson
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Alex Gardner
Bill Atkinson
Bill Atkinson was born in Chatham, Ontario, in 1954, where he grew up playing baseball. Atkinson was first signed by the Montreal Expos in 1971 as a free agent, and he officially joined their starting roster as a pitcher in 1976. His final MLB appearance was in 1979.
George Gibson
Gene Ford
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Shawn Hill
Shawn Hill began his Major League Baseball career playing for the Montreal Expos. He later signed with the San Diego Padres and the Toronto Blue Jays. Hill also played for Team Canada in the Summer 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where the team placed fourth overall.
Dave Davidson
Russ Ford
Dick Fowler
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Mike Soroka
Tyler O'Neill
Tyler O'Neill is currently an outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals — he made his debut on April 19, 2018. O'Neill's father, who took home the Mr. Canada bodybuilding title in 1975, transferred his enthusiasm for weightlifting to his son. Tyler was at one point given the nickname "Popeye" for his feats of strength.
Nick Pivetta
Tayler Scott
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Bill Paxton
James Paxton
James Paxton, aka "The Big Maple," is a left-handed pitcher, currently playing for the New York Yankees. From 2013 to 2018, Paxton pitched for the Seattle Mariners, becoming the very first Canadian Major League Baseball player to pitch a no-hitter while in Canada — the Mariners were playing against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Luis Escobar
Victor Arano
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Cody Allen
Matt Adams
Nick Pivetta
Nick Pivetta was first signed by the Washington Nationals but was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in the middle of the 2015 season. He began his official major league career with the Phillies in 2017 as a right-handed pitcher, throwing fastballs averaging 96 miles per hour.
Rowan Wick
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Josh Edgin
Hunter Dozier
Dalton Pompey
Hailing from Mississauga, Ontario, Dalton Pompey got his start in the Major Leagues playing for the Toronto Blue Jays as a pinch runner. In 2019, Pompey was designated for assignment, officially becoming a free agent after the end of the 2019 season.
Freddie Freeman
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Jon Jay
Dan Otero
Tyler Duffey
Jordan Romano
Jordan Romano had quite the debut Major League game! While playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, Romano pitched a perfect scoreless seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles. In addition to his involvement with MLB, Romano also played for Team Italy during the 2017 World Baseball Classic competition.
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Tommy Hunter
Mike Soroka
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Mike Soroka is currently playing for the Atlanta Braves, where he made his right-handed pitching debut in 2018. Early in his first season, Soroka began experiencing inflammation in his right shoulder, which eventually led to his placement on the disabled list. In time, Soroka made a triumphant return and was nominated as an All-Star in 2019.
Larry Walker
Oscar Judd
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Tom Murphy
Phillip Ervin
Oscar Judd
Oscar Judd was a left-handed starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1940s. By the end of his Major League Baseball career, Judd had amassed an impressive 161 games as a pitcher, playing in 206 games in total.
Babe Ruth
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"Goody" Rosen
Goodwin Rosen, aka "Goody" Rosen to his fans, was a centre fielder. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers between 1937 and 1939, then again from 1944 to 1946. He also played for the New York Giants in 1946. Born in 1912 in Toronto, Ontario, Rosen was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.
Adam Stern
Derek Fisher
Todd Frazier
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Buck Farmer
Doug Fister
Jesse Crain
Adam Stern
Adam Stern has the honour of being the second Jewish Canadian to ever play in the Major Leagues, following in the footsteps of Goody Rosen. Stern played for the Boston Red Sox, the Baltimore Orioles and the Milwaukee Brewers. During his time with the Red Sox, Stern played with Kevin Youkilis and Gabe Kapler — the largest number of Jewish MLB players on a single team at once since the expansion era.
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Aaron Judge
John Hiller
John Hiller, who played as a relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers between 1965 and 1980, has been inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Hiller holds the record for most career games pitched with the Detroit Tigers — a whopping 545 games!
Hank Aaron
Paul Janish
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Pete Ward
Jeff Zimmerman
Jesse Crain
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Jesse Crain is a retired right-handed pitcher who played for the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox. While competing in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, Crain demonstrated his considerable pitching skills when he struck out four consecutive batters during the eighth and ninth innings in a game against Italy. Unfortunately, his team lost, despite Crain's efforts.
John Upham
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Mike Nickeas
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Mike Nickeas played for the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays before retiring from baseball in 2015. During his time as a professional baseball player, Nickeas represented the United States and Great Britain at the Pan American Games and the European Baseball Championship, respectively.
Ryder Jones
Brandon Moss
Kyle Freeland
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Ron Law
Arthur Irwin
Bill Jones
Ron Piché
Ron Piché was born in Verdun, Quebec, a borough of Montreal, in 1935. A right-handed pitcher and batter, Piché played for the Milwaukee Braves, Los Angeles Angels and St. Louis Cardinals. After his retirement from playing pro baseball, Piché became a coach for the Montreal Expos franchise.
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Tim Beckham
Bill Phillips
Michael Saunders
An outfielder for the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies, Michael Saunders announced his retirement in 2019. What's next for the prolific former outfielder? Saunders announced his plans to become a minor league coach for the Atlanta Braves.
Scott Richmond
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Dave Pagan
Andre Ethier
Jamie Romak
Jamie Romak was born in London, Ontario, in 1985. His career in the major leagues was spent playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Romak has also played in the 2007 and 2011 Baseball World Cup, as well as the 2011 Pan American Games, for which his team won the gold.
Tom Murphy
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Nate Karns
Jared Hoying
Aaron Judge
Scott Richmond
Scott Richmond was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, to a Canadian mother and a father from New Zealand. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays between 2008 and 2009, then again between 2011 and 2012. Since leaving MLB, Richmond has pitched for international leagues in China, Korea and Canada — he joined the Long Island Ducks in the Atlantic League in 2019.
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Jon Lester
Rheal Cormier
Rheal Cormier pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cincinnati Reds and a few other MLB teams before signing with the Moncton Mets in 2008. Interestingly, he had played for Moncton before joining MLB. At the age of 41, Cormier also played for the national Canadian baseball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing — he was the oldest player on the team.
Robbie Ray
Dee Gordon
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Rob Butler
Rob Butler was born in East York, Ontario, into a baseball-loving family — his brother Rich also played professional baseball. Butler was an outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies during his time in the major leagues. Soon after his retirement from MLB in 1999, he began playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club, where he remained until 2005.
Lance Lynn
John Hicks
Derek Fisher
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Austin Jackson
Buck Farmer
Nig Clarke
Born in 1882, Jay Justin "Nig" Clarke was a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, the Cleveland Naps, the St. Louis Browns, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates (some of which have changed names or are now defunct). By the time of his retirement, Clarke had played in 506 career games, earning 20 triples and six home runs.
Kyle Zimmer
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Doug Frobel
Doug Frobel is a now-retired right fielder who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos and Cleveland Indians. During his time playing Major League ball, he played outfield in 268 games. In 1984 he set a personal record of 12 home runs in 126 games.
Tim Harkness
Ben Heller
Chris Sale
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Bryce Harper
Mike Minor
Tim Harkness
Born in Lachine, Quebec, Thomas "Tim" Harkness is a former first baseman who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets between 1961 and 1964. After leaving Major League Baseball, Harkness played at the Triple-A level until 1966, at which point he retired at the ripe old age of 28.
Hoby Milner
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Chub Collins
Shorty Dee
Vince Horsman
In 2012, Vince Horsman was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame for his work as a pitcher in the Major Leagues. Between 1991 and 1995, Horsman played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics and Minnesota Twins. He now works as a pitching coach for various minor league teams under the Toronto Blue Jays umbrella.
Barry Cort
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Reggie Jackson
Babe Ruth
Harry Fisher
Born in 1926 in Newbury, Ontario, Harry Fisher played Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1951 and 1952. His primary position was right-handed pitcher, but because he was an excellent batter, he also played outfield in the minors. He served as a pinch hitter in both the minor and major leagues.
Josh Harrison
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Roland Gladu
In 1946, third baseman Roland Gladu was suspended for switching over to the Mexican League for better pay. He eventually went on to play and coach baseball in Canada, Mexico, Cuba and England. When he wasn't playing baseball, Gladu could be found playing professional hockey in the Quebec Hockey League!
Brian Johnson
Eric Fryer
Greg Bird
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