OTTAWA, ON – Stubby is back on board!
After reports that Clapp was denied permission to play for Canada at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Houston Astros have given the face of Canadian baseball the go-ahead to join the Canadian Senior National Team for the Olympic tournament.
“I’m very excited and very grateful,” says Clapp. “I’m grateful to the Astros that they gave me this opportunity to write the final chapter of my playing career. I’ll forever be in debt to them.”
"We are very pleased and appreciative of the Astros decision to allow us to have Stubby for the Games," says Greg Hamilton, Coach & Director of National Teams with Baseball Canada. "His leadership and presence will be instumental in our quest for Olympic gold."
Clapp, who suited up for Canada at the Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Taiwan last March will now get a chance to join a team looking to win its first ever Olympic medal.
Furthermore, this will be a chance at redemption for the Windsor, Ontario native who was part of the Canadian Olympic Team that narrowly missed winning a medal in Athens in 2004, when Canada finished fourth.
“Being able to get this second chance is huge for me considering that this could be the last time baseball will be an Olympic sport,” mentions Clapp. “I’m glad I get to represent my country one last time.”
The 35-year-old has been part of Baseball Canada’s National Teams Program since 1991 when he was a member of the Canadian Junior National Team. Clapp has gone on to represent his country in numerous international tournaments since, including the 1999 Pan-Am Games, the 2006 World Baseball Classic and the aforementioned 2004 Olympic Games.
Clapp has also pieced together a remarkable professional career, including a 23 game stint in the Major Leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001. He’s played nine affiliated seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays organizations and currently holds the position of Hitting Coach with the Class-A Lexington Legends in the Houston Astros organization.
Stubby Clapp - History with Baseball Canada
Year Event Location
1991 World Junior Baseball Championship Brandon, MB
1994 Baseball World Cup Nicaragua
1999 Pan-American Games Winnipeg, MB
2003 America’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament Panama
2004 Olympic Games Athens, Greece
2005 Baseball World Cup Qualifier Bradenton, FL
2005 Pan-American Pre-Olympic Qualifier Phoenix, AZ
2006 World Baseball Classic United States
2006 America’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament Cuba
2008 Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament Taiwan
