News

March 8, 2007 marks the one year anniversary of the biggest upset in Canadian baseball history when Team Canada beat the powerhouse Team USA 8-6 in the World Baseball Classic.

That game solidified Canada’s place in the baseball world, and put this country on the map as a manufacturer of some serious baseball talent.

With names such as Jason Bay, Justin Morneau, Matt Stairs, Jeff Francis and Erik Bedard already becoming stars in the Major Leagues, it was names such as Adam Loewen, Pierre-Luc Laforest and Scott Mathieson that really shined.  But perhaps the one name that shined the brightest in that game was Adam Stern.

Stern had a huge game for Canada with three hits, including an inside the park home run, and four RBIs and a couple of clutch defensive plays, including a leaping catch at the wall in center field to rob Chase Utley of an extra base hit to keep the Canadians ahead.

“I thought ‘Oh my God,’” recollects Matt Stairs in an interview with the Toronto Sun.  “Then Stern caught it and I thought ‘Oh my God, we’re going to win this.’”

“It was a big deal, going up against all those All-Stars,” says Stern referring to the confidence boost of that game.  “Guys like Dontrell Willis and Al Leiter; it helps get the jitters out because you realize it’s still the same game.”

Although Canada would ultimately be eliminated from the inaugural tournament in the first round, that game stands out as one of the major highlights of the competition and of Canadian baseball history in general.