MLB’s All-Time Canadian Born All-Star Team

July 1st is Canada Day. While the geographically spansive neighbor to America’s north is mostly known for it’s hockey, curling and other primarily winter sports on the world stage, the country has also produced its fair share of legitimate MLB players.

The land of the Maple Leaf doesn’t have an ideal climate for baseball in most parts of the nation. There is certainly nowhere a child can play the game year-round at outdoor venues or practice fields.

These things considered, it’s a special thing to witness a talent skilled enough to get to a university program in the United States and build on their tools with the hope of one day reaching the grand stage that is Major League Baseball. Even more so remarkable, is when a big league club takes a chance on drafting a youngster straight out of high school.

Most recently, the San Diego Padres selected RHP Cal Quantrill out of Stanford University with the eighth overall selection in the 2016 draft. The son of Paul Quantrill, Cal was born in Port Hope, Ontario on February 10, 1995.

Here is the starting defensive lineup for Canada’s all-time MLB squad.

Next: Starting Pitcher

1. Ferguson Jenkins: 1965-1983

Born December 13, 1942 in Chatham, Ontario

Fergie Jenkins represents the pinnacle of pitching success for a Canadian-born hurler. A three-time All-Star, Jenkins was a consummate ace and workhorse for Chicago Cubs in the late 60s and early 70s.

He was a 20 or greater game winner seven times in his career, paving the way for over 4500 innings pitched in his lifetime. That total ranks him 27th on MLB’s all-time list. His 3,192 strikeouts rank 12th.

Twice in his career was Jenkins runner-up for the coveted Cy Young Award and two other times he finished third in voting. He took home the honor in 1971 with the Cubbies when he went 24-13 with 30 complete games thrown, a 2.77 ERA and 263 strikeouts that season.

Of all starting pitchers who played in the post World War II era, Jenkins ranks fourth in career complete games (267) and 13th in career shutouts (49), one spot ahead of Roger Clemens.

Fergie gained entry into baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1991. His lifetime WAR of 82.8 stands alone for Canadian born pitchers. Ryan Dempster has the second most innings logged by any other Canadian born hurler. His lifetime WAR is 22.6.

Next: Catcher

2. Russell Martin: 2006-Present

Born February 15, 1983 in East York, Ontario

Russell Martin comes from an interesting background on his path the the Majors. He spent most of his youth living in Montreal, where his father was a talented saxophone player. His parents separated when he was eight and he relocated to Paris with his mother.

Since breaking into the big leagues a decade ago with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Martin has been on of baseball’s most reliable backstops. 2010 was the only season where he did not appear in over 100 games for his club and he’s maintained a .255 career batting average with a hefty .350 OBP over that term.

Of all Canadian born position players, Martin ranks 10th on the lifetime hits list, eighth in runs batted in and seventh in home runs. He has made four ASG appearances and also has a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger as hardware.

Next: First Base

3. Joey Votto: 2007-Present

Born September 10, 1983 in Toronto, Ontario

With two former Canadian MVP’s at this position, it was tough to choose one over the other. Historically, Joey Votto has been better defensively than Justin Morneau has. For that reason, he’s the Cancuck we’re going with here.

Votto won his NL MVP award in 2010 with the Cincinnati Reds, the same season that saw him begin to string together four straight ASG appearances. He’s struggled some in recent years, but he remains a valuable commodity to the Reds by being an on-base machine.

Despite only hitting .244 right now, his OBP still sits at .375, which is respectable, but over 45 points lower than his career norm of .420. A rough start to 2016 is being turned around, with Votto slashing .307/.460/.500 in June.

Only 32, this career .306 hitter should surpass Jason Bay sometime this season or next for the fourth most career home runs in MLB by a Canadian-born player. Votto’s lifetime WAR of 43.5 in 10 seasons is substantially higher than Morneau’s 27.0 in 13 seasons played.

Next: Second Base

5. Corey Koskie: 1998-2006

Born June 28, 1973 in Anola, Manitoba

Though never an All-Star, Corey Koskie had some strong seasons during his nine year career — of which all but two were played in Minnesota. Most managers today would gladly take a lifetime .275/.367/.458 line from their starting third baseman.

Koskie averaged 14 home runs and 56 RBI per season over his career. His finest campaign came in 2001 when David Ortiz and Torii Hunter helped to bulk up the meat of the order. That year, Koskie flirted with 30-30 status, clubbing 26 homers and swiping 27 bases while driving in 103. His .850 OPS was good enough for second best on a Twins team that went 85-77 and finished second in the AL Central.

Koskie’s 124 lifetime round trippers rank eighth among all Canadian-born players. From 1999-2004, he averaged a respectable 3.7 wins above replacement per season.

Next: Shortstop

6. George Wood: 1880-1892

Born November 9, 1858 in Pownal, Prince Edward Island

An old timer no doubt and the only player you’ll find on this roster not born in the 20th century, George Wood, affectionately known as Dandy, broke into the league with the Worcester Ruby Legs.

He only logged 123 innings in his pro career as a shortstop, but that’s good enough to qualify on our list, where it’s thin on talent at the position. An outfielder by trade, Wood amassed 1467 career hits, the third most by any Canadian big leaguer in history.  His 132 triples lead the pack and his 113 stolen bases are the sixth most.

It doesn’t matter what era a man played in. By any stretch, a 13 year career in professional baseball is a job well done. In 1891 with the Philadelphia Athletics, he served as both manager and player. Inducted posthumously into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011, you’d be hard pressed to find a Major Leaguer with a dandier mustache than Wood’s.

His lifetime WAR is 19.6 with a fielding percentage of .848 as a shortstop.

Next: Left Field

7. Jason Bay: 2003-2013

Born September 20, 1978 in Trail, British Columbia

A 22nd round draft pick in 2000, Jason Bay overcame huge odds to establish himself as an MLB talent. He didn’t travel far across the border to play his college ball either, as Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA is a mere three hour drive south of his hometown.

Bay had a solid stretch of seasons from 2004 until 2009. He was an All-Star three times in that span, a Rookie of the Year, a Silver Slugger and appeared on three MVP ballots. All of those seasons but one-and-a-half were spent with the Pirates, when he was traded to Boston in 2008.

During his prime, Bay averaged a .280 BA with an OPS of .894 to go along with 30 taters and 99 runs knocked in. For a small mountain town in southern BC that relies heavily on mining to fuel its economy, Bay certainly has to be one of the more heralded names to make a mark on pop culture in the 21st century.

Next: Center Field

8. Michael Saunders: 2009-Present

Born November 19, 1986 in Victoria, British Columbia

Michael Saunders had a strong showing in 2012 with the Mariners when he came one home run shy of logging a 20-20 season, hitting .247/.306/.432 as Seattle’s starting center fielder.

Now primarily a left fielder with the Blue Jays, a return to north of the border has brought about a significant improvement to Saunders’ game. With Toronto this season, he has been the most consistent hitter in the lineup, currently batting .293. His 15 home runs and 34 RBI have him on pace to blow his old personal bests (19 & 57) out of the water.

The Condor has often been hampered by injuries in his career, but at only 29, he’s trending upwards headed into his thirties and should continue to hit well at the Rogers Centre, if he sticks around. Saunders is playing in a contract year, so there is plenty of motivation on his end, with free agency looming headed into 2017.

Next: Right Field

9. Larry Walker: 1989-2005

Born December 1, 1966 in Maple Ridge, British Columbia

If there is one person who has done something significant for bringing Canadians and the game of baseball together, it’s this man. Larry Walker began his career playing in Canada for the now defunct Montreal Expos and had some pretty decent seasons there. He wraps up our all-BC born starting outfield.

From 1990-1994 with Montreal, he appeared in one All-Star game and averaged a line of .284-73-20-76-19. In ’94, the players’ strike ended the season in early August and no postseason or World Series followed. Montreal went 74-40 that season and were a favorite to win a championship. Through only 103 games played, Walker’s 44 doubles led the league and .322-76-19-86-15 line proved to be a phenomenal start to the year.

After signing as a free agent in Colorado, Booger didn’t slow down. Four ASG nods, five Gold Gloves, two Silver Slugger awards and an MVP year in 1997 followed. Walker led the NL that year in homers (49), OBP (.452) and SLG (.720) while hitting .366.

Six times in his career, Walker compiled an OPS above 1.000. He’s the only Canadian to have recorded more than 2000 hits and his lifetime line of .313/.400/.565 over a 17 year career deserves some real consideration for Cooperstown. His lifetime WAR is a robust 72.6, less than three points below Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench‘s 75, who had just as many service years in MLB.

Next: Designated Hitter

Justin Morneau: 2003-2015

Born May 15, 1981 in New Westminster, British Columbia

Another first baseman with MVP credentials, Justin Morneau was always a little injury prone and a bit more of a defensive liability, so it makes sense to use his bat at DH.

Recently signed by the White Sox to a one-year, $1 million deal on June 9, Morneau will look to build on his bounce back season with the Rockies in 2014 when he hit .319-17-82 as a 33-year-old.

Morneau won his AL MVP all the way back in 2006 with the Twins, but he’s been a viable threat at the plate ever since, when healthy. A career .282 hitter, he ranks third all-time in home runs on the list of Canadians and second in RBI, needing another 40 to put him over 1000 total. His lifetime WAR is 27.0.

Next: Reliever

Eric Gagne: 1999-2008

Born January 7, 1976 in Montreal, Quebec

If there was one man NL hitters did not want to face in the early to mid 2000s of ninth inning ball games, it was Eric Gagne.

His 187 career saves rank 55th all-time and are easily the most by a Canadian, though Oakland’s John Axford is still active and closing in on him with 142 and counting.

Gagne’s 55 saves in 2003 tie for the third most in MLB history over a single season. As such, his 55 saves in as many opportunities that year along with a minuscule 1.20 ERA was distinguished by him earning a Cy Young Award. After 2005, things sort of unwound for the hard throwing right-hander. But from 2002-04, you’d be hard pressed to find a better closer in the game.

Next: Blue Jays bats now carrying team, not pitching

Gagne was an All-Star in every one of those seasons, while also appearing on every Cy and MVP ballot. His lifetime WAR is 11.7 with a K/9 of 10.