While no Canadian players will be competing in this year’s World Series, there are a number of players and coaches that have spent parts of their careers in the Great White North.
Here’s a list of the links that St. Louis Cardinals players and coaches have with Canada (A list with Texas Rangers Canadian links will follow tomorrow):
Born in Canada
Dave McKay, first-base coach, Vancouver, B.C.
Toronto Blue Jays Links
Dave McKay, first-base coach, played with Jays from 1977 to 1979.
Chris Carpenter, starting pitcher, played with Jays from 1997 to 2002.
Octavio Dotel, relief pitcher, played with Jays in 2011.
Marc Rzepczynski, relief pitcher, played with Jays from 2009 to 2011.
Edwin Jackson, starting pitcher, was a Jay for a few hours on July 27, 2011. He was part of the package shipped to the Cardinals for Colby Rasmus.
Corey Patterson, outfielder, played with Jays in 2011. He’s unlikely to be on the Cardinals World Series roster.
Montreal Expos Links
Jake Westbrook, starting pitcher, pitched in Expos organization in 1998 & 1999.
Mark McGwire, batting coach, selected by Expos in eighth round of 1981 draft, but did not sign.
Joe Pettini, bench coach, signed as free agent by the Expos in 1977. He played in the Expos organization from 1977 to 1979.
Cardinals who played in minors in Canada:
Chris Carpenter, starting pitcher, 1994 Rookie Ball Medicine Hat Blue Jays, 1999 Low-A St. Catharines Stompers
Kyle Lohse, starting pitcher, 2001 Triple-A Edmonton Trappers while in Twins organization.
Tony La Russa, manager, 1968 Triple-A Vancouver Canadians while in A’s organization.
Dave Duncan, pitching coach, 1968 Triple-A Vancouver Canadians while in A’s organization.
Jeff Murphy, bullpen catcher, 1992 Low-A Hamilton Cardinals while in Cardinals organization.
Wow Kevin. Awesome. didn’t know most of these. Thanks for the insight and Go Cards Go! Just for Dave McKay!!
Good call Kevin 😉
People need to know how much influence our country and our MLB teams have had on the game.
Thanks, Scott. Sad to say that I didn’t know that McGwire was drafted by the Expos until earlier this summer. I wonder if La Russa and Duncan met in Vancouver? That’s been a legendary partnership over the years.
That’s a lot of detailed information, Kevin. I don’t know how you do it. And I didn’t realize McGwire was active in major league baseball again.
From Devon Teeple:
Thanks for writing about this.
It takes a lot of work to bring to light all the Canadian connections. Thanks for taking the time to keeping us updated.
pettini also managed the hamilton redbirds