September 7, 1999 – Gagne starts against Dempster in MLB debut

September 7, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Cooperstowners in Canada

Twenty-five years ago today, two former Junior National Team roommates faced off in what Miami Herald sportswriter Mike Phillips hailed as “perhaps the best pitched game at Pro Player Stadium this season.”

Fresh off being named the Texas League (double-A) Pitcher of the Year, Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) started and made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers against his 1993 and 1994 Junior National Team teammate Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, B.C.) who was making his 32nd big league start.

The two Canadians combined to toss 13 scoreless innings. Unfortunately, neither got a decision in the Marlins’ eventual 2-1 win.

“Those long lines at the Air Canada ticket counters this morning at airports around the country came from dozens of major league scouts heading to Canada to find young pitchers,” Phillips wrote in his game story in the Miami Herald the next morning. “Just kidding, but you couldn’t blame anyone for wanting to find more kids like Eric Gagne and Ryan Dempster . . . “

After a one hour and 21-minute rain delay, Dempster took the mound for the Marlins that night and proceeded to shut down the Dodgers’ lineup that included Gary Sheffield and Adrian Beltre for seven innings. The 22-year-old righty allowed just four hits and struck out seven and threw 73 of his 113 pitches for strikes.

It was the 32nd and, to that point, best start of his young major league career. Until this performance, he hadn’t started a big league game and not permitted a run.

Not to be outdone, Gagne, with friends and family members in the crowd of 13,644 at Pro Player Stadium, hurled six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out eight. Only one ball left the infield while the 23-year-old Canadian was on the mound — a first inning single by Mark Kotsay.

Showcasing a 93-mph fastball, a sharp changeup and a curveball, Gagne dominated the Marlins. Of his 100 pitches, he threw 67 for strikes.

For good measure, Gagne also singled up the middle in his first major league at bat against Dempster in the top of the third inning.

“This is like a dream come true,” Gagne told reporters after the game. “I always believed I could pitch here, I have a lot of confidence, but to do this and get a hit too – it’s awesome!”

Dodgers manager Davey Johnson had high praise for Gagne after the game.

“I’ve seen a lot of good pitchers break into the big leagues, and this [performance] was right up there at the top,” Johnson told The Los Angeles Times. “He showed three quality pitches and he really had no problems. Just a real impressive performance. Real impressive.”

The match-up between the two Canadian starters was the first in the major leagues since Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.), then with Cleveland, pitched against Kirk McCaskill (Kapuskasing, Ont.) of the California Angels, on July 20, 1991.

The last time two Canadian starting pitchers had toed the rubber in a National League contest was July 28, 1973 when the St. Louis Cardinals sent Reggie Cleveland (Swift Current, Sask.) to the mound against Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) of the Chicago Cubs.