http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.c...article/871952
Fredericton begins weekend of celebration for Stairs
Published Saturday November 28th, 2009
Bill Hunt
Canadaeast news Service
FREDERICTON - He was born in Saint John.
Stephen MacGillivray/Canadaeast News Service
Matt Stairs, left, speaks to the crowd as during a reception at Willie O'Ree Place Friday evening to honour his baseball career. Looking on is Fredericton mayor Brad Woodside.
He's spent the past 16 summers in 11 different cities and may yet return to a 12th.
He winters in Bangor.
"But this is home," said Matt Stairs, the 41-year-old former World Series champion who was honoured Friday with the unveiling of a street sign which will be mounted at the top of Morrison street in front of Royals Field which will proclaim the throughway "Matt Stairs Way."
Two other signs were also unveiled.
One was in the shape of a pennant, which will be mounted on the press box reading "Welcome to the Home Of World Series Champion Matt Stairs."
The other is a billboard-sized sign with photos of his famous home run in the eighth inning of the fourth game of the 2008 National League Championship Series against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jonathan Broxton which helped propel the Phillies to the World Series.
"Not one thing stands out," said Stairs, accompanied to the celebration by his wife Lisa and daughters, Nicole, Alicia and Chandler. "The signs that go on Royals Field"¦the street signs"¦you work your whole career to win a World Series," said Stairs.
"You win a World Series and all of a sudden this happens to you"¦the World Series is second, that's for sure. To have my name"¦a street that's named after me"¦it's probably the best honour that's ever happened to me.
"I'm a Frederictonian. I absolutely love this city."
The feeling is mutual, as mayor Brad Woodside, city councillor Mike O'Brien, and some 150 people, including his parents,former coaches, teammates and fans conveyed at a reception, with the proceeds in support of minor baseball last night.
Mayor Woodside proclaimed today "Matt Stairs Day."
The street sign will be officially unveiled at a ceremony this morning. He will appear at a fund raising breakfast this morning at Willie O'Ree Place and then be on hand to sign autographs in the Celebration of Sports room off the lobby at Willie O'Ree Place from 10 a.m. to noon.
Stairs lives in Bangor now, but says he will move back to Fredericton "eventually.
"It's hard not to," he said. "I've got a lot of things I want to do here."
Fredericton begins weekend of celebration for Stairs
