Around 150 people showed up in Fredericton, New Brunswick in Canada yesterday to proclaim Friday, November 27th, “Matt Stairs Day”. The ceremony also featured the unveiling of a street sign that reads “Matt Stairs Way” (or “Matt Stairs Voie” if you speak Canadian) which will be prominently displayed on a street that intersects Royals Field in Fredericton — the place he began his professional baseball career.

From the sound of it, Royals Field is pretty special to Matt (via CBC News):

“Royals Field…that’s one of the most special ones I’ve ever been in [Ed Note: told you],” said Stairs, one of Canada’s most successful power hitters, with a 16-season career in the major leagues and 259 home runs.

“One, it’s in my hometown. Two, it’s where I was scouted, where I was signed.

“It’s a home inside of a home city. And now, just to have a street named around it is a great honour [sic],” said Stairs.”

The humble Stairs also admits that all of these love fests probably wouldn’t be going on if he never won a World Series with the Phillies in 2008 (via The Daily Gleaner):

“The signs that go on Royals Field … the street signs … you work your whole career to win a World Series. 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 [sic] that’s ever happened to me.

“I’m a Frederictonian. I absolutely love this city.”

I’m sure Matt doesn’t actually enjoy Frederickstown or whatever the hell the name of that city is more than Philly, but I understand that you gotta butter those folks up when you’re there in-person.  I’m also sure that upwards of 100 people out of the 150 that showed up made some kind of corny joke about taking Matt Stairs Way to heaven.  And really, how could you love people like that?

City unveils street sign for Matt Stairs Way | The Daily Gleaner
Fredericton honours [sic] hometown sports hero | CBC News
Special step for Stairs | Philly.com

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