Stairs: 'I absolutely love this city'
Published Saturday November 28th, 2009
Baseball | City unveils street sign for Matt Stairs Way
He was born in Saint John. He's spent the past 17 summers in 11 different cities and may yet go to a 12th city. He winters in Bangor.
"But this is home," said Matt Stairs, the 41-year-old former World Series champion.
Stairs 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. It will proclaim the throughway as Matt Stairs Way.
Two other signs were also unveiled:
* One 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;"
* and 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. 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."
Mayor Brad Woodside, Coun. Mike O'Brien and about 150 people attended the reception, including Stairs' parents, former coaches, teammates and fans.
Woodside proclaimed today as "Matt Stairs Day" in Fredericton. The street sign will be officially unveiled at a ceremony this morning.
Stairs will appear at a fundraising breakfast this morning at Willie O'Ree Place and then sign autographs in the Celebration of Sports room off the lobby from 10 a.m. to noon.
Although Stairs lives in Bangor, he said he will move back to Fredericton eventually.
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