Adam Stern
Encyclopedia
Adam James Stern is a Canadian Major League Baseball
outfielder
who is presently a free agent
.
He bats left-handed
, and throws right-handed. He was dubbed the "Canadian Babe Ruth" by Cleveland Indians
outfielder Trot Nixon
. Stern is the second Jewish player from Canada in major league history. The first was Goody Rosen. He, Kevin Youkilis
, and Gabe Kapler
set a record for most Jewish players on a team at once since the expansion era.
Stern is primarily a line drive
hitter to all parts of the field, with occasional power. He has good speed, and is a smart base runner. Defensively, he has a strong and accurate arm, and can play all three outfield positions.
. He is Jewish on his father's side. Stern's sport interests in his youth were track and field
, volleyball
, and baseball
.
Stern played for the London Badgers Baseball Club in London, Ontario from the age of 16 to the age of 18.
Stern played three years on a baseball scholarship at the University of Nebraska, from which he graduated with a Sociology degree. He hit
.356 as a sophomore in 2000 to earn 2nd-Team All-Big 12 honors. In 2001, he appeared in the College World Series
, and was named First-Team Academic All-Big 12, as well as an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, after hitting .292 with 68 runs
and 27 stolen base
s in 64 games.
He was drafted twice: first, by the Toronto Blue Jays
in the 22nd round of the draft (651st overall), and then by the Atlanta Braves
in the 3rd round of the 2001 draft (105th overall), before moving to the Boston Red Sox in as a Rule 5 Draft
pick.
in the Carolina League
.
In 2004, Stern started in left field for the Southern League
's Eastern Division All-Star team, and was named an outfielder on the league's year-end All-Star club. He hit .322 with 64 runs, 26 doubles
, and 27 stolen bases in 102 games. He ranked 3rd in the league in hitting, 8th with a .378 on base percentage
, and 9th with a .480 slugging percentage. His 27 steals were 3rd-most in the Braves system, and he had 41 multi-hit games in 99 starts. He was named Atlanta's Double-A Player of the Year. Stern missed 26 games to play for Team Canada at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
, where he hit .250 (8-for-32) with 4 RBIs
and 9 runs in 9 games.
The Boston Red Sox made Stern a Rule 5 draft selection from the Braves in 2004. In , he batted .321 (26-for-81) with 8 doubles, 14 RBIs, and 3 steals during a pair of rehab stints with Pawtucket
, including a 21-game hitting streak.
In 2009, while playing for the Huntsville Stars
, as of July 9 Stern was second in the Southern League in steals (27), runs (58), and triples (6), and third in hits (95). Stern was selected to be a starting right fielder for the Southern League
North Division All Star team, with the game to be played July 14 in Birmingham. Promoted to Nashville, he batted .310.http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Adam-Stern
In 2010, he batted .325/.399/.462 for Nashville, in 86 games.http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Adam-Stern
, then by a hamstring injury.
On August 8, 2005, while playing for the Red Sox, Stern took the field in the 9th inning along with Kevin Youkilis
and Gabe Kapler
, setting a "record" for the most Jewish players on the field at one time in American League
history and the most in Major League Baseball history since four Jews took the field for the New York Giants
in a game in .
He played all three outfield positions in 2005, but was used primarily in right field. Due to injuries in 2005, Stern fell short of the time Rule 5 picks are required to be on a 25-man major league roster. After spending 18 days on the roster to start the season (during which he made a game-saving catch against the Devil Rays), as required to fulfill his Rule 5 obligations, Stern was optioned to Pawtucket on April 20. With the Red Sox, he again played all three outfield positions in 2006, but was used primarily in center field.
Over the first two years of his major league career, he played errorless
defense with better than average range at each position.
to complete a deal for catcher Javy López
and cash.
In January , Stern reached a one-year deal with the Orioles. Limited to 14 games in spring training, because of a strained right oblique muscle and a bout of food poisoning, Stern was 5–18 with 3 walks
, 3 strikeout
s, and 3 stolen bases in 3 attempts. On March 28, the Orioles optioned Stern to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides
. Norfolk vice president Jim Duquette
noted, "With Stern, we didn't feel like we had the opportunity to see an awful lot of him, and we feel like he needs more time down in the minor leagues. He was one of the guys we were talking about all spring."
On April 17, he was called up for the first time to the Baltimore Orioles, after outfielder Corey Patterson
was placed on the bereavement list. He made two appearances and played only three innings as a defensive replacement, without getting an at bat before returning to the minors. He was released by the Orioles on June 10, 2008.
. "He was swinging the bat good (in Nashville). He can do a lot of things. He gets after it pretty good."
He was called up to the active roster on May 11, 2010, from AAA Nashville where he was batting .349 in 12 games when Carlos Gómez
was placed on the disabled list. He said: "Any time you get to put a big league uniform on you look forward to it. I'm excited for the opportunity."
He made his first appearance for the Brewers on May 14. It was his first appearance playing in the majors since the 2007 season, and his first at bat since the 2006 season. He said: "I'm just happy that they gave me an opportunity to get back to the big leagues. I know how tough it is to get back here, and that makes me appreciate it that much more." Stern filed for free agency following the conclusion of the 2010 season.
in the first World Baseball Classic
, just a double short of hitting for the cycle
, including an inside-the-park home run
, and driving in 4 runs. He also made a couple of excellent catches in center field. Canada won the game 8–6, pulling off the biggest upset of the tournament. In the series, he batted 6 for 9.
In January 2007, he was awarded the first Stubby Clapp Award at the fifth annual Baseball Canada fund raiser. The award goes to a player who shows desire, competitiveness, and a never-say-die attitude.
In March 2008, he played for Team Canada in Taiwan
as they competed in an 8-team tournament for a berth in the 2008 Summer Olympics
. They won one of the three tickets to the Summer Games, joining Taiwan and South Korea. At the Olympics, Stern was Team Canada's center fielder for all seven of its games, playing errorless defence and chipping in with four hits, including a pair of triples and three RBIs. He was the second-highest scorer on the team, with four runs.
In March 2009, Stern played for Team Canada in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who is presently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
He bats left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
, and throws right-handed. He was dubbed the "Canadian Babe Ruth" by Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
outfielder Trot Nixon
Trot Nixon
Christopher Trotman Nixon is an American retired professional baseball right fielder. He played from 1996-2008 for three different teams, but is noted primarily for his time with the Boston Red Sox...
. Stern is the second Jewish player from Canada in major league history. The first was Goody Rosen. He, Kevin Youkilis
Kevin Youkilis
Kevin Edmund Youkilis , also known as "Youk" , is an American professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
, and Gabe Kapler
Gabe Kapler
Gabriel "Gabe" Stefan Kapler is an American Major League Baseball outfielder.He has played portions of 13 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Tampa Bay Rays...
set a record for most Jewish players on a team at once since the expansion era.
Stern is primarily a line drive
Line drive
In baseball, a line drive is a type of batted ball, sharply hit, and on a level trajectory. The threshold between a line drive and a fly ball can be subjective....
hitter to all parts of the field, with occasional power. He has good speed, and is a smart base runner. Defensively, he has a strong and accurate arm, and can play all three outfield positions.
Early life & college career
Stern was born in London, OntarioLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. He is Jewish on his father's side. Stern's sport interests in his youth were track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
.
Stern played for the London Badgers Baseball Club in London, Ontario from the age of 16 to the age of 18.
Stern played three years on a baseball scholarship at the University of Nebraska, from which he graduated with a Sociology degree. He hit
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.356 as a sophomore in 2000 to earn 2nd-Team All-Big 12 honors. In 2001, he appeared in the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
, and was named First-Team Academic All-Big 12, as well as an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, after hitting .292 with 68 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and 27 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s in 64 games.
He was drafted twice: first, by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in the 22nd round of the draft (651st overall), and then by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the 3rd round of the 2001 draft (105th overall), before moving to the Boston Red Sox in as a Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
pick.
Minor league career
In , Stern stole 40 bases in 48 attempts for Myrtle BeachMyrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a minor league baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They are a Class A Advanced team in the Carolina League and the franchise is currently the farm team of the Texas Rangers. From their inaugural season until 2010, the Pelicans were an affiliate of the...
in the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
.
In 2004, Stern started in left field for the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
's Eastern Division All-Star team, and was named an outfielder on the league's year-end All-Star club. He hit .322 with 64 runs, 26 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and 27 stolen bases in 102 games. He ranked 3rd in the league in hitting, 8th with a .378 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
, and 9th with a .480 slugging percentage. His 27 steals were 3rd-most in the Braves system, and he had 41 multi-hit games in 99 starts. He was named Atlanta's Double-A Player of the Year. Stern missed 26 games to play for Team Canada at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, where he hit .250 (8-for-32) with 4 RBIs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
and 9 runs in 9 games.
The Boston Red Sox made Stern a Rule 5 draft selection from the Braves in 2004. In , he batted .321 (26-for-81) with 8 doubles, 14 RBIs, and 3 steals during a pair of rehab stints with Pawtucket
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
, including a 21-game hitting streak.
In 2009, while playing for the Huntsville Stars
Huntsville Stars
The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...
, as of July 9 Stern was second in the Southern League in steals (27), runs (58), and triples (6), and third in hits (95). Stern was selected to be a starting right fielder for the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
North Division All Star team, with the game to be played July 14 in Birmingham. Promoted to Nashville, he batted .310.http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Adam-Stern
In 2010, he batted .325/.399/.462 for Nashville, in 86 games.http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Adam-Stern
Boston Red Sox (2005–06)
Stern made his major league debut with the Red Sox on July 7, 2005. His debut was delayed first by a fractured right thumb he sustained while sliding in spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, then by a hamstring injury.
On August 8, 2005, while playing for the Red Sox, Stern took the field in the 9th inning along with Kevin Youkilis
Kevin Youkilis
Kevin Edmund Youkilis , also known as "Youk" , is an American professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
and Gabe Kapler
Gabe Kapler
Gabriel "Gabe" Stefan Kapler is an American Major League Baseball outfielder.He has played portions of 13 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Tampa Bay Rays...
, setting a "record" for the most Jewish players on the field at one time in American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
history and the most in Major League Baseball history since four Jews took the field for the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in a game in .
He played all three outfield positions in 2005, but was used primarily in right field. Due to injuries in 2005, Stern fell short of the time Rule 5 picks are required to be on a 25-man major league roster. After spending 18 days on the roster to start the season (during which he made a game-saving catch against the Devil Rays), as required to fulfill his Rule 5 obligations, Stern was optioned to Pawtucket on April 20. With the Red Sox, he again played all three outfield positions in 2006, but was used primarily in center field.
Over the first two years of his major league career, he played errorless
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
defense with better than average range at each position.
Baltimore Orioles (2007–08)
On October 3, 2006, Stern passed through waivers and was traded by the Red Sox to the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
to complete a deal for catcher Javy López
Javy López
Javier López Torres is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
and cash.
In January , Stern reached a one-year deal with the Orioles. Limited to 14 games in spring training, because of a strained right oblique muscle and a bout of food poisoning, Stern was 5–18 with 3 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, 3 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, and 3 stolen bases in 3 attempts. On March 28, the Orioles optioned Stern to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
. Norfolk vice president Jim Duquette
Jim Duquette
James "Jim" Duquette was the general manager of the New York Mets for the 2004 season, before the team replaced him with Omar Minaya. Duquette subsequently stayed with the Mets in a front office job for a full season before moving on to the Baltimore Orioles...
noted, "With Stern, we didn't feel like we had the opportunity to see an awful lot of him, and we feel like he needs more time down in the minor leagues. He was one of the guys we were talking about all spring."
On April 17, he was called up for the first time to the Baltimore Orioles, after outfielder Corey Patterson
Corey Patterson
Donald Corey Patterson is an American professional baseball free agent outfielder in Major League Baseball. He is the older brother of outfielder Eric Patterson.-Amateur career:...
was placed on the bereavement list. He made two appearances and played only three innings as a defensive replacement, without getting an at bat before returning to the minors. He was released by the Orioles on June 10, 2008.
Milwaukee Brewers (2009–10)
Stern signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers in January . Stern had an excellent spring, batting .432 with 12 RBIs and 6 stolen bases in 42 at bats. He said: "You try to put together a good spring so they'll notice." "He had a good spring for us," said general manager Doug MelvinDoug Melvin
Douglas Robert Melvin is a Canadian front office executive in Major League Baseball who currently serves as the general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers of the National League...
. "He was swinging the bat good (in Nashville). He can do a lot of things. He gets after it pretty good."
He was called up to the active roster on May 11, 2010, from AAA Nashville where he was batting .349 in 12 games when Carlos Gómez
Carlos Gómez
Carlos Argelis Gómez Pena, nicknamed "Go-Go", is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Minor leagues:...
was placed on the disabled list. He said: "Any time you get to put a big league uniform on you look forward to it. I'm excited for the opportunity."
He made his first appearance for the Brewers on May 14. It was his first appearance playing in the majors since the 2007 season, and his first at bat since the 2006 season. He said: "I'm just happy that they gave me an opportunity to get back to the big leagues. I know how tough it is to get back here, and that makes me appreciate it that much more." Stern filed for free agency following the conclusion of the 2010 season.
Team Canada
On March 8, 2006, Stern had a superb game for Team Canada against the United StatesUnited States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
in the first World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
, just a double short of hitting for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
, including an inside-the-park home run
Inside-the-park home run
In baseball parlance, an inside-the-park home run, "leg home run", or "quadruple", is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the ball out of play.-Discussion:...
, and driving in 4 runs. He also made a couple of excellent catches in center field. Canada won the game 8–6, pulling off the biggest upset of the tournament. In the series, he batted 6 for 9.
In January 2007, he was awarded the first Stubby Clapp Award at the fifth annual Baseball Canada fund raiser. The award goes to a player who shows desire, competitiveness, and a never-say-die attitude.
In March 2008, he played for Team Canada in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
as they competed in an 8-team tournament for a berth in the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 13 to August 23. All games were played at Wukesong Baseball Field, a temporary venue constructed at the Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center...
. They won one of the three tickets to the Summer Games, joining Taiwan and South Korea. At the Olympics, Stern was Team Canada's center fielder for all seven of its games, playing errorless defence and chipping in with four hits, including a pair of triples and three RBIs. He was the second-highest scorer on the team, with four runs.
In March 2009, Stern played for Team Canada in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
.