By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Lefty Rod Heisler wore a Canada uniform to more international competitions than anyone else.

Heisler (Moose Jaw, Sask.) was 0-1 with a 2.63 ERA in the 1978 World Amateur Series in Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna and Rimini Emilia-Romagna, Italy as a 23-year-old. Canada finished with ninth C Mike Teahen (St. Marys, Ont.) who .250, two homers, nine RBIs and father of Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jay Mark Teahen. Scott Bailey had a 0.64 ERA but walked 17 in 14 innings.

We don’t have international caps — like in soccer — but we do have international competions. The three newcomers in the top 26 include RHP Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.), OF Ryan Radmanovich, Calgary, Alta.), LHP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.), RHP Scott Mathieson (Aldergroce, BC) and OF Rene Tosoni (Coquitlam, BC).

Heisler pitched in 

_ Two World Amateur Series ... in 1980 in Japan as Canada finished fifth and in 1982 at Souel, South Korea as Canada finished fifth and Heilser earned All-Star honors along with Dong-yol Son of gold-medal winning Korea, who also earned MVP honors. The other Canucks to make the all-star team were C Larry Downes (Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ont.) and OF Doug McPhail (Two Hills, Alta.).

_ Two Olympics ... 1984 in Los Angeles where Canada lost 4-3 Nicaragua in 12 innings and South Korea 3-1 before beating Japan 6-4 and in the 1988 Olympics in South Korea, lost 7-6 to Australia, beat Team USA, who started by Jim Abbott 8-7 and lost 5-3 to South Korea.

_ Three Pan American Games ... at San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1979, in Caracus, Venz. in 1983 as Tom Nelson IWindsor, Ont.) had 12 hits, the most in the tourney and in Indianapolis in 1987. 

_ Three Intercontinental Cups ... in 1981 in Edmonton where Canada beat Cuba 2-1 as Perry Lychak (Edmonton, Alta.) led the event with a 0.66 ERA, in 1983 at Brussels, Belgium; 1985 in Edmonton as Canada finished fifth and at Havana, Cuba in 1987 as Canada went 4-9 overall, was outscored 121-55 but beat South Korea to finish fifth. Rheal Cormier (Cap-Pele, N.B.) was 3-0 with a 0.57 ERA to tie for the win lead as the main bright spot.  

_ One Pacific Cup ... in Kindersley, Sask. in 1986. 

_ His last big event was the 1988 World Cup in Italy, when the veteran allowed 10 hits and six runs in 5 1/3 innings. Canada matched its best finish at the time just missing the playoffs. 2B Greg Roth (Pincher Creek, Alta.) hit .359 with four homers and 10 RBIs, while SS Matt Stairs (Fredericton, NB) batted .362, nine RBIs, 3B Warren Sawkiw (Etobicoke, Ont.) .405, 11 RBIs, 1B Greg Duce (Lethbridge, Alta.) .359 and OF James Kotkas (Lethbridge, Alta.) .357, three triples, 11 RBIs). Frank Humber (Corner Brook, Nfld.) 3-0, 3.60 and Barry Parisotto (Trail, BC) 2-0, 1.10 pitched well. Dave Wainhouse (Scarborough, Ont.) 6.91 ERA lost twice, while Cormier (1-1, 5.71) whiffed 22 in 17 1/3 but also walked 10 and allowed 19 hits.

Aumont the workhorse pitched in the 2006 and 2007, 2013, World Juniors, the 2009 and 2023 WBC, the 2010 and 2019 and 2023 Pan Am Games qualifier, 2015 and 2019 Pan Am Games, the 2015 and 2019 Premier 12 and the 2021 Olympic qualifier.

Albers pitched in the 2011 World Cup, the 2011 and 2015 Pan Am Games, the 2012 WBC qualifier, the 2013, 2017 and 2023 WBC, the 2015 Premier 12 and the 2021 Olympic qualifier.

Mathieson pitched at the 2005 and 2021 Olympic qualifier, the World Baseball Classic in 2006, 2013, 2017 and 2023, the Premier 12 and the 2023 Pan Am qualifier.

Most international appearances by Canadian players

1. LHP Rod Heisler, Moose Jaw, Sask. 14

2. 2B Stubby Clapp, Windsor, Ont. 13

2. C Chris Robinson, Dorchester, Ont. 13

4. OF Jim Kotkas, Lethbridge, Alta. 12

4. RHP Scott Richmond, North Vancouver, BC 12

6. RHP Phillippe Aumont, Gatineau, Que. 11

6. RHP Chris Leroux, Mississauga, Ont. 11

6. OF Ryan Radmanovich, Calgary, Alta. 11

9. Andrew Albers, North Battleford, Sask. 10

9. INF Jonathan Malo, Joliette, Que. 10

9. RHP Dustin Molleken, Regina, Sask 10

9. INF Tom Nelson, Windsor, Ont. 10

13. RHP Chris Begg, Uxbridge, Ont. 9

13. C Larry Downes, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ont. 9

13. OF Rick Johnston, Peterborough, Ont. 9

13. LHP-OF Adam Loewen, Surrey, BC, 9

13. RHP Mike Ross, Calgary, Alta. 9

13. C Dave Rypien, Calgary, Alta. 9

13. OF Doug Simon, Regina, Sask. 9

13. OF Adam Stern, London, Ont. 9

21. RHP Fred Cardwell, Red Deer, Alta. 8

21. LHP Rheal Cormier, Cap-Pele, N.B. 8

21. OF Rene Tosoni , Coquitlam, BC 8

24. OF Rob Butler, East York, Ont. 7

24. INF Joe Heeney, Etobicoke, Ont. 7

24. INF Pete Orr, Richmond Hill, Ont. 7

(Bold face indicates players with major-league service time.)