ICYMI: A modern-day record 23 Canadians played in MLB in 2006

A then modern-day record 23 Canadians played in the major leagues in 2006. Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.) was the consensus pick among 36 baseball executives, scouts and managers from 23 teams as the top Canuck player at the time. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

A then modern-day record 23 Canadians played in the major leagues in 2006. Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.) was the consensus pick among 36 baseball executives, scouts and managers from 23 teams as the top Canuck player at the time. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

*Originally published March 11, 2007

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

The best baseball player from Canada?

If you asked that question in the 1960s, or '70s it was a slam dunk: Ferguson Jenkins, of Chatham, Ont., was your answer, Canada's first inductee to Cooperstown.

If you wondered about the 1990s, it had to be Larry Walker, of Maple Ridge, B.C.

And in 2002 and '03, it was reliever Eric Gagne, of Mascouche, Que.

So, what if the 23 Canucks who appeared in the majors last season -- the most since 1884 -- magically were made free agents? Which Canadian would baseball people want most?

There are three possible opening day starters: Baltimore Orioles' Erik Bedard, of Navan, Ont.; Oakland A's Rich Harden, of Victoria, B.C., and Colorado Rockies' Jeff Francis, of North Delta, B.C.

Also to consider is Los Angeles Dodgers catcher and one of the top rookies of 2006, Russ Martin, who now lives in Montreal, former Pittsburgh Pirates rookie of the year Jason Bay, a Trail, B.C., native, and Ryan Dempster, of Gibsons, B.C., who closes for the Chicago Cubs.

Oh yes, and don't forget Minnesota Twins slugger Justin Morneau, of New Westminster, B.C., who was only the American League's most valuable player last year.

We asked 36 baseball executives, scouts and managers from 23 teams their opinion showing them the accompanying chart. Their answers:

- An NL East GM: "I love Dempster. He is one of the best people I've ever met. I know the Cubs hope he rebounds to where he was in 2004 and '05. It's great for the game globally that a Canadian won the MVP. Fortunately, we don't face (Morneau) 19 times. I like Harden. (Orioles starter and Vancouver product Adam) Loewen is going to be a good one." Pick: MORNEAU, followed closely by Dempster.

- AL West GM: "Morneau is the most dynamic first baseman in the game, now that he has his life straightened around." Pick: MORNEAU.

- Justin Speier, Angels: "Morneau is a real tough out for me, but so is Bay." Pick: MORNEAU, with Bay a close second.

- AL Central GM: "I know Leo Mazzone loves Bedard. One question you have to ask with Morneau ... which team couldn't he start for?" Pick: MORNEAU

- Lou Piniella, Cubs, manager: "Is Dempster Canadian? I saw Bedard a few times last year and he keeps getting better. The first baseman from Minnesota can swing it." Pick: BEDARD.

- Gil Patterson, Yankees minor-league pitching coach: "Bedard is awfully, awfully good. I like Loewen too and here is hoping Harden stays healthy." Pick: BEDARD.

- AL pitching coach: "For us, when we go into meetings, Morneau is the toughest to break down. He's an all-around guy: He hits for power, average and goes to the opposite field. Bedard might be a 20-game winner." Pick: MORNEAU, BEDARD (tie).

- Tony Pena, Yanks coach: "Morneau is a young player with great skills." Pick: MORNEAU.

- Rob Thomson, Yankees coach from Corunna, Ont.: "If Harden stays healthy, he's the full package. Morneau is an offensive threat. People don't give him enough credit for his leadership. He has great makeup, like every Canadian kid." Pick: MORNEAU.

- AL East GM: "Morneau is a force. Bedard is a season away from being a dominant pitcher in the league." Pick: MORNEAU now, Bedard in 2008.

- NL East manager: "Bedard has a nasty curve. He has a Cy Young Award in his future and it's not far away. Harden I like. Morneau and 130 RBIs I like. Francis I like. (Twins reliever and Toronto native Jesse) Crain I like. Bay I like a lot. Damn, this is a fine list." Pick: BEDARD.

- Dave Yokam, Chicago White Sox scout: "Bay plays hard every day. He doesn't have Morneau's power, but he hits well on a club that doesn't do so well." Pick: BAY.

- NL scout: "It's hard to argue with the reigning MVP." Pick: MORNEAU.

- Mike Paul, Rockies scout: "I like Francis. A sleeper could be Harden, but Francis is learning to pitch at this level. He has an idea." Pick: FRANCIS

- Bill Lajoie, Dodgers assistant GM: "Morneau is a stud." Pick: MORNEAU.

- NL West GM: "We'd take either Morneau or Bay for our club in a heartbeat. Both play all-out, full with a damn-the-torpedoes attitude." Pick: MORNEAU, BAY (tie).

- AL scout who covers Canada: "Although Morneau is younger and the MVP, Bay is arguably a five-tool player and would have better numbers in a better lineup.He is a solid outfielder with an average-to-plus arm, plus speed and is a well above-average hitter. Bay impacts a game with more than his bat and has done it for three seasons." Pick: BAY.

- Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes: "There are some good players on the list. Bay impresses me." Pick: BAY.

- Reds GM Wayne Krivsky "As part of the process that drafted and signed Morneau, he is a legitimate star and a player. I like Bay, too, because he's a very good player who we see a lot in our division." Pick: MORNEAU.

- Astros scouting director Paul Riccarini: "I have tremendous respect for Bay, but Morneau is THAT good with the willow and will only get better, as should Bay. Defensively, Morneau is more than adequate, as is Bay. Morneau has instincts to make quick adjustments." Pick: MORNEAU by a whisker.

- NL advance scout: "I like Morneau, but I love Bedard. I'll tell you this: If they were all free agents today, the kid who gets the most and may have the longest career, if he stays healthy, is the catcher." Pick: MARTIN.

- AL GM: "I haven't seen much of Bay, but you have a front-line starter in Bedard or an MVP cleanup hitter in Morneau. That's atoss-up." Pick: BEDARD.

- AL scouting director: "Bedard had a really good year (3.76 ERA versus the AL East) and with pitching at a premium, particularly left-handers, he is valuable. Bedard and Morneau are both young enough to continue to improve. Bedard would likely slot in at the top of many rotations. A strong argument could be made for Morneau." Pick: BEDARD.

- Minnesota Twins GM Terry Ryan: "I like my guy a lot." Pick: MORNEAU.

- NL scout: "I like that list. I could go through it one by one, but a guy not there is (Braves first baseman, from Cambirgde, Ont.) Scott Thorman. How many teams trade a guy with 94 RBIs (Adam Laroche) like Atlanta did, to make room for a rookie? That's how much they think of him." Pick: HARDEN, if healthy.

- Fredi Gonzalez, Florida Marlins manager: "The guy I like is a hockey player in a baseball uniform. You gotta love him, I did in my days with the Braves." Pick: PETE ORR (Atlanta shortstop, from Richmond Hill, Ont.).

- Larry Walker: "As an offensive player, I lean toward position players, so it's either Bay or Morneau. I'd pick Bay. He has been having one great year after another. Justin Morneau has been really good for one year. But then again, he just won the freaking MVP award." Pick: MORNEAU, BAY (tie).

- AL West GM: "I like Harden and Bedard on the mound, Martin and Morneau at the plate." Pick: MARTIN.

- Pirates manager Jim Tracy: "He's one of the finest players in the NL. Look at his numbers over the past three years and they rank with about anybody. He is so consistent and a big part of what we're trying to do here." Pick: BAY.

- NL Central GM: "Catching is so hard to find. Everybody is looking and he's a good one." Pick: MARTIN.

- AL GM: "It's close. I'd take Morneau now but I'd strongly consider Martin." Pick: MORNEAU.

- Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski: "Although there are many good ones, I think there is an obvious answer. He not only has ability, but is the reigning MVP." Pick: MORNEAU.

- Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd: "How do you pick one of those guys as a good nucleus for a championship team? I guess you'd say the MVP has to be first, but Francis is an awfully good pitcher and you have guys like Bay and Martin who can be big-time players." Pick: MORNEAU.

- Bill Scherrer, White Sox scout: "Morneau is going to drive in 100, hit for average, for power and he's better around the base than people give him credit for." Pick: MORNEAU.

- NL scout: "He's only going to drive in 100 runs, hit .300 and likely hit 35 to 40 homers." Pick: MORNEAU.

- NL East GM: "Catching is the most difficult position to find so I know who I'd take." Pick: MARTIN.

- Phillies manager Charlie Manuel: "I like Morneau's approach at the plate: Good quickness. Three years ago, somebody ranked him ahead of Ryan Howard as a prospect. I'll keep Ryan Howard because of the power, but I do like Morneau. I like Martin because he's a go-getter type, rugged and tough." Pick: MORNEAU.

- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa: "We see Bay and he's a great player. We don't see Mourneau, but you've got to go with the MVP." Pick: MORNEAU.

- AL East GM: "It's a tough choice, I can see why some folks weren't picking Morneau since he plays first." Pick: MORNEAU

And the winner is ... Morneau 21.5 votes.

He's followed by Bedard 5.5, Bay 5, Martin 4, then Harden, Francis and Pete Orr one each.

Canucks in 2006, Canada's best year since 1884

OF-1B Matt Stairs (Fredericton, NB) 19 seasons

RHP Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, BC) 16 seasons

LHP Rheal Cormier (Cap-Pele, NB) 16 seasons

C Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) 14 seasons

1B Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) 14 seasons

OF Jason Bay (Trail, BC) 11 seasons

LHP Erik Bedard (Navan, Ont.) 11 seasons

LHP Jeff Francis (North Delta, BC) 11 seasons

RP Jesse Crain (Toronto, Ont.) 10 seasons

RP Eric Gagne (Magouche, Que.) 10 seasons

RHP Rich Harden (Victoria, BC) nine seasons

3B Corey Koskie (Anola, Man.) nine seasons

INF Pete Orr (Newmarket, Ont.) eight seasons.

RHP Shawn Hill (Mississauga, Ont.) seven seasons

* INF Mark Teahen (Redlands, Calif.) seven seasons

LHP-OF Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC) six seasons

OF Aaron Guiel (Vancouver, BC) five seasons

OF Adam Stern (London, Ont.) four seasons

C Pete LaForest (Hull, Que.) three seasons

RP Scott Mathieson (Vancouver, BC) three seasons

RHP Ryan Braun (Kitchener, Ont.) two seasons

1B Scott Thorman (Cambridge, Ont.) two seasons

* INF Chris Barnwell (Jacksonville, Fla.) one season

(* Denotes played for Team Canada since player was World Baseball Classic eligible)

The Class of 1884

INF Arthur Irwin (Toronto, Ont.) 13 seasons

LF George Wood (Pownal, PEI) 13 seasons

INF Pop Smith (Digby, NS) 12 seasons

LF Tip O’Neill (Springfield, Ont.) 10 seasons

1B Bill Phillips (Saint John, NB) 10 seasons

INF John Irwin (Toronto, Ont.) eight sesons

OF-INF Bob Addy (Port Hope, Ont.) six seasons

INF Jimmy Knowles (Toronto, Ont.) five seasons

RHP-OF The Only Nolan (Trenton, Ont.) five seasons

RHP-OF Bob Emslie (Guelph, Ont.) three seasons

RHP-OF Bill Mountjoy (London, Ont.) three seasons

P Joe Brown (Unknown) two seasons

INF Chub Collins (Dundas, Ont.) two seasons

C John Humphries (North Gower, Ont.) two seasons

LF Joe Knight (Port Stanley, Ont.) two seasons

C Jerry Moore (Windsor, Ont.) two seasons

CF Jon Morrison (London, Ont.) two seasons

INF Billy Reid (London, Ont.) two seasons

OF Tug Thompson (London, Ont.) two seasons

C Fred Wood (Dundas, Ont.) two seasons

RHP John Doyle (Halifax, NS) one season

INF Bob Casey (Adolphustown, Ont.) one season

1B Steve Dunn (London, Ont.) one season

C Alex Gardner (Toronto, Ont.) one season

C Bill Hunter (St. Thomas, Ont.) one season

C Jim McKeever (Saint John, NB) one season

CF Henry Mullin (Saint John, NB) one season

C Henry Oxley (Covehead, PEI) one season

SS James Pirie (Dundas, Ont.) one season

LF Pat Scanlon (Halifax, NS) one season

P Ed Smith (Sparta, Ont.) one season

C Frank Smith (Fonthill, Ont.) one season

C Gene Vadeboncoeur (Louiseville, Que.) one season

INF Bill Watkins Brantford, Ont.) one season

OF Joe Weber (Hamilton, Ont.) one season

INF Milt Whitehead (Toronto, Ont.) one season

Canadians in the Majors, Major Leagues (MLB)Bob Elliott