Joey Votto's all-star homer was historic

Former Etobicoke Ranger Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) crosses home plate after hitting the first ever home run by a Canadian in an All-Star game. He crossed the plate to accept congrats from Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich.

How special was Joey Votto’s home run off JA Happ? Affter all he has hit 266 homers more than any Canadian except for Larry Walker. Well, Votto’s homer was the first a Canadian had ever hit in the all-star game. Our Neil Munro breaks down the numbers.

By Neil Munro
Canadian Baseball Network

Most games played: Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.), six; Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, BC) had five games played, Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC), Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) and Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) three each.

Most at bats: Votto (13), Morneau had eight at-bats, while Walker and Martin seven each

Most runs scored: Morneau (2)

Most base hits: Jason Bay (Trail, BC) and Morneau (2)

Most total bases: Votto (4) – all in one swing

Most doubles: Morneau (1)

(No triples by Canadians)

Most home runs: Votto (1)

Most RBIs: George Selkirk (Huntsville, Ont.) and Votto (1)

Most bases on balls: Selkirk (3)

Highest batting average: Selkirk (.500 in two at-bats), Bay (.400 in five at-bats), Morneau (.250 in eight at-bats)

Highest OBP: Selkirk (.800 in five appearances), Bay (.400 in five appearances), Walker and Morneau (.333, both in nine appearances)

Highest slugging: Selkirk (.500 in two at-bats), Bay (.400 in five at-bats), Morneau (.372 in eight at bats), Votto (.308 in 13 at bats)

Nine Canadians had at least one batting plate appearance in All-Star action (10 if you count Freddie Freeman as a Canadian. Freeman has a .333 average, a .333 OBP and a .333 SP in three times at bat)

Five Canadians made pitching appearances – Jenkins pitched four innings in two appearances and Gagne had three innings in three appearance. Dempster was probably the most impressive with three strikeouts against three batters in one inning in 2008. Jenkins and Gagne each served up two home runs in All-Star action.