Baseball player Bill Phillips, Saint John: Silver Bill Phillips has the distinction of being the first Canadian to play major league baseball. In a career which lasted from 1879 to 1888, he toiled for Cleveland, Brooklyn, and Kansas City. He was an accomplished player both offensively and defensively, recording more than 1,000 hits during his career, and ranking among the all-time leaders in individual fielding. He was the first Canadian to hit a home run in the majors, and the first to hit .300 in a single season. He led all first basemen in double plays for three seasons, and in fielding percentage for two seasons. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988.

Return