View source for Adam Stern

{{for|the American conductor|Adam Stern (conductor)}}
{{short description|Canadian baseball player (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|image=Adam Stern.jpg
|caption=Stern with the Norfolk Tides
|name=Adam Stern
|position=[[Outfielder]]
|bats=Left
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1980|2|12|mf=yes}}
|birth_place=[[London, Ontario]]
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=July 7
|debutyear=2005
|debutteam=Boston Red Sox
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 31
|finalyear=2010
|finalteam=Milwaukee Brewers
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.116
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=1
|stat3label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=7
|teams=
* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|2005}}–{{mlby|2006}})
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|2007}})
* [[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|2010}})
|show-medals=no
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]] }}
{{Medal|Country | {{bb|CAN}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Baseball World Cup]]}}
{{MedalBronze| [[2009 Baseball World Cup|2009 Nettuno]] | Team}}
}}

'''Adam James Stern''' (born February 12, 1980) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] former [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) [[outfielder]] who played for the [[Boston Red Sox]], [[Baltimore Orioles]], and [[Milwaukee Brewers]] from 2005 to 2010.

Stern is the second [[Jewish people|Jewish]] player from Canada in major league history (following [[Goody Rosen]]). He, [[Kevin Youkilis]], and [[Gabe Kapler]] set a record for most Jewish players on a team at once since the expansion era.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jweekly.com/2005/08/26/celebrity-jews-79|title=Celebrity Jews (Jews at Bat)|date=August 26, 2005|publisher=J-News {{!}} The Jewish News of Northern California|work=jweekly.com|access-date=March 18, 2010}}</ref>

==Early life and college career==
Stern was born in [[London, Ontario]]. He is Jewish on his father's side.<ref>{{cite web|author=Roch Kubatko |url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2007-02-21/sports/0702210071_1_canadian-bacon-jewish-canadian-adam-stern |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707004311/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2007-02-21/sports/0702210071_1_canadian-bacon-jewish-canadian-adam-stern |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |title=Q&a // Adam Stern |publisher=Baltimore Sun |date=February 21, 2007 |access-date=May 25, 2014}}</ref> In his youth, Stern participated in [[baseball]], [[track and field]], and [[volleyball]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bnaibrith.ca/tribune/jt-040916-20.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050122093330/http://www.bnaibrith.ca/tribune/jt-040916-20.html|archive-date=January 22, 2005|title=Olympic experience thrills Canadian Jewish ballplayer|work=Jewish Tribune|date=September 16, 2004|access-date=August 4, 2011}}</ref>

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–Lincoln]], from which he graduated with a Sociology degree. He [[Batting average (baseball)|hit]] .356 as a sophomore in 2000 to earn 2nd-Team All-[[Big 12]] honors. After the 2000 season, he played [[collegiate summer baseball]] with the [[Harwich Mariners]] of the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]] and was named a league all-star.<ref name="MLBplayersatCCBL">{{cite web|url=https://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf|title=Major League Baseball Players from the Cape Cod League|date=October 28, 2015|last=Sherman|first=Joe|publisher=[[Cape Cod Baseball League]]|work=capecodbaseball.org|access-date=February 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2000&T=Harwich%20Mariners |title=2000 Harwich Mariners |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://master.v2.capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ftp/archives/Arc2000/allstar/AllStar_game.htm |title=All-Star Game 2000 |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=May 6, 2020 |archive-date=February 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210035256/http://master.v2.capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ftp/archives/Arc2000/allstar/AllStar_game.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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 [[Run (baseball)|runs]] and 27 [[stolen base]]s in 64 games.

Stern was drafted twice: first, by the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] in the 22nd round (651st overall) of the [[1998 Major League Baseball draft|1998 MLB draft]], and then by the [[Atlanta Braves]] in the 3rd round (105th overall) of the [[2001 Major League Baseball draft|2001 MLB draft]], before moving to the Boston Red Sox in 2004 as a [[Rule 5 draft]] pick.

==Minor league career==
In 2002, Stern stole 40 bases in 48 attempts for [[Myrtle Beach Pelicans|Myrtle Beach]] in the [[Carolina League]].

In 2004, while playing for the Greenville Braves, Stern started in [[left field]] for the [[Southern League (1964–2020)|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 [[double (baseball)|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 [[Run batted in|RBIs]] and 9 runs in 9 games.

The Boston Red Sox made Stern a Rule 5 draft selection from the Braves in 2004. In 2005, he batted .321 (26-for-81) with 8 doubles, 14 RBIs, and 3 steals during a pair of rehab stints with [[Pawtucket Red Sox|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).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/external/brandedstats/t998.html?lid=111&t=l_bat&sid=milb|title= Minor League Statistics|publisher=[[Minor League Baseball]]|access-date=March 18, 2010}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Stern was selected to be a starting right fielder for the [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]] North Division All Star team, with the game to be played July 14 in Birmingham.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3854365|title=Stern, Justis, and Lucroy Named All-Star Starters|publisher=OurSports Central|date=July 1, 2009|access-date=March 18, 2010}}</ref> Promoted to Nashville, he batted .310.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121026123028/http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Adam-Stern]

In 2010, he batted .325/.399/.462 for Nashville, in 86 games.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121026123028/http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Adam-Stern]

==Major league career==

===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 training]], 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 (NL)|New York Giants]] in a game in 1941.<ref>[http://www.jewishtribune.ca/tribune/jt-050929-21.html "It started as a great idea, then fate stepped in."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081116065612/http://www.jewishtribune.ca/tribune/jt-050929-21.html |date=November 16, 2008 }} Jewish Tribune. September 29, 2005. Retrieved on January 16, 2009.</ref>

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 2006 season (during which he made a game-saving catch against the [[Tampa Bay Devil Rays|Devil Rays]]), as required to fulfill his Rule 5 obligations, Stern was optioned to Pawtucket on April 20.<ref>Beach, Jerry. [http://braves.scout.com/a.z?s=248&p=2&c=708780 "Rule 5 Primer."] Scout.com. December 5, 2007. Retrieved on January 16, 2009.</ref> With the Red Sox, he again played all three outfield positions in 2006, but was used primarily in [[Baseball field#outfield|center field]].

Over the first two years of his major league career, he played [[error (baseball)|errorless]] defense with better than average range at each position.<ref name="bbrefsternmaj">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sternad01.shtml|title=Adam Stern Stats|date=2020|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=February 5, 2020}}</ref>

===Baltimore Orioles (2007–08)===
On October 3, 2006, Stern passed through waivers and was traded by the Red Sox to the [[Baltimore Orioles]] to complete a deal for catcher [[Javy López]] and cash.

In January 2007, Stern reached a one-year deal with the Orioles.<ref>[http://www.baysox.com/news/?id=11810 "Four Members Of 2006 Baysox Invited To Major League Camp With Orioles."] Bowie Baysox. January 31, 2007. Retrieved on January 16, 2009.</ref> 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 [[Base on balls|walks]], 3 [[strikeout]]s, and 3 stolen bases in 3 attempts.<ref>[http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?teamPosCode=MLA&statType=1&timeFrame=1&Submit=Submit&c_id=mlb&subScope=teamCode&sitSplit=&venueID=&baseballScope=AL&timeSubFrame=23&&sortByStat=AB "Baltimore Orioles Hitting Stats, Spring Training 2008."] Major League Baseball. Retrieved on January 16, 2009.</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2007/03/29/cut-made-os-roster-is-anything-but-final/|title=Cut made, O's roster is anything but final|last=Kubatko|first=Roch|date=March 29, 2007|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|access-date=17 May 2015}}</ref>

Stern was called up to the Orioles on April 17 to replace [[Corey Patterson]], who was placed on the bereavement list.<ref name="autogeneratedmil">{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/10061994/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108170354/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/10061994/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2016|title=Edmonds' injury could extend Stern's stay|work=MLB.com|date=May 15, 2010|access-date= May 17, 2015}}</ref> He appeared in two games, playing three innings in the outfield with no plate appearances.<ref name="autogeneratedmil"/> He was released by the Orioles on June 10, 2008.<ref name="autogeneratedmil"/>

===Milwaukee Brewers (2009–10)===
Stern signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers in January 2009. Stern had an excellent spring, batting .432 with 12 RBIs and 6 stolen bases in 42 at bats.<ref name="jsonline1">{{cite web|last=Haudricourt|first=Tom|url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/93495664.html|title=Braun to miss second game with injury|publisher=JSOnline|date=May 11, 2010|access-date=May 17, 2010}}</ref> He said: "You try to put together a good spring so they'll notice."<ref name="jsonline1"/> "He had a good spring for us", said general manager [[Doug Melvin]]. "He was swinging the bat good (in Nashville). He can do a lot of things. He gets after it pretty good."<ref name="jsonline1"/>

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.<ref name="jsonline1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishbaseballnews.com/tag/adam-stern/|title=Adam Stern|publisher=Jewish Baseball News|access-date=May 17, 2010}}</ref> He said: "Any time you get to put a big league uniform on you look forward to it. I'm excited for the opportunity."<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100516&content_id=10100580&notebook_id=10101426&vkey=notebook_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Edmonds hopes to avoid DL stint|work=MLB.com|date=May 16, 2010|access-date=May 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521183717/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100516&content_id=10100580&notebook_id=10101426&vkey=notebook_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|archive-date=May 21, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

He made his first appearance for the Brewers on May 14.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=321811|title=Canadian MLB report: Francis impresses in big league return|publisher=Tsn.ca|date=September 12, 2008|access-date=May 17, 2010}}</ref> It was his first appearance playing in the majors since the 2007 season, and his first at bat since the 2006 season.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref name="autogenerated2"/> 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."<ref name="autogeneratedmil"/> 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 States national baseball team|United States]] 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.<ref>{{cite web|author=Doug Miller|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090119&content_id=3750088&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Classic rosters stacked with star power|work=MLB.com|date=January 19, 2009|access-date=March 18, 2010}}</ref>

In January 2007, he was awarded the first [[Stubby Clapp]] Award at the fifth annual [[Baseball Canada]] fund raiser.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Elliott/2007/01/14/3362842-sun.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518104125/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Elliott/2007/01/14/3362842-sun.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 18, 2015|title=Stern receives a Clapp|last=Elliott|first=Bob|date=January 14, 2007|publisher=Canoe.ca|access-date=17 May 2015}}</ref>

In March 2008, he played for Team Canada in [[Taiwan]] as they competed in an 8-team tournament for a berth in the [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Summer Olympics]]. They won one of the three tickets to the Summer Games, joining Taiwan and South Korea.<ref>[http://torontosun.com/Sports/Baseball/2008/03/14/5001256-sun.html "Hitting all the right notes."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317160201/http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Baseball/2008/03/14/5001256-sun.html |date=March 17, 2008 }} ''Toronto Sun''.</ref> Stern played center field for Team Canada in all seven of their games at the Olympics, contributing four runs, four hits and three RBIs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadianbaseballnews.com/StMarys/0810Highlights.html|title=Adam Stern, Chris Robinson will Share Olympic Highlights|date=15 October 2008|publisher=Canadian Baseball News|access-date=17 May 2015}}</ref>

In March 2009, Stern played for Team Canada in the [[2009 World Baseball Classic]].

==Post-playing career==
In 2013, Stern rejoined the Red Sox as a [[scout (sport)|scout]], and is now scouting for the Kansas City Royals. He owns Centrefield Sports, a multi-purpose facility and is the Director of Player Development for the Great Lake Canadians.

==See also==
* [[List of Jewish Major League Baseball players]]
* [[Rule 5 draft results]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats|mlb=434886|espn=7478|br=s/sternad01|fangraphs=3568|brm=stern-001ada|retro=S/Pstera001}}
* [http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/stats/player.php?id=434886 Baseball America statistics]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070322141139/http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/gen/articles/printer_friendly/milb/y2006/m05/d10/c69468.jsp "Minor League's Top Jewish Prospects." May 10, 2006.]
* [https://www.centrefieldsports.com/baseball Baseball @ Centrefield Sports]{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://www.baseball.ca/files/2013%20JNT%20Fall%20Instructional%20League%20(Media).pdf Baseball Canada 2013 Junior National Team Fall Instructional League Roster/Coaches & Staff]

{{Canada 2004 Olympic Baseball Team}}
{{Canada roster 2006 World Baseball Classic}}
{{Canada 2008 Olympic Baseball Team}}
{{Canada roster 2009 World Baseball Classic}}
{{Canada roster 2009 Baseball World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stern, Adam}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Baltimore Orioles players]]
[[Category:Baseball people from Ontario]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Boston Red Sox players]]
[[Category:Boston Red Sox scouts]]
[[Category:Canadian expatriate baseball players in the United States]]
[[Category:Greenville Braves players]]
[[Category:Gulf Coast Braves players]]
[[Category:Harwich Mariners players]]
[[Category:Jamestown Jammers players]]
[[Category:Jewish Canadian sportspeople]]
[[Category:Jewish baseball players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball outfielders]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Canada]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers players]]
[[Category:Nashville Sounds players]]
[[Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball players]]
[[Category:Myrtle Beach Pelicans players]]
[[Category:Norfolk Tides players]]
[[Category:Olympic baseball players for Canada]]
[[Category:Pawtucket Red Sox players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from London, Ontario]]
[[Category:World Baseball Classic players of Canada]]
[[Category:2006 World Baseball Classic players]]
[[Category:2009 World Baseball Classic players]]
[[Category:Mesa Solar Sox players]]