Former North Shore Twins star and longtime major leaguer Ryan Dempster officially announced his retirement earlier this month, bringing to an end one of the greatest careers ever for a Canadian pitcher.
The 37-year-old last pitched in game 1 of the 2013 World Series, striking out the last batter he faced — Matt Adams of the St. Louis Cardinals — in a relief appearance during an 8-1 win for the Boston Red Sox. The Sox went on to win the series, giving Dempster his first World Series title. The Gibsons native sat out the 2014 season, working instead as an analyst for the MLB Network.
Dempster made his Major League debut in 1998 with the Florida Marlins and went on to win 132 games, many coming with the Chicago Cubs during a nine-year stint with the team. He is second to Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins in wins, innings pitched, starts and strikeouts by a Canadian pitcher. Dempster also served as a relief pitcher, racking up 87 saves to place him fourth amongst Canadian closers behind Eric Gagne, John Hiller, and John Axford.
Dempster was named an all-star in 2000 and 2008.
