Canadian Hall of Fame Recognition
Former Seattle Mariners pitcher Erik Bedard has been elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, with the induction ceremony scheduled for June 7. According to the Hall of Fame’s social media announcement, Bedard—born on March 5, 1979, in Navan, Ontario—has left an indelible mark on Canadian baseball history.
Career Achievements
Bedard stands out among Canadian left-handed pitchers, holding records for starts, innings pitched (1,303 2/3), and strikeouts (1,246) across the major leagues. His career rankings also place him in the top 10 among Canadian pitchers in several key statistical categories, including third in strikeouts, fourth in starts, sixth in innings pitched, seventh in WAR (17.4), and tenth in wins.
Mariners Trade and Career Challenges
Over parts of 11 seasons, Bedard represented the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, and Tampa Bay Rays, compiling a career record of 71-82 with a 3.99 ERA. His move to Seattle came ahead of the 2008 season when the Mariners traded for him, sending future All-Star Adam Jones, pitcher Chris Tillman, and closer George Sherrill to Baltimore. Unfortunately, his tenure in Seattle was marred by injuries and inconsistent performance; despite a promising start with a 6-4 record in 2008 followed by a 5-3 mark in 2009 at a 2.82 ERA, injuries limited his contributions in subsequent seasons.
Legacy Among Legends
Despite the ups and downs of his career, Bedard’s election to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame represents a significant honor. He joins Ichiro Suzuki—who is set to be enshrined in Cooperstown in July after an earlier induction into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame—cementing his legacy as one of Canada’s most notable major league pitchers.