Rob Butler

Robert Frank John Butler

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
• High School East York Collegiate Institute
• Debut June 12, 1993
• Final Game July 10, 1999
• Born April 10, 1970 in East York, ON CAN

BR page

Biographical Information

Big brother Rob Butler and little brother Rich Butler were both signed on September 24, 1990 by the Toronto Blue Jays. Rob cracked the bigs first, debuting during the 1993 world championship season and hitting .271 in 48 at bats, then batting .500 (1-for-2) with a run scored in the World Series. Butler became the second ballyhooed Canadian named Rob (after Rob Ducey) to be bandied about as the team's first Canadian-born star, but was sold to the Philadelphia Phillies for "future considerations" after a .176/.250/.203 line in 41 games in 1994. He had a solid .293/.326/.416 in 89 at bats in his big league return in 1997 before seeing his last action in a 6 game cameo back in Toronto in 1999. In 109 games, he slashed .243/.309/.321 in 218 at bats, never going deep like little bro Rich.

Rob saw a lot of action in international play. He hit .324/.390/.405 for Team Canada in the 1988 Baseball World Cup and was error-free in center field, but only 1-for-3 in steal attempts. He played in the 1990 Goodwill Games and the 1990 Baseball World Cup, batted .355/.355/.581 in the latter. Rob and Rich were teammates for Canada in the 2003 Baseball World Cup; Rob hit .348/.444/.565, playing left field as Rich played right. Rob was Canada's top hitter in the event.

As of 2016, the brothers Butler run the Butler Baseball Academy in Ajax, Ontario, Canada.

Notable Achievements

• 1991 MVP New York-Penn League St. Catharines Blue Jays
• Won a World Series with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993