Who was the first Canadian ever to play major-league baseball?

Answer 1

Tom Smith, born in Guelph, Ontario, played 3 games in the pre-MLB National Association in 1875, but the first Canadian in MLB was Bill Phillips, who was born in St. John, NB, who debuted in 1879. He played for 10 years with Cleveland (NL), Brooklyn (AA), and Kansas City (AA), mostly at first base.
Side note: Top O'Neill, holder of the record for highest batting average in a season (.435 in 1887), was born in Springfield, Ontario. O'Neill played in MLB 1883-1892.

Answer 2

As noted above, Bill Phillips was the first Canadian player in the majors. If you're interested, below is a list of all Canadian-born major league players (about 210 total).

Answer 3

Goodwin George "Goody" Rosen (August 28, 1912 – April 6, 1994) was a Canadian center fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1937 through 1946, Rosen played outfield for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1937-39, 1944-46) and New York Giants (1946). He batted and threw left handed.
Baseball player Tom Daly, Saint John: Daly played eight seasons in the major leagues (1913-1921) as a catcher/outfielder, three of which were spent with the Chicago Cubs. He appeared in 244 games with a career batting average of .234. When his playing days ended, he was a coach and scout for the Boston Red Sox. Upon his death in 1946 at the age of 51, the local paper recorded that "No player in the history of Boston baseball was ever held in higher esteem by his associates than Tom Daly, Red Sox coach and scout, who died here today. Where baseball continues, particularly in Boston, the name of Tom Daly will be revered not only as a great player, scout and coach, but as one whose love of the game was something sacred"

Answer 4

Tom Thumb

Answer 5

Richard is correct - Phillips is the correct answer.

He arrived in 1879, a year before Doc Irwin and Pop Smith.

Answer 6

well it's jackie robinson weeks, so i'll give props to the first black canadian in the majors, fergie jenkins. and the first black canadian in the hall and first 300 game winner. really, i think he might be the only black canadian to play, but oh well.

Answer 7

Rosen