Former Major League Baseball pitcher John Axford of Simcoe, Ontario retired at the age of 40 according to TSN on Wednesday. The right handed reliever spent 11 seasons in the Major Leagues from 2009 to 2021 with the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Axford pitched in 544 games and had a record of 38 wins and 34 losses with an earned run average of 3.90. In 525 2/3 innings pitched, he gave up 485 hits, 228 earned runs, 50 home runs, and 261 walks, to go along with 144 saves, 51 holds, and 589 strikeouts, and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 1.42.
Axford’s finest Major League Baseball season came in 2011 as the Brewers closer. That is when he led the National League in saves with 46, and won the Tip O’Neill Award, presented to the best Canadian baseball player in the Major Leagues each season. During 74 games, Axford had a record of two wins and two losses with a sparkling earned run average of 1.95, and WHIP of 1.14. During 73 2/3 innings pitched, he had 86 strikeouts and gave up 59 hits, 16 earned runs, four home runs and 25 walks.
Axford is all known as an expert in film and television. He has his degree in the industry from Notre Dame. In 2014, he successfully predicted all 18 winners of the Oscar Awards.
