First, the official list presented on the SportsNet, based on the rankings of the 22 MLB Insiders:
1. Roberto Alomar 21. Duane Ward
2. Dave Stieb 22. Vernon Wells
3. Roy Halladay 23. Juan Guzman
4. Carlos Delgado 24. Kelly Gruber
5. Jose Bautista 25. Jim Clancy
6. Tony Fernandez 26. Dave Winfield
7. George Bell 27. Shawn Green
8. Joe Carter 28. David Wells
9. Jimmy Key 29. Jack Morris
10. Josh Donaldson 30. Pat Borders
11. Pat Hentgen 31. Ernie Whitt
12. Tom Henke 32. Willie Upshaw
13. Edwin Encarnacion 33. Damaso Garcia
14. John Olerud 34. David Cone
15. Devon White 35. Shannon Stewart
16. Jesse Barfield 36. Dave Stewart
17. Paul Molitor 37. Alfredo Griffin
18. Fred McGriff 38. Russell Martin
19. Roger Clemens 39. Rance Mulliniks
20. Lloyd Moseby 40. Alex Rios
Second, the list compiled by regular fans who went online to do so (difference from above listed in parenthesis):
1. Roberto Alomar (-) 21. Paul Molitor (-4)
2. Roy Halladay (+1) 22. Fred McGriff (-4)
3. Dave Stieb (-1) 23. Pat Borders (+7)
4. Carlos Delgado (-) 24. Shawn Green (+3)
5. Tony Fernandez (+1) 25. Roger Clemens (-6)
6. Jose Bautista (-1) 26. Duane Ward (-5)
7. George Bell (-) 27. Willie Upshaw (+5)
8. Joe Carter (-) 28. Shannon Stewart (+7)
9. Tom Henke (+3) 29. Dave Winfield (-3)
10. John Olerud (+4) 30. Jim Clancy (-5)
11. Pat Hentgen (-) 31. Jack Morris (-2)
12. Josh Donaldson (-2) 32. David Wells (-4)
13. Edwin Encarnacion (-) 33. Ernie Whitt (-2)
14. Lloyd Moseby (+6) 34. David Cone (-)
15. Devon White (-) 35. Russell Martin (+3)
16. Jimmy Key (-7) 36. Rance Mulliniks (+3)
17. Kelly Gruber (+7) 37. Marco Estrada
18. Juan Guzman (+5) 38. Roberto Osuna
19. Jesse Barfield (-3) 39. Todd Stottlemyre
20. Vernon Wells (-2) 40. Damaso Garcia (-7)
I must say, I'm closer to agreeing with the second list than the one provided by the experts. But, really, we're looking at the Top 10 more than anything. I'll give you my list backwards, 40 to 1. Again, I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane, and take a bit of time to tell me what you think.
He was acquired as a First Round draft pick (13th overall) in the 2003 June Amateur Draft. In his first season with the Jays he batted a respectable .274 in 105 games, moving all over the infield, but playing a steady middle at shortstop and second base. His breakout year in 2009 saw him set a record for Blue Jay second basemen when he hit 36 home runs and drive in 108, leading the American League in at bats with 682. That year he played in his only All-Star Game and was 12th in A.L. MVP voting. Some outstanding plays in the field made him one of the best second basemen the Jays have seen.
2005 - 2011: 7 years
Games: 875
Hits: 881
2B's: 188
HR's: 96
RBI: 409
Runs: 436
AVG: .265
OBP: .318
SLG: .413
Although he was never a superstar, John Mayberry was the first "big name" player I remember playing for the Jays during those lean years in the late '70's and early '80's. He was a powerful first baseman/designated hitter who was known for some long home runs. In 1975, playing for the Kansas City Royals, he was 2nd in A.L. MVP voting after hitting 34 home runs and driving in 106, with a .291 AVG. He was purchased from the Royals in 1978 to help lead the new team north of the US border. He quickly became a fan favourite with his big smile and long home runs. He hit 30 in 1980, the first Blue Jay to reach that total.
1978 - 1982: 5 years
Games: 549
Hits: 461
HR's: 92
RBI: 272
Runs: 215
AVG: .256
OBP: .352
SLG: .450
38. Rance Mulliniks - 3B
In 1982, the Jays traded away pitcher Phil Huffman to the Kansas City Royals for a part time infielder named Rance Mulliniks. He was a left-handed bat that immediately began to platoon at third base with the equally sure-handed Garth Iorg, a right-handed bat. That combo performed more than admirably at the hot corner for 6 years, until Iorg retired in 1987. Mulliniks was the better hitter of the two, hitting for average, drawing walks to get on base, and hitting his share of homers and doubles. He spent parts of 11 seasons in Toronto, appearing in three playoffs (1985, 1989, 1991), hitting .364 in 5 games in the 1985 ALCS.
1982 - 1992: 11 years
Games: 1115 (8th)
Hits: 843
2B's: 204 (10th)
HR's: 68
RBI: 389
Runs: 382
AVG: .280
OBP: .365 (9th)
SLG: .424
Nobody won more games in the 1980's than Jack Morris, 162 for the Detroit Tigers. The Jays played the Tigers a great many times in that decade, and Morris beat us often. He saw 4 All-Star Games as a Tiger and was in the top five in Cy Young voting three times. When he became a free agent in 1991, the Jays pounced. The team was already in the midst of building a winner, so to sign one of the pitchers that liked to beat us seemed like a no-brainer. In his first year in Toronto, Morris became the first Blue Jays pitcher to win 20 games, going 21-6 in 1992. He came in fifth in Cy Young voting. But that, really, was it. He played only one more year in Toronto and compiled a horrid 7-12 record with an ERA of 6.19! And he was ineffective in the '92 playoffs, starting 4 games, going 0-3, with a combined ERA of 7.66.
1992 - 1993: 2 years
Game Starts: 61
Wins: 28
Losses: 18
ERA: 4.87
IP: 393.1
K's: 235
BB: 145
CG's: 10
SHO: 2
He played for two years with the New York Yankees before being traded to the Jays in 1979. When he started the 1980 season, he was still officially a rookie since he didn't play enough in New York to rid him of the status. Garcia, in his first year, became the exciting player we grew to love in this city for the next 7 years. He was fourth in Rookie Of The Year voting in the A.L. that year, hitting .278 with 30 doubles, and flashing some serious leather at second base. He would become a team leader and a more than decent hitter as time went on, batting over .300 in 1982 and '83, not to mention his incredible speed on the base paths. He stole a then team record 54 bases 1982 and at least 25 for the next three years. Represented Toronto twice at the All-Star Game.
1980 - 1986: 7 years
Games: 902
Hits: 1028 (9th)
2B's: 172
3B's: 26
SB's: 194
Runs: 453
AVG: .288 (7th)
OBP: .312
SLG: .377
He wasn't the best hitter, or the best catcher, but it was always a lot of fun to watch Ernie Whitt play, and we were treated to his one-knee homers for 12 years in Toronto. Whitt started playing in Boston in 1976 but was picked up at the end of the year by Toronto in the Expansion Draft. He was our property from our inaugural season in 1977 up until 1989 when we traded him away to the Atlanta Braves. He was an All-Star once during that time and even though he never hit more than 20 home runs in a season, they were almost always memorable. He famously hit 3 dingers the day the Jays set a MLB record by hitting 10 in one game. A huge fan favourite in his time with the club.
1977 - 1978; 1980 - 1989: 12 years
Games: 1218 (5th)
Hits: 888
2B's: 164
HR's: 131 (10th)
RBI: 518
Runs: 424
AVG: .253
OBP: .327
SLG: .420
I think people seem to forget just how good Juan Guzman was when he started. He was signed by the L.A. Dodgers in 1985 and traded to the Jays in 1987. In first season in the Majors, Guzman compiled a 10-3 record with a 2.99 ERA. He was 2nd in voting for the A.L. Rookie Of The Year, losing to Chuck Knoblauch. His next two seasons were equally great. His numbers for his first three years in the Majors rivalled anyone's in baseball at the time: 40-11, 3.28 ERA in 84 starts! Injuries became a problem and he began to lose his way. He had a resurgence in 1996 when he led the A.L. with a 2.93 ERA. In five playoff series with the Jays, he went 5-1 with a 2.44 ERA in 8 games. Not too shabby!
1991 - 1998: 8 years
Game Starts: 195 (6th)
Wins: 76 (7th)
Losses: 62 (7th)
ERA: 4.07
IP: 1215.2 (6th)
K's: 1030 (4th)
BB: 546 (4th)
CG's: 15
SHO: 2
This selection is not only for what I've seen Pillar do the last couple of years, but the potential greatness within. Even now, in the 2017 season, he has shown great improvement at the plate over his previous seasons; much more discipline (more walks, fewer strikeouts), hard hits, increased power. But, who are we kidding, it's his complete disregard for injury when he flies after balls in the outfield! It's been a while since we've been this excited to see great plays in centre field, something that seems to take place on a near daily basis. He's currently in his fifth year as a Blue Jay, and if it wasn't for Kevin Kiermaier, he'd be considered the best centre fielder in the A.L., for sure!
2013 - current: 5 years
Games: 520
Hits: 481
2B's: 109
RBI: 163
Runs: 224
SB's: 54
AVG: .263
OBP: .302
SLG: .389
Drafted by the New York Yankees, Upshaw was picked up by the Jays in the 1977 as a Rule 5 draftee (basically, teams aren't allowed to stockpile young talent, so other teams can draft them if they play them in the Majors). It took a few years for Upshaw to breakout, but he eventually became one of the reasons the Jays began challenging in the mid-'80's. He was the first Jay to drive in more than 100 runs, knocking in 104 in 1983. He was 11th in MVP voting that year. He was an above average first baseman as well, finishing in the top five in fielding a few times. Upshaw always had a huge physique, and his # 26 was the first jersey I wanted as a kid.
1978; 1980 - 1987: 9 years
Games: 1115 (8th)
Hits: 982 (10th)
2B's: 177
HR's: 112
RBI: 478
Runs: 538 (10th)
AVG: .265
OBP: .336
SLG: .426
Along the same lines of Jack Morris, Dave Stewart loved to mow down Blue Jays, especially when he played for the Oakland A's. He had four straight seasons of 20 or more wins with the A's, and was one of the scariest pitchers in the game. I remember when we signed Stewart as a free agent in the winter of 1992. I was soooo happy that we'd have him, especially since we were looking to defend our World Series from the previous year. Like Morris, Stewart only played two years in Toronto, the first being pretty good, the second not so much. But it was reputation as a playoff pitcher that really got this town excited, and in the 1993 ALCS he did not disappoint. He won both games he started, allowing only 3 runs in those two games for a 2.03 ERA, winning the MVP for the series. That's why he's higher than Morris!
1993 - 1994: 2 years
Game Starts: 48
Wins: 19
Losses: 16
ERA: 5.09
IP: 295.1
K's: 207
BB: 134
CG's: 1
Wells was drafted out of High School by the Jays in the 1982 Amateur Draft. His first appearances with the club were mainly as a reliever in 1987. It wasn't until 1990 that he began to start more regularly, and he became a great pitcher. From 1990-1992 he went 33-25 with a 3.90 ERA. The Jays released him in 1993 and, after he became a better pitcher, traded Roger Clemens away to get him back in 1999. All he did for the next two seasons was go 37-18 and lead the league in wins (20) and complete games (9) in 2000. Wells' big downfall in baseball was his mouth. He was labelled as "difficult" and went from team to team for the rest of his career, but it doesn't take away from his accomplishments.
1987 - 1992; 1999 - 2000: 8 years
Game Starts: 138 (9th)
Wins: 84 (6th)
Losses: 55 (10th)
ERA: 4.06
IP: 1148.2 (7th)
K's: 784 (7th)
BB: 294
CG's: 18
SHO: 2
Before Tony Fernandez come on to astound the fans with his fielding prowess, we had Alfredo Griffin. He was signed by Cleveland in 1973 but only played a total of 31 games for them over three seasons. After being traded to Toronto in 1978, Griffin began what would be a great rookie season with the Jays in 1979. He ended up as co-winner of the Rookie Of The Year Award, the only Jay to do so until 2002 when Eric Hinske won. But when we talk of Alfredo Griffin, we talk of great defence. Yes, he would make a lot of errors, but he made twice as many outstanding plays over there between second and third. He left for a while, winning his first World Series with the L.A. Dodgers in 1988, but we brought him back in 1992 to win a couple with Jays...which was nice.
1979 - 1984; 1992 - 1993: 8 years
Games: 982
Hits: 844
2B's: 127
3B's: 50 (3rd)
SB's: 79
Runs: 382
AVG: .249
OBP: .280
SLG: .327
A Toronto-born player who grew up in Montreal, it was a very welcome sight when Russell Martin was signed as a free agent in late 2014. Not just because he's Canadian, but more because he's a winner! Before coming to the Jays, Martin had played nine seasons and had hit the playoffs seven times. That's no coincidence for a player that calls the games. In his first two years in Toronto, hey, guess what, they made the playoffs. Although his hitting has dropped the last couple of years, his ability to take young pitchers and mild them into stars in undeniable. He's a four-time All-Star, once with the Jays, and I have a feeling he'll be around for a good long time.
2015 - present: 3years
Games: 347
Hits: 272
HR's: 55
RBI: 178
Runs: 184
AVG: .233
OBP: .337
SLG: .417
In my opinion, Shannon Stewart was one of the most underrated Blue Jays ever. He went quietly about his business, but consistently put up All-Star numbers. He was a 1st round pick (19th overall) in the 1992 Amateur Draft. He was used very sporadically his first couple of seasons, but soon began to show his ability to get on base and use his great speed. Between 1999 and 2002 he hit .300 or better each season, scored over 100 runs in each, and became a doubles machine. He stole 51 bases in 1998 and seemed to be hustling at every turn. He was traded away midway through the 2003 season to the Minnesota Twins. In 2008, the Jays signed him as a free agent for his final year in the Bigs.
1995 - 2003; 2008: 10 years
Games: 907
Hits: 1082 (7th)
2B's: 222 (6th)
3B's: 34 (7th)
RBI: 370
Runs: 595 (7th)
SB's: 166
AVG: .298 (4th)
OBP: .365 (9th)
SLG: .440
His rookie season was in 1988, the perfect time to grow with a team that was about to break out. Borders would play platoon mostly with Greg Myers in the early '90's. Neither catchers were particularly great hitters, although they both had their moments. What differentiated the two was Borders' intensity and his ability to calm down some pretty big pitching personalities, including Jack Morris, Dave Stewart, Pat Hentgen and Juan Guzman. He had a strong arm and called a great game. What moves him up to the best catcher on this list was his phenomenal performances in the playoffs. He won the 1992 World Series MVP Award when he batted .450 in six games against Atlanta. He then hit .304 in the 1993 Series against Philly.
1988 - 1994; 1999: 8 years
Games: 747
Hits: 590
2B's: 127
HR's: 54
RBI: 272
Runs: 205
AVG: .256
OBP: .290
SLG: .388
First of all, IT WAS A TRIPLE PLAY!!! Anyway, Kelly Gruber was a high energy third baseman that we picked up in 1983 from Cleveland as a Rule 5 draft. He started off slowly, not a great hitter, but had some real skill in the field. Then, around 1988, things started to come together for him. He started hitting the ball harder and farther, bringing his average up to around the respectable .280 range. He begin hitting more home runs, topping out at 31 in 1990. Selected to two All-Star games, and 4th in A.L. MVP voting in 1990, as well as a deserved Gold Glove. Until Josh Donaldson knocked in 123 runs in 2015, Gruber's total of 118 RBI in 1990 was the most by a Blue Jay playing predominantly at third base.
1984 - 1992: 9 years
Games: 921
Hits: 800
2B's: 145
HR's: 114
RBI: 434
Runs: 421
AVG: .259
OBP: .307
SLG: .431
It is my opinion that Jim Clancy would have been a mush more heralded pitcher if he didn't play for the Jays during their bad years. He was drafted during the 1976 Expansion Draft from Texas and started in 1977. His first few years were not great, but neither was the team. In 1982, he started to gain some of the notice he deserved, finishing the year 16-14 with a 3.71 ERA and starting a league-leading 40 games, on a team that won only 78 in total. From '82 to '87 he went 82-71 with an even 4.00 ERA, pretty good numbers for a team just beginning to find itself. He was a guy that ate up innings every year and was second to only Dave Stieb when talking about the best pitchers the Jays had during those lean years.
1977 - 1988: 12 years
Game Starts: 345 (2nd)
Wins: 128 (3rd)
Losses: 140 (1st)
ERA: 4.10
IP: 2204.2 (2nd)
K's: 1237 (3rd)
BB: 814 (2nd)
CG's: 73 (2nd)
SHO: 11 (3rd)
What a gift Edwin was from the Cincinnati Reds! We got him as a "throw in" when we traded Scott Rolen to the Reds during the 2009 season. He had hit 26 home runs the previous year, so a glimpse of what was to come was there. But, man, he really came into his own when he became a Jay. Never a great fielder, he did make some improvements at first base through the years. But we always liked him as a DH, because that's where he shone, at the plate. Between 2012 and 2016 he never hit less than 34 home runs in a season, and only once went below 100 RBI. He was an All-Star three times and was in the A.L. MVP voting four times. It was sad to see him sign with Cleveland before the 2017 season, but it's costing them $20-million, not us.
2009 - 2016: 8 years
Games: 999
Hits: 977
2B's: 202
HR's: 239 (3rd)
RBI: 679 (6th)
Runs: 593 (8th)
AVG: .268
OBP: .355
SLG: .522 (4th)
You may not like him because he was an arrogant jerk. You may not like him because of the steroid controversy. But, in my eyes, there is no denying Roger Clemens is one of the best pitchers to play the game, and his two years in Toronto were historic! In his 2 years here, he won the Cy Young Award both years, led the league in wins, strikeouts and ERA both years (the pitching Triple Crown), and helped turn Toronto into a contender in '98. It was probably the best two-year pitching performance we have ever seen in this town. By the way, he was responsible for nearly a third of the team's wins in 1997...that's nuts!!
1997 - 1998: 2 years
Game Starts: 67
Wins: 41
Losses: 13
ERA: 2.33
IP: 498.2
K's: 563
BB: 156
CG's: 14
SHO: 6 (6th)
I loved watching "Shaker" play. He was one of the first Jays I remember making sure to pay attention to every time he took the field. The Jays drafted Moseby out of high school as the 2nd overall pick in the Amateur Draft of 1978. His first season was 1980 and within a couple of years he was one of the top centre fielders in the A.L.. He didn't have a great arm, but he could track down balls as well as anyone in the game. His speed became a great advantage when he hit as well. In six straight years he stole at least 25 bases each season, and would leg out triples seemingly all the time. In 1984, he became the only Blue Jay ever, still to this day, with at least 15 doubles, 15 triples and 15 home runs in the same season. In fact, this has only happened 30 times in American League history! "Shaker" could move!
1980 - 1989: 10 years
Games: 1392 (4th)
Hits: 1319 (4th)
2B'S: 242 (4th)
3B's: 60 (2nd)
HR's: 149 (8th)
RBI: 651 (7th)
Runs: 768 (4th)
SB's: 255 (1st)
AVG: .257
OBP: .333
SLG: .415
"Crime Dog" was an absolute beast at the plate. He had a beautiful home run swing, almost as good as Ken Griffey Jr's. And he hit them a mile! He came to us through a 1982 trade with the Yankees, who he never played a game with. He played four full seasons with Toronto (first year he only played in three games), but quickly became one of the most dangerous hitters in the league. Between 1988 and 1990 he received votes for A.L. MVP, led the league in home runs once, and played a very steady first base for the club, finishing first in fielding % in 1988. He was one of the prime factors in one of the biggest trades in Blue Jay history in 1990 when he and Tony Fernandez went to San Diego for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter.
1986 - 1990: 5 years
Games: 578
Hits: 540
2B's: 99
HR's: 125
RBI: 305
Runs: 348
AVG: .278
OBP: .389 (3rd)
SLG: .530 (3rd)
Two of my favourite players in the 1980's were George Brett and Paul Molitor. I was so happy to see Molitor come to the Jays as a free agent at the end of 1992. He decided to come to a team that had just won a World Series, and showed no signs of giving up the title the next year. Paul wanted a championship, and he went out and got one! In 1993 he hit .332, leading the league in hits with 211. This as a 36 year old! The next year, strike-shortened 1994, he hit .341. He was a two-time All-Star as a Jay in three seasons. But his greatest achievement was the 1993 playoffs. In the 6-game ALCS against the White Sox he hit a paltry .391. I say "paltry" because in the World Series he went 12 for 24...A .500 AVG!! He was easily named World Series MVP. It was a great treat to watch this Hall Of Famer play a few seasons in my hometown!
1993 - 1995: 3 years
Games: 405
Hits: 508
2B's: 98
HR's: 51
RBI: 246
Runs: 270
AVG: .315 (1st)
OBP: .387 (4th)
SLG: .484 (8th)
Green was drafted 16th overall in the 1991 Amateur Draft. He moved up quickly, having a great year in AAA in 1994, hitting .334. What became obvious quite quickly was that Green had one of the purest swings in the Jays' system. It helped him hit many line drive doubles and big, long home runs. What was also quite evident was his strong arm from right field. He would mow down guys at second and home on a regular basis. He won a Gold Glove in 1999 when he committed only one error in 152 games! In 1998, Green became the first Jay to ever go 30 and 30, at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. The next year, he became the first to hit at least 40 home runs and 40 doubles. He was just reaching his potential when he was traded away to L.A. Dodgers, where, on May 23, 2002, he set a one game record for collecting 19 total bases when hit 4 home runs, a double and a single against the Milwaukee Brewers.
1993 - 1999: 7 years
Games: 716
Hits: 718
2B's: 164
HR's: 119
RBI: 376
Runs: 402
AVG: .286 (8th)
OBP: .344
SLG: .505 (6th)
If this was a list of the best swings by any Blue Jay ever, Olerud would be number one, by a long shot. He had a swing that Ted Williams would have been proud of! He was selected in the 3rd round of the 1989 Amateur Draft and made his debut that year, never playing a game in the Minors. He only played 6 games in 1989, so 1990 was officially his rookie season, and he ranked 5th in A.L. Rookie Of The Year voting. He turned out to be a really good first baseman as well. He was consistently in the top 5 of A.L. first basemen fielding percentage while with the club. Everything came together for Olerud in 1993 when he led the league in batting average (.363), doubles (54) and OBP (.473), as he was always a patient hitter. For players in the 1990's who qualified for a batting title (502 plate appearances), John Olerud had the highest batting average in a season with his .363. In fact, all of baseball was abuzz as Olerud looked to have a good chance to hit .400 for the season, a mark that hadn't been reached by any ball player since Ted Williams in 1941. On August 2 of 1993, Olerud was at exactly .400!
1989 - 1996: 8 years
Games: 920
Hits: 910
2B's: 213 (9th)
HR's: 109
RBI: 471
Runs: 464
AVG: .293 (6th)
OBP: .395 (1st)
SLG: .471
One of the most inconsistently fabulous players the Jays have ever had. Vernon Wells was often one of the best in baseball, and then would go on long streaks of doing nothing. But when he was hot, he was HOT! He was drafted by the Jays as the 5th overall pick in the 1997 Amateur Draft. In his first three years (1999 to 2001) he only played 57 games. Then, in 2002, the Majors knew they were dealing with something special. He drove in 100 runs that year, hitting 23 home runs. The next year he really broke out, hitting .317 and leading the American League with 215 hits and 49 doubles. He would bat hot and cold for the next few years, one year hitting .300, the next .250, but one thing that stayed consistent was his great fielding in centre filed. Wells won three Gold Gloves from 2004 to 2006. In fact, in 2005, he did not make one error all season!! One of the best all-round players the Jays have employed, but not all the time...
1999 - 2010: 12 years
Games: 1393 (3rd)
Hits: 1529 (2nd)
2B's: 339 (2nd)
HR's: 223 (4th)
RBI: 813 (2nd)
Runs: 789 (2nd)
AVG: .280
OBP: .329
SLG: .475 (10th)
I do believe Jesse Barfield was the first true mega-star that played for the Blue Jays. He shared the spotlight a lot with George Bell, but Barfield was on everybody's mind a few years before Bell broke out, mostly for one reason, his arm. He was, and to me still is, one of the best right fielders I've ever seen play the game. He had one of the most powerful and accurate arms in the 1980's, leading the league many times in assists by a right fielder. He recorded an incredible 21 assists in 1985 from right field. But then there was also his bat. He was a pure power hitter, the first Jay to lead the league in home runs in a season when he hit 40 in 1986. That 1986 season, Barfield was an All-Star, 5th in MVP voting, winner of his first of two Gold Gloves, and was a Silver Slugger Award winner. When I was a kid playing baseball, I always wanted to play in the outfield so that I had a chance to emulate the pick up, wind up and bullet throw of one of my favourite players, Jesse Barfield. It only worked about a tenth of the time.
1981 - 1989: 9 years
Games: 1032
Hits: 919
2B's: 162
HR's: 179 (7th)
RBI: 527 (7th)
Runs: 530
AVG: .265
OBP: .334
SLG: .483 (9th)
In 1986 the Jays traded away Doyle Alexander to the Atlanta Braves for a young relief pitcher trying to find his way in the Majors. His first full year in Toronto, 1987, he was used very sparingly in a number of situations. Then, Duane Ward became a closer, and slowly became one of the best closers in the game! By 1991, Ward would pitch in 81 games, leading the American League, finished 46 of them and garnered 23 saves. He stuck out 132 in 107.1 innings, only walking 33. He came in 9th in Cy Young voting that year. But he would improve even more. In 1993 he led the A.L. with 45 saves, compiled a low 2.13 ERA, was selected to the All-Star game and was 5th in Cy Young voting! In eight World Series games between 1992 and 1993, Ward went 3-0 with 2 saves and a minuscule 1.13 ERA. People forget just how good Ward was, partly because he was working in tandem with Tom Henke for a while, and "The Terminator" got most of the press. But he certainly more than held his own during his time in the Majors.
1986 - 1993; 1995: 9 years
Games: 452 (2nd)
Wins: 32
Losses: 36
ERA: 3.18 (2nd)
IP: 650.2
K's: 671 (9th)
BB: 278
Saves: 121 (2nd)
I do believe that Josh Donaldson is one of the greatest pure-talent players we have seen on the Jays for a long time. He is a fantastic fielder, an intense player, and a great hitter who is able to adjust from at bat to at bat. In what now seems like one of the biggest steals of the century, the Jays traded 4 players to Oakland for Josh - one has been traded away since, two are barely playing, and one is out of baseball. What we got was a catalyst for a team about to make two playoff runs, and renewed excitement in the city of Toronto. All Donaldson did in his first year in Toronto was hit .297, knock 41 home runs, lead the league in runs (122) and RBI (123)...oh, and become only the second Toronto Blue Jay to win the A.L. MVP Award! His next season was nearly as good, coming 4th in MVP voting. Although Donaldson may not be a Blue Jay after next season (hopefully there's a way to keep him around), he's been one of the best players in the game and a thrill to watch day in and day out.
2015 - present: 3 years
Games: 401
Hits: 430
2B's: 89
HR's: 101
RBI: 280
Runs: 290
AVG: .284
OBP: .386 (5th)
SLG: .552 (2nd)
Before Kevin Pillar, there was one other great centre fielder who played for the Jays, perhaps the best in the game. Devon White was traded in the 1990 off-season from the California Angels and quickly became a fan favourite. He was a good hitter, not great, but fast on the base paths, getting a good amount of doubles and triples throughout his stay in Toronto. But in the five years he was in this city, it was all about his defence. He would amaze fans and players alike by how easy it looked for him to get to hard hit balls. He almost never dove for a ball because he would get to it before he needed to, always perfectly situated and reading the ball off the bat like no one else. He won a Gold Glove every year he was a Blue Jay! Oh, and there was this catch he made in Game 3 of the 1992 World Series that many have compared to Willie Mays' catch in the 1954 World Series. Oh, you don't remember it? Let me remind you...
1991 - 1995: 5 years
Games: 656
Hits: 733
2B's: 155
3B's: 34 (7th)
RBI: 274
Runs: 452
AVG: .270
OBP: .327
SLG: .432
Drafted in the 5th Round of the 1986 Amatuer Draft, Pat Hentgen didn't take long to become an ace for Jays. His first two years, 1991 and 1992, he was used sparingly in mid-relief. When he got a chance to start in 1993, he didn't disappoint! From 1993 to 1997 Hentgen went 77-51 with a 3.82 ERA, during a time when hitting was at a premium. He went 20-10 in 1996 with a 3.22 ERA, led the league in complete games (10), shutouts (3) and innings (265.2) making him Toronto's first Cy Young winner. He was a three time All-Star for Toronto as well. He pitched in Game 3 of the 1993 World Series, allowing just one run over six innings and getting the win. He would have started Game 7 if it was needed, generally saved for the best starter a team has. He calm demeanour meant that he wasn't the most exciting player on the field, but he could, and did, match up against the best in the game.
1991 - 1999; 2004: 10 years
Game Starts: 238 (5th)
Wins: 107 (5th)
Losses: 85 (3rd)
ERA: 4.28
IP: 1636 (5th)
K's: 1028 (5th)
BB: 599 (3rd)
CG's: 31 (4th)
SHO: 9 (5th)
Jimmy Key was Toronto's answer to Greg Maddux. Yup, lofty praise, but well deserved. He knew early on he couldn't overpower hitters with his fastball, so he working on location and created pinpoint accuracy. He was drafted in the 3rd Round by Toronto in the 1982 Amateur Draft. His first year with the club, 1984, he worked as a closer, saving 10 games, but with a bloated 4.65 ERA. The management quickly realized he would excel as a starter, and excel he did! The next year he became a starter and went 14-6 with a 3.00 ERA and was selected to the A.L. All-Star team. From there, he just got better. In '87 he went 17-8, led the league with a 2.76 ERA and was second to Roger Clemens in A.L. Cy Young voting. In his only World Series he played with Toronto, 1992, his last year as a Blue Jay, he won 2 of the Jays 4 wins and let in only one run in 9 innings. Always cool under pressure, and always a guy the fans would like to see on the mound, Jimmy Key was one of the greats of the mid-late 1980's.
1984 - 1992: 9 years
Game Starts: 250 (4th)
Wins: 116 (4th)
Losses: 81 (4th)
ERA: 3.42 (3rd)
IP: 1695.2 (4th)
K's: 944 (6th)
BB: 404 (7th)
CG's: 28 (5th)
SHO: 10 (4th)
He was the left fielder in one of the best outfields in the game, playing years with Lloyd Moseby and Jesse Barfield. He had a cannon of an arm, just like Barfield in right, but fly balls often found their way past Ol' George. He didn't become one of the most beloved players on the Jays in the 1980's for his fielding, though. George Bell could hit, and hit hard. He had a natural home run uppercut swing and come the middle of the decade, he used it to his advantage. Between 1984 and 1987, Bell averaged 33 home runs and 106 RBI per year while hitting .296. In 1987 he became the first Toronto Blue Jay player to be named A.L. MVP. We were no longer that second team up North. Bell helped the Blue Jays become legitimate contenders. I can still remember Bell catching that final out in 1985, dropping to his knees as we won our first pennant. Oh, you don't remember that either? Here's a reminder...
1981; 1983 - 1990: 9 years
Games: 1181 (7th)
Hits: 1294 (5th)
2B's: 237 (5th)
HR's: 202 (6th)
RBI: 740 (4th)
Runs: 641 (6th)
AVG: .286 (8th)
OBP: .325
SLG: .486 (7th)
It was impossible not to fall in love with "The Terminator" when he came to Toronto. We picked him up from the Texas Rangers as a free agent compensation pick in 1985. He didn't pitch a lot in Texas, so his first season with the Jays, 1985, was technically his rookie season. He pitched in 28 games that year, saved 13 and had a measly 2.03 ERA. He was 7th in A.L. Cy Young voting, and even got a mention in the MVP voting! Why, you ask? Because he had one of the most lethal fastballs and strikeout forkballs in baseball at the time. Between 1986 and his last season with us in 1992, Henke averaged 29 saves a year and had a 2.51 ERA. More than that though, he had a strikeouts per 9 inning rate of 10.4. He loved to watch batters swing over that forkball, and we all loved to watch it happen! He was great in the playoffs, too. In 3 ALCS series (1989, 1991, 1992) he pitched 10 relief innings without giving up a run, striking out 10. In the 1992 World Series, he wasn't as dominant, but allowed only 1 run in 3.1 innings. He was so loved in Toronto, someone wrote a theme song for him...
1985 - 1992: 8 years
Games: 446 (3rd)
Wins: 29
Losses: 29
ERA: 2.48 (1st)
IP: 563
K's: 644
BB: 166
Saves: 217 (1st)
One thing that I love about Jose Bautista is that everybody not living in Canada seems to hate him. I can see why, they usually see him at his worst - complaining to umps, getting smack in the face, showing off. But here in Canada, we can't get enough of his power, his personality and his late inning heroics. In August of 2008 we picked Bautista up from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later. That player, Robinzon Diaz, played a total of 44 Major League games. Our guy went on to do just a few remarkable things! In his second full year in Toronto, 2010, he set a club record and led the A.L. in home runs when he blasted 54 of them. He drove in 124 and had a ridiculous slugging % of .617. The next year he dropped off a bit, hitting only 43 home runs, drove in 103 and led the league with a .608 SLG. From 2010 to 2015 Jose was selected to the All-Star game each year, averaged 38 home runs per year, and was in the top 8 of MVP voting four times. And I haven't even mentioned his cannon of an arm in right field. Hard tossing and deadly accurate, teams learned very quickly not to run on Bautista. He usually gets double digit assists from right field, but would surely get more if his reputation didn't precede him. Although his production and fielding has deteriorated in the last couple of years, his place as one of the game's best power hitters will always remain. And in 20 postseason games with the club, he has hit 6 home runs and driven in 16, and was celebrated all over the country for this...
2008 - present: 10 years
Games: 1207 (6th)
Hits: 1084 (6th)
2B's: 214 (8th)
HR's: 285 (2nd)
RBI: 756 (3rd)
Runs: 776 (3rd)
AVG: .254
OBP: .374 (7th)
SLG: .511 (5th)
The Blue Jays signed Tony Fernandez as an amateur free agent way back in 1979. They knew they had a pretty good infielder but I doubt they knew just what a huge player he'd come to be, especially in Toronto. In fact, in his 17 years in MLB, he would leave and come back to Toronto on four different occasions, each time bringing smiles to Jays' fans all over the country. His first full season with the club was in 1985 when he hit a very respectable .289 with 31 doubles and 10 triples. The next year, he got even better: 213 hits for a .310 batting average, the first of four All-Star appearances with the Jays and the first of four consecutive Gold Glove awards. He was awesome to watch in the field, making plays that should have never been made, using that beautiful flip throw to first to get a runner by two feet. He led the league twice in fielding % by a shortstop and, in 1989, had only 6 errors! Here are some highlights of Tony's great fielding...
1983 - 1990; 1993; 1998 - 1999; 2001: 12 years
Games: 1450 (1st)
Hits: 1583 (1st)
2B's: 291 (3rd)
3B's: 72 (1st)
RBI: 613 (8th)
Runs: 704 (5th)
SB's: 172 (4th)
AVG: .297 (5th)
OBP: .353
SLG: .412
On December 5, 1990, one of the most surprising trades in MLB history occurred. It was a trade of four All-Star players. The Sand Diego Padres received Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff from the Toronto Blue Jays who, in return, got Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter. At the time, the trade looked pretty close to a wash, even for both. Turned out the Jays would benefit waaaay more! Joe Carter was already a heralded hitter when he played with the Cleveland Indians, a big home run hitter who drive in runs by the bucket. In Toronto, he harnessed that talent and became the face of the Jays during their World Series runs in 1992 and 1993. He represented the team at five All-Star games, never hit less than 20 home runs a year and only drove in less than 100 once. He was Top 10 in A.L. MVP voting 3 times as a Jay, coming in third in 1992. In the postseason, he did OK, playing in five series in three years, batting .252 with 6 home runs in 29 games. Oh, there was this though...
1991 - 1997: 7 years
Games: 1039 (10th)
Hits: 1051 (8th)
2B's: 218 (7th)
HR's: 203 (5th)
RBI: 736 (5th)
Runs: 578 (9th)
AVG: .257
OBP: .308
SLG: .473
I always felt that Carlos Delgado was uniquely ours in Toronto. He was signed as an Amateur Free Agent in 1988, as a 16 year old!! He came up through the farm system as a catcher but was quickly converted to an outfielder and first baseman. He saw his first MLB action at the age of 21. His first three seasons, playing very sporadically, he did not impress. Too many strikeouts, not enough contact, but when he did hit, he hit hard! In his first 13 games in 1994, he hit 8 home runs! Things started to gel for Delgado in 1996. He started playing first base on a more regular basis, and did pretty well...not the best, but certainly not the worst. But with Delgado, it was all about that bat. He hit 25 home runs that year, the first of 9 consecutive season of 25 or more for the Jays. He drove in 90 runs, first of 9 consecutive seasons of 90 or more RBI. And he began smacking doubles all over the field. In the year 2000, Carlos had one of the best offensive season we've ever seen in this city; .344 AVG, 57 doubles, 41 home runs, 137 RBI and a .664 SLG. Unbelievable numbers! He tried to match those numbers in 2003, hitting .302 with 42 home runs and a league leading 145 RBI. All he did for 9 seasons was produce runs! On September 25, 2003, in a mostly empty SkyDome, Delgado became just the 16th player in Major League history to hit four home runs in one game, and the only one to do it on four consecutive at bats!
1993 - 2004: 12 years
Games: 1423 (2nd)
Hits: 1413 (3rd)
2B's: 343 (1st)
HR's: 336 (1st)
RBI: 1058 (1st)
Runs: 889 (1st)
AVG: .282
OBP: .392 (2nd)
SLG: .556 (1st)
He was selected in the first round of the 1995 Amateur Draft (17th overall) as an 18 year old out of high school. He was a late September call up in 1998. His first start he pitched 5 innings and allowed only 2 runs. His next start, he threw a complete game allowing only 1 run. It was a show that Blue Jays' fans would become very used to! Still, it took him a couple of seasons to get the consistency that would make him one of the best pitchers in the Majors in the 2000's. From 2002 to 2009, Halladay had a phenomenal record of 130 wins and only 59 losses, with a combined ERA of only 3.13, all this during the "Steroid Era". In fact, of the MLB pitchers during that time span that starter at least 200 games, Halladay had the best winning %, .688! His two-seamer, four-seamer and cutter drove hitters crazy during that time. In 2003, he won the A.L. Cy Young Award when he went 22-7 with a 3.25 ERA, 9 complete games and 2 shutouts. He led the league in inning pitched, something he'd do three time as a Jay, with 266. He barely walked anyone, leading the league with a strikeout to walk ratio of 6.38. It was just one of many great years he had with Toronto. While with the Jays he was a 6 time All-Star and was in the Top 5 of Cy Young voting 5 times! He was so loved in the city that, when he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 off season, we didn't really like it, but understood he wanted a chance to win a World Series with a better team. In fact, I was at his first game back in Toronto as a Phillie and he was given a massive standing ovation before his first pitch. (He beat us 5-3 and threw a complete game).
1998 - 2009: 12 years
Game Starts: 287 (3rd)
Wins: 148 (2nd)
Losses: 76 (5th)
ERA: 3.43 (5th)
IP: 2046.2 (3rd)
K's: 1495 (2nd)
BB: 455 (5th)
CG's: 49 (3rd)
SHO: 15 (2nd)
Very simply, the best five-tool player, the best position player, ever employed by the Toronto Blue Jays. Roberto Alomar came to us through that blockbuster trade in late 1990. He was already known as a great defensive player who could hit all over the field and steal bases with relative ease. When he came to the Jays, he became a superstar! He was only here for five years, but what a five years they were. He was an All-Star each one of those years; he was a Gold Glove winner each one of those years; he was Top 6 in MVP voting three of those years; he hit a combined .307 with 206 stolen bases those years. But really, it was the defence. If Ozzie Smith was considered the best shortstop in the Majors around that time, Alomar was the best second baseman. He could get to balls he had no business getting to on a regular basis. His arm was strong and accurate. His baseball sense, where he should be situated, first step to a batted ball, was unparalleled. In the postseason, it seemed, he became even better. In five series in three years with the Jays he hit a combined .373 and stole 18 bases. The 1992 ALCS against Oakland is where he really shone. He ended up winning the MVP of that series when he hit .423 in the 6 games, which included one of the most famous home runs ever hit by a Jay. It was Game 4 and the A's were about to even up the series 2 games to 2. Top of the ninth, with one on, down by two, A's ace closer Dennis Eckersley on the mound, and....
1991 - 1995: 5 years
Games: 703
Hits: 832
2B's: 152
3B's: 36 (5th)
RBI: 342
Runs: 451
SB's: 206 (2nd)
AVG: .307 (2nd)
OBP: .382 (6th)
SLG: .451
He was a 5th round pick in the 1978 Amateur Draft. He was actually an outfielder and a pitcher, but decided to focus solely on pitching. Good thing for us! Dave Stieb started playing for the Jays in 1979. He didn't fair too well, but then again, neither did the team, losers of 109 games that year. But he quickly started to become better and better, and when we through with the 1980's, he'd become one of the best pitchers in MLB. He became Toronto's first bonafide baseball star. He was our Steve Carlton, a great pitcher who could win despite being on one of the worst teams in baseball. But behind him, his team started to slowly improve. They would score more runs, and become better defenders, and Dave Stieb would keep them in the game all the way through. During the 1980's he was second only to Jack Morris in all of baseball in wins (140), second in games started (331), fifth in complete games (92) and tied for first in shutouts (27). He achieved this success basically by throwing his inside fastball and one of the best sliders in the game. He had a reputation of going right after hitters and daring them to inch in on the plate. As a result, he led all of MLB in the '80's in hitting batters, doing it 104 times in the decade. When the Jays won their first pennant in 1985, Dave Stieb led the A.L. with a 2.48 ERA. He was named to 7 All-Star games as a Blue Jay, chosen as the starter for 2 of them. Everyone wanted Stieb to succeed, and he got his unmatched energy from the crowd. After throwing 3 one-hitters, two no-hitters lost on the last batter (!), he finally threw Toronto's first, and still only, no-hitter on September 2, 1990...
1979 - 1992; 1998: 15 years
Game Starts: 408 (1st)
Wins: 175 (1st)
Losses: 134 (2nd)
ERA: 3.42 (3rd)
IP: 2873 (1st)
K's: 1658 (1st)
BB: 1020 (1st)
CG's: 103 (1st)
SHO: 30 (1st)
Well, that's it. What do you think? Would you include anyone I didn't? Would you take guys off the list? How about your Top 5? Let me know, 'cause I'm interested. Really!
