Toronto Blue Jays,
professional baseball team and one of five teams in the East
Division of the American League (AL). The Blue Jays play at SkyDome
in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and wear uniforms of white and blue.
The Blue Jays rose to prominence soon after joining the AL as an
expansion team in 1977. Under manager Cito Gaston, the club won four
East Division titles between 1989 and 1993 and in 1992 became the
first Canadian franchise to win the World Series. Outstanding
hitters to play for Toronto include Jesse Barfield, George Bell, Joe
Carter, and Tony Fernandez. Star Blue Jays pitchers have included
starters Jimmy Key, Jack Morris, Dave Stieb, and Roger Clemens, and
reliever Tom Henke.
In 1993 Blue Jay stars Roberto Alomar, Paul Molitor, and John Olerud
became the first teammates in 100 years to finish the season ranked
first, second, and third in batting average. The Blue Jays repeated
as World Series champions that year, and Joe Carter became the
second player in major league history to secure a World Series
championship by hitting a home run. (Bill Mazeroski of the
Pittsburgh Pirates was the first during the 1960 World Series
victory over the New York Yankees).
When the San Francisco Giants abandoned plans to move to Toronto in
1976, a group of Toronto business people was awarded an AL franchise
for an expansion team; the Toronto Blue Jays joined the league the
next year. The Blue Jays finished in last place for six consecutive
years, losing more than 100 games in three of those seasons. Despite
the slow start, the team improved in the early 1980s and became a
legitimate power in the AL East Division.
Manager Bobby Cox guided the Blue Jays to their first winning season
in 1983. Two years later the Blue Jays’ pitching staff posted an
earned run average (ERA) of 3.31, the lowest team ERA in the AL. The
team won its first East Division crown that year, and Cox was named
AL manager of the year. Despite a three-game lead in the AL
Championship Series, Toronto finished the postseason with four
straight losses to the Kansas City Royals.
Barfield topped the AL with 40 home runs in 1986. Bell was named AL
most valuable player (MVP) in 1987 after driving in an AL-best 134
runs, and Key posted the AL’s lowest ERA at 2.76, while relief
pitcher Tom Henke led the league with 34 saves. Gaston, who replaced
Cox as manager in 1989, guided the club to a division title that
year.
Three consecutive division titles followed from 1991 through 1993,
and two World Series championships, in 1992 and 1993. Three
veterans—outfielder Carter, starting pitcher Morris, and designated
hitter Dave Winfield—were important to the 1992 championship drive.
Solid hitting from first baseman Olerud, designated hitter Molitor,
and second baseman Alomar brought the Jays the 1993 AL pennant, and
Carter’s three-run home run in the ninth inning of game six clinched
the World Series title for Toronto. In 1995 the Blue Jays’ team
disbanded as free-agent players took more lucrative contracts with
other clubs. The club then sank to the bottom half of AL East
Division.CHAMPIONSHIPS
1992 - d. Atlanta in
6 games
1993 - d. Philadelphia in 6 games
Won the AL Pennant in 1992 and 1993
TOP MANAGER
Cito Gaston managed the Blue Jays from 1989-97 and
finished with a 702-650 record with two World Series titles. Bobby
Cox was named AL Manager of the Year in 1985.
MVPS
George Bell (1987)
CY YOUNG
Pat Hentgen (1996), Roger Clemens (1997, 1998)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Aldredo Griffin (1979)
RETIRED NUMBERS
No retired numbers |
