Toronto Blue Jays History

Toronto Blue Jays Baseball History

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