A Toronto Blue Jays come the Major League Baseball team based within Toronto, Ontario, notable for being a number 1 team from either outside a United States to win the World Series. It is in the Eastern Division of the American League.

It is a merely odd American-depending team in a Major Leagues fallowing the Montreal Expos relocated to Washington, D.C. to become the Washington Nationals after the 2004 season.

Franchise History
Blue Jays original logo (1977–1996). Growing Pains (1977-1984)
A Toronto Blue Jays inherit being around 1976 after a vote per American League owners. A franchise was originally owned by Labatt Breweries, Imperial Trust and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. A Blue Jays played their number 1 game ever in April 7, 1977 against the Chicago White Sox. It won 9-Five, led by Doug Ault's two at home diarrhea. Snowflakes were seen when you took a game.

A Blue Jays fared badly within each 1978 and 1979, losing over C games around both of victims seasons. 1979 was highlighted by shortstop Alfredo Griffin being named co-Rookie of the Year in the American League. 1980 saw Bobby Mattick take over a role of manager from either Roy Hartsfield, the Blue Jays' original manager. 1981 was a strike year, & the Blue Jays improved their winning percentage however however finished inside endure place around the Our contries League East in two halves of the year.

Toronto's 1st firm year come around 1982 as they finished 78-84. Their pitching staff was led by starters Dave Stieb, Jim Clancy and Luis Leal, and the outfield featured a immature Lloyd Moseby and Jesse Barfield. Within 1983, a Blue Jays compiled their number one winning record, 8Ennead-73, finishing within quaternary place, 9 games behind a eventual Globe Series winners, the Baltimore Orioles. A Blue Jays' progression continued inside 1984, finishing with a equivalent 89-73 record, however this instance within 2nd place behind a second Globe Series champion, a Detroit Tigers.

Getting Competitive (1985-1991)
1985 was Toronto's first championship of any sort. the Blue Jays featured heavy pitching & a balanced offense. Their mid-year acquisition of fireman Tom Henke also proved to be crucial. It finished 99-62, deuce games before of the New York Yankees. A Blue Jays faced a Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series (ALCS), & took the Troika games to I lead. But, Kansas City win Three sequentially games to win a series Four-3, on their way to their number 1 (so far lone) Globe Series championship.

A Blue Jays may not duplicate their profits within 1986, despite an excellent year from either best fielder Jesse Barfield, world health organization hit Xl residence diarrhea. 1987 saw the Blue Jays lose the thrilling section race to the Detroit Tigers by 2 games, fallowing existence swept in the final series per Tigers. the Blue Jays finished by owning a 96-66 record, 2nd right in the major leagues, however to there is no service. George Bell was named MVP of the American League. Within 1988, Toronto again finished Two games behind, this instance trailing a Boston Red Sox. A year was highlighted by Fred McGriff's 34 home diarrhea. Dave Stieb got consecutive-to-back starts where he wasted the there are no-no-hit game using Deuce call at the Ninth frame; of these was the likely perfect game.

1989, which saw the opening of the Jays' recently retractable-roofed residence, SkyDome, also marked a begin of an extremely successful 5-season time period for Toronto. Early inside the year, in Can, management fired Jimy Williams and replaced him with hitting teacher Cito Gaston. a club got a 1Two-2 dozen record at the period of the firing, however recorded a 77-49 record under their newly manager to win the Western League East by 2 games. In the ALCS, Rickey Henderson led the Oakland Athletics to a Four-One series win. Around 1990, a Blue Jays once agaaround experienced the hard year, however when in 1988, terminated higher Two games behind the Boston Red Sox. Dave Stieb pitched his number one & single there are no-no-hit game, beating a Cleveland Indians 3-0. In a period of a offseason, the Blue Jays manufactured one of them large trade franchise history, sending shortstop Tony Fernandez and first baseman Fred McGriff to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Joe Carter and second baseman Roberto Alomar. This would prove to become an first-class trade, when a Blue Jays once more won a section inside 1991. Over again, all the same, it cruel short in the postseason, losing to the Minnesota Twins in the ALCS, who get on their way to their 2nd World Series victory in 5 years. Toronto became a 1st club ever to draw across 4,000,000 fans within of these year.

Joe Carter celebrating his famous home run which won the 1993 World Series.

The Glory Days (1992-1993)
When a 1991 year experienced ended, a Blue Jays acquired pitcher Jack Morris, who experienced led a Twins to triumph within the Globe Series by pitching a 10-inning complete game skunk in Game 7 & experienced been known as the Series MVP. A 1992 regular season went swell, when a Jays finished foursome games before of the Milwaukee Brewers, with the record of 96-66. It met a Oakland Athletics in the ALCS, winning 4 games to Two. A polar game of the series was Game Four. the Blue Jays rallied back from either a 6-One deficit, scoring iv diarrhea off reliever Dennis Eckersley on their way to an 1One-inning, 7-6 win, to lead the series Threesome games to 1. A Blue Jays so faced a Atlanta Braves in the World Series. A polar game in that series turned intent on become Game Two, where reserve streaming video player Ed Sprague hit a 9th-inning Two-do front yard start off Jeff Reardon to give the Blue Jays the Five-Four lead, which would survive. Game 6, by having the Blue Jays leading Trine games to Deuce, was a super close game. Toronto was of these strike out of wframe in the bottom of the Ninth inning, Two-One, however Jeff Blauser singled in the tying redo off Blue Jays' nigher Tom Henke. A game was decided in the Eleventh frame, while Dave Winfield doubled, driving around Two diarrhea. A Braves would over again are in of these do in the bottom of the Eleventh, however Jays reliever Mike Timlin fielded Otis Nixon's bunt, throwing to Joe Carter at first for the final retired. A Blue Jays became a number one team outside of the United States to win the World Series. Oddly, Morris was acquired around prominent a portion for his reputation as a clutch postseason pitcher, however he went 0-Three in the playoffs. But, Morris pitched swell in a regular year, becoming the Blue Jays' number 1 20-game winner, sustaining the record of 21-6 & an ERA of Tetrad.04.

Fallowing a 1992 season, the Blue Jays let Dave Winfield and Tom Henke go, but acquired Paul Molitor from the Brewers & Dave Stewart from the Athletics. A Blue Jays experienced 7 100%-Stars: hitters Devon White, Roberto Alomar, Paul Molitor, Joe Carter and John Olerud, starter Pat Hentgen, and nigher Duane Ward. Within August, a Jays acquired previous nemesis Rickey Henderson from the Athletics. the Blue Jays cruised to a 95-67 record, sevener games ahead of the New York Yankees, winning their third straight division title. A Jays beat a Chicago White Sox 4 games to 2 in a ALCS, and so the Philadelphia Phillies, 4 games to Deuce, for their 2nd straight World Series victory. the World Series featured many exciting games, including Game Four, where the Blue Jays come back from either a 14-9 deficit to win 15-14 & take a Three-One lead in the series. Game 6 saw a Blue Jays lead Five-One, however give higher Five diarrhea in the Seventh frame to trail 6-Five. inside a bottom of the Ninth frame, in SkyDome, Joe Carter hit the of these-out, 3-redo walkoff house begin to clinch the series, off Phillies nearer Mitch Williams. In the regular year, tercet Blue Jays, Olerud, Molitor & Alomar finished One-Two-Three for the AL batting crown.

Post-World Series Letdowns (1994-2001)
Expectations were high for the Blue Jays for the 1994 season, following consecutive-to-back championships, however it slouching to a 55-60 record prior to the players' strike. It was their number one losing year since 1982. Carter, Molitor & Olerud enjoyed adept years at a shell, however a pitching fell off. Juan Guzmán slumped considerably from either his number one Trey years (40-11, 3.Xxviii ERthe), finishing 1994 at 12-11 by having a Cinque.68 ERA. 1995 wwhen an potentially worse year for the Blue Jays, as it finished 56-88 in another strike-shortened year. 3 immature players, Alex S. Gonzalez, Carlos Delgado and Shawn Green, did show a lot of promise for the future. 1996 was another mediocre month for the Blue Jays, highlighted by Pat Hentgen's Cy Young Award (20-10. Trey.Twenty-two ERA). Ed Sprague had a career month, hitting 36 personal diarrhea & camping within 101 diarrhea.

Blue Jays logo (1997–2002).

A Blue Jays began 1997 with high hopes, as it signed previous Boston Red Sox ace Roger Clemens to a $24,750,000 contract. Clemens experienced one of a better pitching seasons of a Nineties when he won the pitcher's Triple Crown, leading the Our contries League by owning Xxi wins (against Septenary losses), the Two.05 ERA & 292 strikeouts. This wwhen non plenty to lead a Blue Jays to a postseason, nevertheless, as it ended the season 76-86. Cito Gaston, a manager, was fired at a prevent of the month. Prior to a run of the 1998 season, the Blue Jays acquired nigher Randy Myers and slugger José Canseco. Gaston was replaced by having Tim Johnson, the proportional unknown. A pitching was heavy, once more led by Clemens (20-6, Ii.65 ERA, 271 strikeouts), however a striking was mediocre, & a Blue Jays finished 88-74, around third place, Twenty-six games behind a New York Yankees, who posted one of a greatest records around baseball history.

Prior to a 1999 season, the Blue Jays traded Roger Clemens to the Yankees for starting pitcher David Wells, second baseman Homer Bush and relief pitcher Graeme Lloyd. It as well fired Tim Johnson, when Johnson lie around many items (including sidesplitting humans in the Vietnam war, to motivate Pat Hentgen). Johnson was replaced by owning Jim Fregosi, who managed a Phillies whilst it misused to the Blue Jays in the 1993 Globe Series. A offense picked higher somewhat around 1999, however a pitching suffered while forgoing Clemens, when a Blue Jays finished 84-78. 2000 proved to be a similar year, when a Jays got an 83-79 record, swell away from the uncivilized card race. Carlos Delgado got the starring season, striking .344 sustaining 41 residence diarrhea, 57 doubles, 137 Run batted in, 123 walks & 115 diarrhea. Additionally, vi more players hit Xxx homeruns, an spectacular exploit. Jose Cruz, jr., Shawn Green, Tony Batista, Darrin Fletcher, Shannon Stewart, & Brad Fullmer 100% contributed to the mighty heart of the lineup.

In September 1 2000, Rogers Communications Inc. purchased 80% of a ball club by using the Labatt Brewing Company Ltd. maintaining 20% interest & a Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce relinquishing its 10% share.

Buck Martinez, a previous catcher & broadcast announcer for a Blue Jays, took all over when manager prior to the 2001 season. A Blue Jays were back under .Five hundred for 2001, finishing at 80-82, by owning mediocre pitching & hit. Delgado led a team over again using 39 personal diarrhea & 102 Run batted in. When a 2001 year ended, a Blue Jays let last of general manager Gord Ash, who got taken all over from either Pat Gillick following the 1994 year.

The Sabermetric Regime (2002-current)
J.P. Ricciardi was named general manager and was expected to make the lineup younger and faster, to take advantage of the artificial turf at SkyDome. Ricciardi, the previous help to Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane, is known as one of a further sabermetrically aware Gram in the game. In a period of a off-year, the team traded or even let last many regular players, including Alex S. Gonzalez, Paul Quantrill and closer Billy Koch.

2002: Year of Transition
A Blue Jays began a 2002 season with slow progress within performance. Buck Martinez was fired all about the third of the way through the year, sustaining the 20-33 record. He was replaced by third base coach Carlos Tosca. It went 58-51 under Tosca to finish a year 78-84. Roy Halladay was the team's top pitcher, finishing the year by having the 19-7 record & a Deuce.93 ERA. A hitters were led again by Carlos Delgado. Ricciardi was credited for dumping Raul Mondesi in mid-season to the New York Yankees to free higher his earnings, which successively was utilized for the off-year sign language of Mike Bordick, Frank Catalanotto and Tanyon Sturtze. Promising immature players were assigned to key roles, including starting third baseman Eric Hinske and 23-year old center fielder Vernon Wells who had his number 1 100 Run batted in year.

2003: A Spectacular Preview of the Future
A 2003 season was a surprise to each team management & sport analysts. Fallowing a unfortunate April, the team got its virtually all successful year ever around Might. A stunning turnaround was achieved in the main by hitting. Delgado took all over a major league lead within rbi, followed closely by Wells. the middle diamond positions remains a gametime guide - Bordick plays short & third, Dave Berg second and third, Chris Woodward short and Orlando Hudson second, with there is no promising prospect or even proved players to begin regularly. Minor league call-up Howie Clark entered the mix at third fallowing Hinske underwent surgery in his correct h&, which experienced been broken and went unnoticed for many months.

Blue Jays logo (2003).

Despite their striking successes, unfortunate pitching continued to plague a team. Just deuce of the starting pitchers on opening day - Halladay and Cory Lidle - pitched well, despite a offseason signing of veteran starter Tanyon Sturtze (assignied to the bullpen within Can), Doug Creek and Jeff Tam. Kelvim Escobar and former NBA player Mark Hendrickson were inserted into the rotation with their places in the bullpen filled by waivers Doug Davis and Josh Towers. Trade speculation got focussed on a acquisitions of pitching at a expense of hitters, however in the prevent the team only divested itself of impendent loose professional Shannon Stewart without getting the pitcher reciprocally. Instead Bobby Kielty, another outfielder using the lot moo batting norm than Stewart's, was found from either a Minnesota Twins and later trade November 2003 to the Oakland Athletics for starter Ted Lilly. A top tetrad pitchers of the rotation then included Halladay, Lilly, Miguel Batista from free agency signing, and Pat Hentgen.

Fallowing a outstanding turnaround around Could 2003, which helped a team trail upright couple games behind a wildcard resident Boston Red Sox, team performance slowly retained normalcy when foretold by team management. Roy Halladay won a 2003 American League Cy Young Award and Carlos Delgado was second within voting for the American League MVP although the Jays were withinside third place in divisional standing. the Jays likewise announced that a newly logo and new uniforms would be utilized when of January 1, 2004.

2004: Annus Horribilis
a 2004 month was a unsatisfying year for the Blue Jays perfect from either the beginning. It began a year 0-8 at Skydome and never started the drawn-out winning streak. Very much of that is due to the injuries of Tons-Stars Carlos Delgado, Vernon Wells and Roy Halladay among others. Although a additions of starting pitchers Ted Lilly and Miguel Batista and reliever Justin Speier were relatively successful, seasoned Pat Hentgen faltered throughout the year & retired on July 24. Rookies and minor league callups David Bush, Jason Frasor, Josh Towers & others filled a void in the rotation and the bullpen; however, inconsistent performances were evident. Virtually all starting pitchers don't pitch farther than a sixth inning; the so overused bullpen contributed to frequent relinquishing of early scoring leads.

Current Blue Jays logo (2004–present).

A offense was there is no better due to the injuries of Wells, Delgado, Catalanotto & others. 5 different catchers were utilized: Greg Myers, Bobby Estalella, Kevin Cash, Gregg Zaun, and cub Guillermo Quiroz. Myers was wounded inside the collision at home plate early in a year & was retired for the year; Estalella was known as higher, however quickly became hurt too; & Zaun landed the regular getting responsiblility for the rest of the season. Cash continued to struggle from either an offensive st& and would become moved in the offseason. A extremely-tauted Quiroz was promoted from either a youngster touching a prevent of the year.

A when extremely-regarded slugger Josh Phelps was limited to playing against lefthanded pitching & was traded to the Cleveland Indians for first baseman Eric Crozier.

By owning the team struggling withwithin go place & mired in a 5-game losing streak, manager Carlos Tosca was fired in August 8, 2004 and was replaced by first-base coach John Gibbons through the end of the year. A Jays' trying season besides affected long-instance radio announcer Tom Cheek, who got to break his streak of calling 100% 4,306 regular year games since a franchise began swimming 1977 in bereavement of his father. Cheek experienced to require additional period off late to dislodge the brain tumor, by a prevent of the year, Cheek merely known as the at home games.

Nonetheless, prospects Russ Adams, Gabe Gross, and Alexis Rios provided excitement for the fans. Adams hit his number 1 major league homerun in his second game, where Gross likewise earned his have 1st major league grand slam. Alexis Rios has been regarded among a MLB Rookie of the Year Award candidates; however, his risk of winning a award can develop been limited by swimming period & a performance of Bobby Crosby of the Oakland Athletics. Greenhorn pitchers David Bush, Gustavo Chacin and Jason Frasor have also shown promise for the club's new.

In October 2, 2004, a Toronto Blue Jays announced the dismissals of pitching coach Gil Patterson and first-base coach Joe Breeden, effective at a prevent of the year. Of these day late, a Blue Jays finished a 2004 campaign by owning a Three-Two loss against the New York Yankees in front of an announced crowd of 49,948. Yet, a Jays' annus horribilis continued after a game, whilst it was announced that previous pitcher & todays TV broadcaster John Cerutti died suddenly of natural causes at a age of 44.

Additional losses to the Jays personal come in the offseason, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame member Bobby Mattick, a manager from either 1980 to 1981 & maybe the better baseball human in the organisation, suffered a stroke & passed away at the age of 89. Mattick got when well served as a Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Jays. Two or three years when Christmas, a Jays likewise mourned the loss of previous first baseman Doug Ault, who hit ii home runs in the team's inaugural game; he was 54.

Rogers Communications, the creator of the Jays, purchased SkyDome from either Sportco International inside November 2004 for or so $25 million Cdn (US$21.24 million), merely the fraction of the construction prices.

Upright times fallowing sensation Carlos Delgado became a free professional when the club refused arbitration, a Jays announced the sign language of Manitoban third baseman Corey Koskie, formerly of the Minnesota Twins.

1 year fallowing Koskie was inked, a Jays traded pitching prospect Adam Peterson to the Arizona Diamondbacks for corner-baseman Shea Hillenbrand.

2005
In February Two, 2005, many times fallowing finalising a acquire of SkyDome, Rogers Communications renamed a bowl a Rogers Centre, much to the mortification of the general public. Per begin of the year Rogers got upgraded the arena by having a recently "Jumbotron" videoboard & added more state-of-the-art video screens around a sports stadium. Virtually all importantly, a old AstroTurf surface was replaced by the extra natural-shopping FieldTurf. Owner Ted Rogers also promised a payroll increase to $210 million over the next 3 years, which will allow them to have a team payroll of $80 million per year.

A Blue Jays finished spring training with a 16-10 record. a Jays were entity to translate their profits within spring how to videos into a fantabulous run -- a team led the AL East from either early to mid-April & held their record around .D until late August. A Jays were hit by using a injury bug whilst third-baseman Corey Koskie broke his finger, taking him away from a lineup, but a club was happily surprised by using a performance of cub callup Aaron Hill.

Before a 100%-Star Break, a Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay struck on the shin by a line cause & was laid on the Decilitre. A injury misplaced Halladay's risk to become a starter within the 100%-Star game in Detroit. Though Halladay's injury was hoped to become minor, a recovery run was met by having constant delays & Halladay would non play one game around 2005 fallowing a Everthing-Star break.

In July 28, Toronto played in the longest game in franchise history, an 18-inning marathon against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Rogers Centre. A Jays won Two-One, when about 5 hours of play.

Fallowing Jays management decided to shut Halladay down for a rest of the year around August, it seemed to affect the performance of the Jays. It went in the slump that brought their record under .Five hundred in the beginning of September.

from either either there, a Blue Jays finished a year 80-82 when getting glimpses of the first from September call for-ups Guillermo Quiroz, John-Ford Griffin, and Shaun Marcum. Marcum manufactured himself noteworthy by posting an ERA of Zero.00 ended Quintuplet relief starts & Octonary frame inside September. Griffon hit his foremost career personal start in the endure game of the year & fetch up running Quaternity for Baker's dozen.

Josh Towers stepped up showing largely unseen expected running 7-Five using the Two.91 ERthe in the Second half of the month & a 1Ternary-12, 3.71 ERA year over100%, making him arguably a improbable ace of a Jays rotation using Halladay hurt & Chacin faltering a few fallowing the all-star break.

In October 9 a Jays, along with their fans, mourned the loss of initiative broadcaster Tom Cheek, 66, to brain cancer.

Okay, a Blue Jays face one of their virtually all critical loose professional periods inside occasionally instance. By having deuce immature talent & $160 million above a next two years to spend, GM J.P. Ricciardi has more flexibility then he's ever had before to sign free agents and trade for veterans.

Baseball Hall of Famers
Paul Molitor Phil Niekro Dave Winfield

Current roster

Blue Jays Level of Excellence
(instead of retiring counts, the Blue Jays honour their players & personnel of the organisation by having the spot on the Level of Excellence, a series of banners featuring streaming video player list that may be seen in the 500-level outfield decks of the Rogers Centre) 11 George Bell American League MVP, 1987 29 Joe Carter Helped Jays win Two Globe Series 1 Tony Fernandez Team's career hits leader 43 Cito Gaston Manager, 1989-1997 37 Dave Stieb Team's career wins leader Pat Gillick General Manager, 1983-1994 Tom Cheek Radio Announcer, since 1977

List of Toronto Blue Jays players