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Home , 1992 World Series, 1993 World Series, Carlos Delgado, Cito Gaston, Dave Stieb, Emilio Bonifacio

BLUE JAYS

by Joanne C. Gerstner

An Imprint of Abdo Publishing www.abdopublishing.com www.abdopublishing.com

Published by Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO, PO Box 398166, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55439. Copyright © 2015 by Abdo Consulting Group, Inc. International copyrights reserved in all countries. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. SportsZone™ is a trademark and logo of Abdo Publishing.

Printed in the United States of America, North Mankato, Minnesota 052014 092014

Editor: Chrös McDougall Copy Editor: Nicholas Cafarelli Interior Design and Production: Kazuko Collins Cover Design: Kazuko Collins

Photo Credits: Chris Bernacchi/AP Images, cover; Hans Deryk/AP Images, title; Ed Reinke/AP Images, 4, 29, 33, 43 (top and middle); Rusty Kennedy/AP Images, 7; Mark Duncan/AP Images, 9, 37; Gray Mortimore/Getty Images, 10; Diamond Images/Getty Images, 12, 42 (top); Mitchell Layton/Getty Images, 15; John Swart/AP Images, 16, 24; Eric Risberg/AP Images, 19, 42 (bottom); Lou Requena/AP Images, 20; Scott Macdonald/AP Images, 23, 42 (middle), 47; Doug Mills/AP Images, 27; Ron Frehm/AP Images, 31; John Dunn/AP Images, 34; Tom Uhlman/AP Images, 39; JP Moczulski, The Canadian Press/ AP Images, 41; Chris O’Meara/AP Images, 43 (bottom); Winslow Townson/AP Images, 44

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014933086 Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gerstner, Joanne, 1971- / by Joanne Gerstner. p. cm. — (Inside MLB) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-62403-488-6 1. Toronto Blue Jays ( team)—Juvenile literature. I. Title. GV875.T67G47 2015 796.357’6409713—dc23 2014933086 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 ...... Living a Dream, 4 Chapter 2 ...... Baseball Comes to Toronto, 10 Chapter 3 ...... Learning to Win, 16 Chapter 4 ...... Success at Last, 24 Chapter 5 ...... Rebuilding to Get Back, 34 Timeline, 42 Quick Stats, 44 Quotes and Anecdotes, 45 Glossary, 46 For More Information, 47 Index, 48 About the Author, 48 CHAPTER 1 LIVING A DREAM S omething this special usually only happens in baseball movies or dreams. Or maybe this was something Toronto Blue Jays slugger imagined when he was a kid playing baseball with his friends. Everybody wants to be the hero of the . Carter made the dream happen in 1993.

The 1993 Blue Jays were the Blue Jays—and the sport of in the midst of a tremendous baseball—were becoming just . One year earlier they had as popular. beaten the Braves The Blue Jays came back to become the first Canadian even stronger in 1993. During team to win the World Series. the off-season, they added vet- The people of Toronto have long eran and loved their professional hockey future Hall of Famers desig- team, the Maple Leafs. But nated hitter and after the , .

The Blue JaysJays broughtbrought in veteran designateddesignated hitter Paul Molitor forfor the 1993 season. He became the 19931993 World Series Most Valuable Player.Player.

LIVING A DREAM 5 Seven Blue Jays players were lead. All they had to do was win selected to the 1993 All-Star Game 6 and they would defend Game. Those players ultimately their title. Things looked good led Toronto to a 95–67 season for the Jays until the seventh and another . The Blue Jays had a (AL) East Division title. 5–1 lead going into the inning. The fall in Canada is usu- They came out of it losing 6–5. ally spent gearing up for the The Phillies held onto that upcoming hockey season. But lead going into the bottom of the baseball fever Toronto as ninth. If the Blue Jays wanted the Blue Jays went back to to come back, they would have the postseason. After beating to beat the Phillies’ best relief the 4–2 in pitcher, . The the AL Championship Series man nicknamed “Wild Thing” (ALCS), the Blue Jays returned had a wild delivery and a near- to the World Series. The oppos- 100-mile-per-hour . The ing Phillies had fans at SkyDome in Toronto finished last in the National worried that their team might League (NL) East in 1992. But have to wait until Game 7 to they surged to the top in 1993 win their second World Series. and then defeated the Braves to Then Henderson led off the reach the Series. inning with a walk. After Devon After five World Series White flied out, Molitor singled games, the Blue Jays had a 3–2 to center. Now it was Carter’s

Joe Carter watches as his hit sails over the outfield fence for the game- winning in the .

6 TORONTO BLUE JAYS LIVING A DREAM 7 turn to bat. With two men on in honestly thinking that.” The the bottom of the ninth, Carter Blue Jays crowd screamed. had a chance to make the World They had just won back-to-back Series-winning hit. World Series. Carter worked the to When Carter reached home two balls and two strikes. Then plate, his Blue Jays teammates Williams threw a low fastball. lifted him up in a wild celebra- The All-Star outfielder ripped tion. Then they carried him off a three-run homer to left field. the field on their shoulders. He jumped and skipped as he Williams walked slowly back to ran around the bases. “I wish the Phillies and joined I had learned how to do cart- his shocked teammates in sit- wheels,” Carter said. “I was ting on their bench. It was only the second Joe Carter time in baseball history that JJoeoe Carter played forfor the Blue JaysJays the World Series was won on a ffromrom 1991 to 1997. The outfielderoutfielder was a five-time All-Star who was bottom-of-the-ninth home run. bbestest known forfor his hitting. He hadhad The Blue Jays had repeated as 1,051 hits, 203 home runs, and 736 World Series champions, and rrunsuns batted in during his years with tthehe Blue Jays. But his most famofamous Carter was the hero. It wasn’t hit was the game-winning home a dream or a movie. This was a run toto winwin thethe 19931993 WorldWorld Series.Series. Many people consider that one ooff very real moment, and it helped thethe most exciting endings to a WorldWorld make baseball as big as hockey Series.Series. in Toronto.

Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter celebrates as he rounds third base after his home run sealed the team’s second straight World Series title in 1993.

8 TORONTO BLUE JAYS LIVING A DREAM 9 CHAPTER 2 BASEBALL COMES TO TORONTO M ajor League Baseball (MLB) was growing in the mid-1970s, and the AL was looking for cities to place a new team. The idea of having an MLB team was also brewing in Toronto, a large city on the shores of Lake in Canada.

There was already one A Mascot MLB team in Canada. The Expos began play in nearby TheThe Blue JaJays'ys' first mascotmascot,, "B. J. BirdieBirdie,"" debuted in 1979. B. J. mademade in 1969. So why not historyhistory in 1993 when he becambecamee add another team in Canada? tthehe firstfirst mascot to be ejectedejected fromfrom a ggame. Umppire Jim McKean feltfelt B. J. The AL agreed. The league mmadeade funfun ofof the umpiresumpires too much. voted to add Toronto to its East The Blue Jays ended B. J.'s' careerr inin 1999,1999, when the team introducedintroduced Division in March 1976. "A"Ace" and "Diamo nd"nd" as t hehe neww The new Toronto team mascots.mascots. They,They, too,too, were largelarge would debut during the 1977 blueblue jayys.s. season. It had a ballpark, called

Blue JaysJays mascot B. J. Birdie entertains the crowd duringduring a 1980 ggameame at ExhibitionExhibition SStadiumtadium iinn Toronto.Toronto.

BASEBALL COMES TO TORONTO 11 Blue Jays Steve Staggs fouls off a ball against the Red Sox during the 1977 season.

Exhibition Stadium, ready to in Toronto go. But the team still needed finally arrived on April 7, 1977. a name. So, a contest was held But there was one huge, white to determine one. More than problem. A spring snowstorm, 33,000 entries were submitted, combined with chilly winds off and Blue Jays was announced nearby Lake Ontario, turned as the winner. The new team into a giant would be named after the mess. small blue, black, and white- Snow continued to fall as feathered bird common to the the teams warmed up. The pow- Toronto region. der covered the entire playing

12 TORONTO BLUE JAYS field in a white blanket. The EXHIBITION umpires and managers looked STADIUM at the field, trying to figure Exhibition Stadium was built in out if they could play baseball 1948 as part of the in the snow. The grounds crew fairgrounds on Lake Ontario. The tried to determine if there was stadium hosted festivals, concerts, anything they could do to clear soccer games, and the Toronto the field before the game. They Argonauts of the finally found the solution: The League, along with the Blue Jays. grounds crew collected the Musicians such as , , and snow off the field with vacu- the Rolling Stones played concerts at ums. The umpires felt the field Exhibition Stadium. looked safe for baseball and The stadium was originally the game was played. aligned for football. The Blue Jays Despite the snowy and created a by putting chilly weather, 44,000 fans home plate in the corner of the came out to see the first game football field. They placed a wall in Toronto. The Blue Jays across the football field to mark the outfield. In 1989, the Blue Jays moved played well and defeated the out of Exhibition Stadium and into Chicago White Sox, 9–5. the nearby SkyDome in downtown Unfortunately, the hap- Toronto. Exhibition Stadium was piness of Opening Day did not demolished in 1999. A new stadium, last long. The Blue Jays were a called BMO Field, was built on the site young team and did not win a in 2007 for the Toronto FC profes- lot. They finished 54–107, good sional soccer team. for last place in the AL East. There were a few highlights,

BASEBALL COMES TO TORONTO 13 though. On September 10, third baseman Roy Howell drove in The Blue JaysJays foundfound a youngyoung star toto nine runs as the Blue Jays beat pplaylay shortstoshortstop—Alfredop—Alfredo GriGriffin.ffin. HeHe the 19–3 in plplayyedd in 1,0021,000022 ggames forfor theh teamteam . The Yankees fromfrom 1979 to 1984. GriGriffinffin had quickquick hands and a stronstrongg arm,arm, and he hithit went on to win the World Series well. He was the 1979 AL Rookie of that year. Toronto also set a the Year, becoming the first Blue JayJay to win the award. He was also a first-season attendance record member ofof the 1992 and 1993 World when 1,701,052 fans came to Series championship teams. Griff- ffinin retired in 1993 and went on toto see the Blue Jays play at Exhi- become a for the team. bition Stadium. It is not uncommon for but Ainge struggled at the expansion teams to struggle plate. He quit baseball in 1981 during their early years. Most after three years with the Blue new teams are made up largely Jays and went on to star in the of young players and players NBA with the Boston Celtics. that other teams rejected. So The Blue Jays had a losing it often takes many years for a record and finished last in the new team to contend. Toronto AL East during each of their was no exception. first six seasons. But the young One of the young players team was learning, and the win- Toronto tried to develop was a ning seasons would soon come. second baseman named Danny Ainge. He was a good fielder,

Shortstop Alfredo Griffin, shown in 1993, played eight seasons with the Blue Jays and was the 1979 Rookie of the Year.

14 TORONTO BLUE JAYS BASEBALL COMES TO TORONTO 15 CHAPTER 3 LEARNING TO WIN T he Blue Jays had lost more than 400 games during their first five years in existence. For Toronto to have a winning team, something had to be done. So the team hired to be its for the 1982 season. He had managed the for four largely forgetta- ble seasons. But he was about to make a big impact in Toronto.

The Blue Jays started win- many losing seasons, the Blue ning games under Cox. Young Jays were rapidly improving. players began playing well, The 1983 Blue Jays fin- too. Pitcher and ished 89–73. It was the team’s and first winning record. Although became the cor- the team still finished fourth in nerstones the team could build the AL East, things were look- around for the future. After so ing up in Toronto.

Blue JaysJays managermanager BobbyBobby Cox arguesargues with an uumpirempire duriduringng a 1983 gagameme beforebefore beibeingng ejected ffromrom the game.game.

LEARNING TO WIN 17 TONY FERNANDEZ The Blue Jays were even stronger in 1984. They again After two seasons in which had an 89–73 record. This he only played part-time, Tony Fernandez took over as the Blue time, they finished second to Jays' starting in 1985. the in the divi- He quickly became a fan favorite in sion. Although the Blue Jays Toronto. Fernandez had an unusual had a good season, the Tigers batting stance, wiggling in the bat- had a great season. The Tigers ter's box as if he was really nervous. ran away with the division But that did not stop him from title by finishing 104–58. Then hitting. He had a career .297 batting they went on to win the World average with 291 doubles and 72 Series. But the 1984 season triples during his 12 seasons with showed that the Blue Jays the Blue Jays. He still holds the team were now contenders in the records for most games played AL. Many believed they had a (1,450), most hits (1,583), and most chance to reach the playoffs in triples (72). Fernandez was also a 1985. And that is exactly what defensive wizard, winning four Gold they did. Glove Awards during his 17 seasons. Blue Jays shortstop Tony Fernandez played in Toronto Fernandez began to establish on four different occasions. Every himself as a star player in time he left he eventually found his 1985. He was one of many Blue way back to Toronto—including a stint at the end of the 1993 World Jays players to have a strong Series-winning season. The five-time season. Stieb won 14 games All-Star finally retired after playing with a career-best 2.48 earned 48 games with the Blue Jays in 2001. run average (ERA). Reliever contributed by

18 TORONTO BLUE JAYS Blue Jays shortstop Tony Fernandez leaps to avoid a sliding Oakland A’s runner during the 1989 playoffs. Fernandez played 12 years in Toronto. saving important games. Those Blue Jays. They jumped out to players helped the team finish a 3–1 series lead on the Roy- 99–62 and win their first AL als. But the Royals roared back East title. and won three games in a row The 1985 Blue Jays played to advance to the World Series. the in the The Royals went on to win the ALCS. It was the team’s first . playoff series ever. The series It was a crushing collapse got off to a good start for the for the Blue Jays. Cox stepped

LEARNING TO WIN 19 20 TORONTO BLUE JAYS down to become the general Dave Stieb manager of the Braves after the It took a twist ooff fatefate to make DaveDave season. replaced StiebStieb one ofof the best pitcherspitchers in Bluee him as manager. Under Wil- JaJayys histoh ryy. Stiebb startedd in ththehe liams, the Blue Jays were back BlueBlue Jays'Jays' minor lealeaguegue systemsystem asas aann outfielder.outfielder. But coaches noticed in the hunt for the AL East title hehe had a very strong arm and asked in 1987. The Tigers and Blue hhimim ifif he was interested in tryinngg ppitching.itching. He was immediatelyimmediately googood Jays spent much of the season andand qu ickly moved up to the majors. trading first place. Outfielder StiebStieb was known as a powerpower pitcher,pitcher, throwing hard and strikk- and Stieb ining out manyy batters. He becamebecame and helped keep thethe firstfirst Blue JaysJays pitcherpitcher to throw Toronto in the chase. a no-hitterno-hhitter whenwhen hehe shutshhut downdown thehe ClCClevelandlevelandl d Indiansd in 1990.990 ThroughThrouh ghh The title came down to the 2013,2013, Stieb still led the team withwith final series of the season. The 175175 winswins,, 1,6581,658 ,strikeouts, and 103103 cocompplete games.ames. Blue Jays and Tigers faced off in a three-game series in Detroit. back in the playoffs. But they But the Blue Jays were falling lost all three games at Tiger apart. After a late seven-game Stadium. After their seven- winning streak, the Blue Jays game losing streak to end the lost four straight going into the season, the Blue Jays finished final series. Still, they came in a disappointing second place. It with a one-game lead. All they was another heartbreaking col- had to do was win two of the lapse, and fans were angry. three games and they would be

George Bell runs toward home plate after hitting his second home run against the New York Yankees in a 1987 game. (5) waits to congratulate him.

LEARNING TO WIN 21 Blue Jays pitcher John JJimmyyy Key Cerutti knew the fans would Pitcher JimmJimmyy KeyKey was never flasflashy. be upset. “I dread going home,” He was just veryvery dependable,dependable, Cerutti said after the last game becomibecomingg one the best leleft-handedft-handed of the season. “The first per- pitchers in Blue JaysJays history.history. KeyKey joined the team in 1985 after starr- son I see is going to ask, ‘What rriing at Clemson University. He wawass happened?’” ororigginallyy a relierelieff ppitcher,tcher, but soonsoon becamebecame a starter because ooff hishis Bell still won the AL’s Most streng th. He was one of the team'steam's Valuable Player (MVP) Award. ttopop pitcherstchers,, just behind Dave Stieb, tthroughhrough 1992. Together,Together, theythey wonwon He became the first Blue Jay 291 games forfor the Blue Jays. to receive the honor. But it was little consolation. So they decided to build a new The Blue Jays were back in stadium in downtown Toronto. contention for the division title The Blue Jays said good-bye in 1988. Behind to their first home midway Fred McGriff’s 34 home runs, through the 1989 season. They the Blue Jays finished 87–75. moved a few blocks away into But the AL East was a fierce a new domed stadium called competition. Five teams ended SkyDome. up within 3½ games of first The stadium was spe- place. The Blue Jays finished cial for Toronto and MLB. It fourth. had many modern features Big changes were coming for a sports stadium. The sta- to Toronto. The Blue Jays had dium complex housed a hotel, outgrown Exhibition Stadium. for example, and a Hard Rock It was no longer big or modern Cafe. But the most striking enough for the team’s needs.

22 TORONTO BLUE JAYS With a retractable roof and a restaurant inside the stadium, SkyDome was a revolutionary ballpark when it opened in 1989. feature of SkyDome was the fired Williams. Gaston led the world’s first retractable roof. Blue Jays back to the playoffs That meant the roof could be right away that first season. opened or closed in 20 minutes, After finishing 89–73, the Blue depending on the weather con- Jays met the ditions. The Blue Jays would in the ALCS. But the Blue Jays never have to worry about rain lost the series 4–1. Some ques- or snow delays again. tioned if the Blue Jays would The Blue Jays also got ever win a playoff series and a new manager in 1989. Cito reach the World Series. They Gaston replaced the recently would soon have their answer.

LEARNING TO WIN 23 CHAPTER 4 SUCCESS AT LAST T he Blue Jays had been so close to being one of the best teams in baseball. But there was always another tough team standing in the way—the Tigers, the Royals, or the Athletics. Fans won- dered what the Blue Jays could do to get over that hump and become the first Canadian team to reach the World Series. They finally found out in 1992.

The Blue Jays had con- baseman and sec- tended for the AL East title in ond baseman . 1990, but finished two games Before the 1992 season, the behind the . Blue Jays decided to add some The Blue Jays won the division top veterans. in 1991, but lost to the Min- Two of them were from nesota Twins in the ALCS. By St. Paul, Minnesota. Pitcher 1992, they had a strong core had helped lead of young players, such as first the Tigers and Twins to World

Jack Morris pitchespitches againstagainst the Atlanta Braves in the 1992 World Series. The Blue JaysJays signedsigned Morris beforebefore that seasonseason..

SUCCESS AT LAST 25 Series victories. No pitcher had Blue Jays finished 96–66 to won more games than Morris win their second straight AL during the 1980s. Outfielder East title. Only the A’s stood in had been named the way of a first World Series. to 12 All-Star Games and won But this time Toronto had the seven Gold Glove Awards with stronger team. the and New The Blue Jays led the York Yankees. He would go on series 2–1 going into Game 4. to enter the Hall of Fame. But after seven in Oak- Morris and Winfield land, the A’s had built a 6–1 brought leadership, as well lead. Then the Jays began to as a lot of playoff experience rally. They scored three runs in to the young team. The 1992 the eighth inning. Then Alomar hit a two-run homer in the ninth SkSkyDomomee to send the game into extra- TThehe Blue JaysJays moved into the SkySky- innings. The Blue Jays ended DomeDome in 1989. ButBut thethe baseballbaseball teamteam iiss not the onlyonly team that playsplays in thethe up winning 7–6 in 11 innings. stadium. The Toronto ArArgonauts,gonauts, After losing Game 5, the Blue a football team in the Canadian Foott- Jays won Game 6 in Toronto to bballall LeaLeague,gue, playsplays its gamesgames there,there, ttoo.oo. The 'sLeague's reach the World Series for the Buffaloff Bills have also played exhibi- first time. ttionion and reregulargular season gamesgames inin tthehe stadium. SkSkyDomeyDome changedchanged itsits Next up was the Atlanta name to the RoRogersgers Centre in 2005. Braves. They were managed by former Blue Jays manager

Dave Winfield hits a in the 11th inning of Game 6 of the 1992 World Series. It drove in two runs to give the Blue Jays the Series win.

26 TORONTO BLUE JAYS SUCCESS AT LAST 27 Bobby Cox. But Cox’s new team two runs to put the Blue Jays was no match for his old team. up 4–2. Behind Winfield’s clutch hit- The Braves tried to come ting, Tom Henke’s pitching, back in the bottom half of the and the strong play of inning. After scoring one run, , the Blue Jays won they had a runner on third with the World Series in six games. two outs. Braves outfielder Otis Winfield was the difference Nixon tried to bunt, hoping to in Game 6. The game was tied use his speed to get on base heading into the 11th inning and help the run score. But at Atlanta-Fulton County Sta- Blue Jays reliever Mike Tim- dium. Winfield came to bat lin cleanly fielded Nixon’s bunt with two outs and two runners and threw him out. on base. He then ripped a dou- The game was over. ble up the left-field line, scoring The Blue Jays won 4–3, and had the first World Series championship in team—and WWhhoooopsps! Canadian—history. An honorhonor guardguard ofof thethe US MarinesMarines mademade a bigbig mistakemistake duringduring thethe 19921992 Borders was named the World Series. It was Game 2, played MVP of the World Series. He at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. hit .450 with three doubles, a The Canadian flag was accidentallyy fflownlown upside down during its prepre- home run, and three runs bat- sentation forfor thethe nationalnational anthemsanthems ted in (RBIs). bbeforeefore tthehe game. TheThe redred maplemaple leafleaf oonn tthehe CanadianCanadian flagflag is supposedsupposed toto The Blue Jays were not con- hhaveave its stem pointing down,down, not up. tent with just one World Series. The Blue Jays won Game 2, 5–4, over thethe Braves.Braves. After the 1992 season, Winfield and Henke left the team as free

28 TORONTO BLUE JAYS The Blue Jays celebrate winning the 1992 World Series. MVP Pat Borders, wearing catcher’s equipment, piles on top of his teammates. agents. So the team added even MMVPVP more elite veteran players for the 1993 season. CatcherCatcher Pat Borders was knownknown asas an averageaverage playerplayer on the Bluee With the revamped lineup, Jays,Jays, never reallreallyy stickingsticking out forfor the Blue Jays cruised through anythinganything goodgood or bad. He saved his bestbest baseball forfor the 1992 WorldWorld the 1993 regular season. They SSeries,eries, where he was named thethe won the AL East title for the MVP.MVP. Borders also won an OlympicOlympic goldgold medal as partpart ofof Team USA inin third straight season with a thethe 2000 OlympicOlympic Games in Sydney,Sydney, record of 95–67. Then they beat Australia.Australia.

SUCCESS AT LAST 29 VETERAN STARS the Chicago White Sox 4–2 in the ALCS to return to the The Blue Jays used an interest- World Series. ing tactic to build their 1992 and 1993 World Series teams. They The Blue Jays faced the signed stars who were nearing the NL pennant-winning Phila- end of their long careers, hoping to delphia Phillies in the World use their experience and skill for the Series. All but one of the first playoffs. six games were decided by The team received good results three runs or less. The 1993 with future Hall of Famers Paul championship all came down to Molitor and Dave Winfield, who hit for Game 6. And that’s when Joe strong averages. Another future Hall Carter came to bat. of Famer, Rickey Henderson, became Blue Jays radio announcer the team's effective leadoff hitter. was broadcasting In fact, Molitor and Henderson were as Carter hit his magical home on base when Joe Carter hit the home run to win another champion- run to win the 1993 World Series. ship for the Blue Jays. Their aging pitchers were not “A swing and a belt! Left as successful. Fading star pitcher field—way back! Blue Jays Jack Morris was weak during the win it! The Blue Jays are 1992 playoffs, posting an 0–3 World Series champions as Joe record. Dave Stewart had more Carter hits a three-run home success. He was 2–0 with a 2.03 ERA in two starts during the 1993 ALCS. But he was 0–1 with a 6.75 ERA in two starts in the World Series. Blue Jays second baseman Roberto Alomar jumps to avoid the runner and watches as his throw completes a double-play in a 1993 game.

30 TORONTO BLUE JAYS SUCCESS AT LAST 31 run in the ninth inning and Hear the Call the Blue Jays have repeated BBluelue JaysJays broadcaster Tom CheekCheek as World Series Champions!” won a sspecialpecial placeplace in fans'fans' heartshearts Cheek said excitedly into the forfor his calls of the team'steam's action. microphone. “Touch ’em all Joe! Cheek worked forff the Blue Jays from thethe team'steam's first gamegame in 1977 until You’ll never hit a bigger home his death in 2005. He is best knownknown run in your life!” fforor his call ofof Joe Carter'sCarter's Series-Series- winninwinningg homer in Game 6 ofof thethe The Blue Jays had indeed 1993 World Series, conveconveyiying ththee repeated as World Series cham- excitementexcitement and emotion ofof the bigbig moment at SkSkyDome.yDome. pions. And they proved that a Canadian team could not only reach the World Series, but that they could win it twice in a row.

Joe Carter, right, and Ricky Henderson, left, carry the World Series trophy after the Blue Jays defeated the Phillies to win the 1993 World Series.

32 TORONTO BLUE JAYS SUCCESS AT LAST 33 CHAPTER 5 REBUILDING TO GET BACK T he Blue Jays and the city of Toronto were riding high after two straight World Series championships. The Blue Jays became only the sixth team in base- ball history to win back-to-back World Series titles. Unfortunately, the winning and excitement would soon fade. The Blue Jays would no longer be the best team in baseball.

The Blue Jays finished Things got worse in 1995. 55–60 during the strike- The Blue Jays finished last shortened 1994 season. When in the AL East with a 56–88 the season was cut short, the record. The 1996 season did not Blue Jays were not close to get much better. The team still contending for a playoff spot. finished with more losses than They finished 16 games behind wins. The Blue Jays tried to the New York Yankees in the change the losing atmosphere AL East. for the 1997 season. They

RogerRoger Clemens pitchespitches forfor his 200th career win in a 1997 ggameame agagainstainst the New York Yankees. The Blue JaysJays signedsigned the ace ppitcheritcher that season.season.

REBUILDING TO GET BACK 35 unveiled a new uniform design with Clemens pitching well, and signed All-Star pitcher it was not enough to put the . They hoped a Blue Jays back into the play- new look and Clemens would offs. They did have a winning bring more fans back to Sky- record at 88–74, however. That Dome and produce more wins. marked their best record since But it did not work. the 1993 World Series season. The Blue Jays again fin- Still, Johnson was fired during ished last in the AL East. in 1999. Jim Long-time manager Fregosi replaced him. was done. The team hired Tim There were a few bright Johnson to manage the team spots. Young outfielder Shawn in 1998. Then the Blue Jays Green had blossomed into one of again went shopping for expen- the best in the AL. He could hit sive, aging stars. They signed with power and was an excel- outfield slugger lent outfielder. But the Blue and pitcher . Even Jays’ management decided to trade Green after the 1999 sea- In the Hall son. He had told the team that Five players who played for the Blue he did not wish to re-sign for JJaysays are in the Baseball Hall ofof Fame. them after his contract expired. Rickey Henderson, Paul Molitor, Phil NNiekro,iekro, and Dave WinfieldWinfield went inin Green had grown up in South- fforor ototherher teams. In 2011,2011, RobertRoberto ern California. He did not want AAlomarlomar becamebecame thethe firstfirst playerplayer inducted as a Blue Jay. In honor of to play baseball so far from his official induction, the Blue Jays home and his family anymore. rretiredetired hishis numbernumber. So, the Blue Jays traded Green to the .

36 TORONTO BLUE JAYS watches as his solo home run sails over the wall during a 1999 game against the .

The Blue Jays have been Managers come and go, with stuck in a pattern since 2000: each unable to turn the team They win about as many games around. The team has made a as they lose and cannot reach lot of changes, from choosing the postseason. They have some new general managers to new stars, but they either leave as players. But the results have free agents or are traded away. not improved.

REBUILDING TO GET BACK 37 BOOMER Stars such as first base- man , pitcher Blue Jays pitcher David , and center “Boomer” Wells became a fan favor- ite. Wells played for the Blue Jays fielder gave from 1987 to 1992, and again during fans hope that the Blue Jays the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Wells could become a great team was a reliever the first time he played again. Halladay became for the Blue Jays. He turned into a one of the best pitchers in starter in a few years, and was part baseball, winning the 2003 of the Blue Jays' 1992 World Series Award. Delgado was team. Fans liked Wells because he the team’s best slugger. He liked to have fun and was emotional hit lots of home runs and on the mound. drove in a lot of runs during Wells was not too shabby on the early 2000s. the mound, either. During his eight But these stars could seasons in Toronto, he had an 84–55 not overcome the Blue Jays’ record with a 4.06 ERA and 784 mounting losses and years of strikeouts. Wells, then playing for missing the playoffs. It also the New York Yankees, threw a rare did not help that the Blue perfect game May 17, 1998. The Jays were competing in a Yankees beat the , very tough division. The divi- 4–0, with Wells retiring every single sion rival Boston Red Sox and batter in order without allowing a hit, walk, or run. New York Yankees competed for World Series titles almost every year. Delgado left as a free agent after the 2004 season.

38 TORONTO BLUE JAYS Carlos Delgado hits a against the in 2003. Delgado signed with the Florida Marlins in 2005.

In 2005, SkyDome changed The Blue Jays finally had its name to to balance with good pitching reflect the team and stadium’s and hitting. But it was posi- new owner, Rogers Communi- tive change that only lasted one cations. The 2006 season was season. a bit better. The Blue Jays fin- The uneven play and the ished 87–75. That was good for losing continued. The 2007 sea- second place in the AL East. It son brought 83 wins—barely a was also the first time the Blue winning record. The Blue Jays Jays were above third place brought Gaston back during since 1993. the 2008 season. He had been

REBUILDING TO GET BACK 39 their manager during the World Cito Gastoonn Series wins. But he could not CCitoito Gaston has spentspent the mosmostt bring back the magic. The Blue yyearsears managingmanaging the Blue JaysJays inin Jays won 86 games, but again team histoh ryy. Theh Bluel Jayys are theh missed the playoffs. ononllyy team he has ever managed.managed. He did so fromfrom 1989 to 1997,1997, and The team was struggling. ffromrom 2008 to 2010. He won twotwo So they traded Halladay to the WorWorldld SeriSeries titletitles wwithith thethe team in 1992 and 1993. He retired with after the an 894–837 record after the 2010 2009 season and Wells to the seasonseason,, but said he plans to remainremain withwith thethe teamteam asas a consultanconsultant.. in 2010 to money to sign new players. game in Major League his- The Blue Jays unveiled tory. They beat the Cleveland a new uniform design in the Indians 7–4 in 16 innings. Due 2011 offseason. The team to injuries, the Blue Jays set updated their logo used from a franchise record of using 32 1977 to 1997. They also brought pitchers that season. In 2013, “Blue Jays” back to the front they played the longest game of their uniforms. For the past in franchise history. It took ten years, older jerseys had 5 hours and 28 minutes! The “Toronto” on the front. team and its fans are hop- Despite up–and–down ing to break more records seasons, the Blue Jays have in the coming seasons and, set new records. In 2012, they ultimately, reach the World played the longest opening-day Series.

Second baseman Emilio Bonifacio cheers as he scores the final run in the team’s longest game. They beat the 4–3 after 18 innings.

40 TORONTO BLUE JAYS REBUILDING TO GET BACK 41 TIMELINE

19761976 19771977 19819833 1985 1987 1989 1989 1989 1991

42 TORONTO BLUE JAYS 19921992

1993

1995 1998 20020033 2006 20020099 20102010 2011

43 QUICK STATS

KEY PLAYERS (position[s]; seasons with team) Roberto Alomar (2B; 1991–95) Jesse Barfield (RF; 1981–89) George Bell (LF; 1981, 1983–90) Joe Carter (OF; 1991–97) Carlos Delgado (1B; 1993–2004) Tony Fernandez (SS; 1983–90, 1993, 1998–99, 2001) Roy Halladay (SP; 1998–2009) FRANCHISE HISTORY Tom Henke (RP; 1985–92) Toronto Blue Jays (1977– ) (3B; 1978–87) Jimmy Key (SP; 1984–92) WORLD SERIES Lloyd Moseby (CF; 1980–89) (wins in bold) John Olerud (1B; 1989–96) Dave Stieb (SP; 1979–92, 1998) 1992, 1993 Vernon Wells (CF; 1999–2010)

AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES KEY MANAGERS (1969– ) Bobby Cox (1982–85): 1985, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993 355–292; 3–4 (postseason) Cito Gaston (1989–97, 2008–10): DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS 894–837; 18–16 (postseason) (1969– ) 1985, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993 HOME PARKS Exhibition Stadium (1977–89) WILD-CARD BERTHS Rogers Centre (1989– ) none Formerly known as SkyDome

*All statistics through 2013 season

44 TORONTO BLUE JAYS QUOTES AND ANECDOTES

“I thought the games in Toronto were classics, and I said the last four games between us were classics. I think the Tigers and Blue Jays drained the word ‘classic’ from the English language.”—Then-Tigers pitcher Jack Morris, on the closeness of the Tigers–Blue Jays games in 1987.

The Blue Jays nearly did not make it to Detroit for the crucial series to end the 1987 season. They were supposed to fly from Toronto to Windsor, Ontario. Windsor is a city located next to Detroit, separated by the Detroit River. The plane took off but had to quickly land. A bird was sucked into the plane’s engine and caused a fire. The team was safe but had to wait for a new plane.

There is another famous bird incident in Blue Jays history. Yankees star outfielder Dave Winfield threw a baseball during warm-ups and hit a flying seagull at Exhibition Stadium on August 4, 1983. He did not mean to hit the bird. It just got in the way of his throw.

The bird instantly died, crashing to the field near Winfield. A ballboy took away the dead bird. The fans were upset and yelled at Winfield. The Toronto Police arrived after the game, looking to arrest Winfield for cruelty to animals. They found him and charged him with the crime. The next day, everything was fine. The police and court reviewed the situation and determined that Winfield did not intend to harm the bird.

Hitting a home run to win the World Series does not happen very often. However, Joe Carter’s home run to win the 1993 World Series was not the first time it happened. In 1960, second baseman broke a 9–9 tie in the bottom of the ninth inning of the seventh game of the World Series with a home run to beat the New York Yankees.

45 GLOSSARY

mascot A position used only in the American An animal, person, or thing adopted League. Managers can employ an by a group as its symbol. extra hitter in the batting order who comes to the plate to hit instead of pennant the pitcher. A flag. In baseball, it symbolizes that a team has won its league ejected championship. Removed from a game. postseason expansion The games in which the best teams In sports, the addition of a franchise play after the regular-season or franchises to a league. schedule has been completed.

free agent retire A player whose contract has expired To officially end one’s career. and who is able to sign with a team of his choice. rookie A first-year player in the major general manager leagues. The executive who is in charge of the team’s overall operation. He or she hires and fires managers and coaches, drafts players, and signs free agents.

46 TORONTO BLUE JAYS FOR MORE INFORMATION

Further Reading Places to Visit Gillette, Gary. Total Blue Jays. Kingston, Dunedin Stadium NY: Total Sports, 2000. 373 Douglas Avenue Dunedin, FL 34698-7913 Luchuk, David. Blue Jays 1, Expos 0: The 727-733-9302 Urban Rivalry That Killed Major League mlb.mlb.com/spring_training/index.jsp?c_ Baseball in Montreal. Jefferson, NC: id=tor McFarland & Co., 2007. Dunedin Stadium has been the Blue Jays’ spring-training ballpark since 1977. Vecsey, George. Baseball: A History of America’s Favorite Game. New York: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Modern Library, 2008. Museum 25 Main Street Websites Cooperstown, NY 13326 To learn more about Inside MLB, visit 1-888-HALL-OF-FAME booklinks.abdopublishing.com. These www.baseballhall.org links are routinely monitored and updated This hall of fame and museum highlights to provide the most current information the greatest players and moments in the available. history of baseball. Rickey Henderson, Paul Molitor, , Dave Winfield, and Roberto Alomar are among the former Blue Jays enshrined there.

Rogers Centre 1 Blue Jays Way Toronto, Ontario M5V 1J1, Canada 416-341-1707 www.rogerscentre.com This has been the Blue Jays’ home field since 1989. The team plays 81 regular- season games here each year. Tours are available when the team is not playing.

47 INDEX

Ainge, Danny, 14 Gaston, Cito (manager), 23, 36, Oakland Athletics, 23, 25, 26, Alomar, Roberto, 25, 26, 36 39–40 Olerud, John, 25 Atlanta Braves, 5, 6, 17, 21, Green, Shawn, 36 26–28 Griffin, Alfredo, 14 Philadelphia Phillies, 6, 8, 30, 40 Barfield, Jesse, 17 Halladay, Roy, 38, 40 Bell, George, 21, 22 Henderson, Rickey, 5, 6, 30, 36 Rogers Centre, 6, 13, 22–23, Borders, Pat, 28, 29 Henke, Tom, 18–19, 28, 29 26, 32, 36, 39 Boston Red Sox, 25, 38 Howell, Roy, 14 San Diego Padres, 26 Canseco, Jose, 36 Johnson, Tim (manager), 36 SkyDome. see Rogers Centre Carter, Joe, 5, 6–8, 30–32 Stewart, Dave, 5, 30 Cerutti, John, 22 Kansas City Royals, 19, 25 Stieb, Dave, 17, 18, 21, 22 Cheek, Tom, 30–32 Key, Jimmy, 21, 22 Chicago White Sox, 6, 13, 30 Timlin, Mike, 28 Clemens, Roger, 36 Los Angeles Angels, 40 Cleveland Indians, 21, 40 Los Angeles Dodgers, 36 Wells, David “Boomer”, 38 Cox, Bobby (manager), 17, Wells, Vernon, 38, 40 19–21, 28 mascots, 11 White, Devon, 6 McGriff, Fred, 22 Williams, Jimy (manager), Delgado, Carlos, 38 Minnesota Twins, 25, 38 21, 23 Detroit Tigers, 18, 21, 25 Molitor, Paul, 5, 6, 30, 36 Winfield, Dave, 26, 28–29, 30, , 11 36 Exhibition Stadium, 12–13, Morris, Jack, 25, 26, 30 World Series 14, 22 Moseby, Lloyd, 17 1992, 5, 14, 26–28, 30, 35, Myers, Randy, 36 38, 40 Fernandez, Tony, 18 1993, 5–8, 14, 18, 30–32, 35, 36, 40 Fregosi, Jim (manager), 36 New York Yankees, 14, 26, 35, 38 Niekro, Phil, 36

About the Author Joanne C. Gerstner is an award-winning sports journalist. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, Miami Herald, and Detroit News over the past 15 years. She also appears on ESPN as an expert guest. Gerstner has covered the biggest sporting events in the world, reporting from the , World Cup, tennis and golf US Opens, the NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Finals, and Super Bowl. She grew up in Detroit, and still loves watching battles between the Tigers and Blue Jays in baseball and Red Wings and Maple Leafs in hockey.

48 TORONTO BLUE JAYS