Hi everyone (Scott)
It’s been over a week since my last post, and I have been busy making arguments elsewhere as my trade in my fantasy baseball pool was protested and I had to defend the deal. Apparently I got too much?!?!?!? Anyway, I had two bursts of inspiration in writing tonight’s post. First, my most loyal reader, and possibly my only reader, who was almost singlehandedly responsible for my trade not getting voted down, asked me to get back to writing. Second, I heard one of my favorite songs of all time on the radio tonight…..”You’re the Voice” by John Farnham, and I realized, The “voice” needs to be re-awakened. So, as a tribute to my most loyal reader, here is my list of the greatest Jays of all time.
Now, like most lists, there are rules and guidelines. First, the list will outline the top 3 Jays at each position (plus 5 SP, 3 mid relievers and 3 closers). Second, this list dates back to 1984. I started to really get into the Jays that year, coincidentally their first winning season, and as much as I’d like to wax poetic about how great a 1B John Mayberry was, I never saw him play and therefore, it would all be heresay. Next, this is only based on their careers as Jays. In other words, Phil Niekro will not be in my top starting pitchers. Finally, as I always do, I’ll be lending my opinion as to why these players are in the position they are on my list.
Catcher
#3 Darrin Fletcher: Starting Jays catcher for 5 years was maybe the best all around hitting catcher in Jays history. Was there during the almost years when the Jays threatened to be good again, but not quite.
#2 Pat Borders: Despite meeting his wife when she was 16 years old in Dunedin, he was the World Series MVP and was a rock behind the plate for the Jays golden era
#1 Ernie Whitt: This guy is one of the ultimate Jays. He was one of the originals and has stuck with the Jays for years. He should have been the next skipper and his dismissal is yet another idiot move in the great legacy of Ricciardi’s idiot moves
1st Base
#3 Fred McGriff: Former Home Run champ as a Jay was a rock at his position. He was THE best hitter on the team in the late 80′s
#2 John Olerud: hitting champ in 1993 should have won more batting titles but never really re-found his mojo after his breakout season. Had the sweetest swing in Jays history.
#1 Carlos Delgado: Career Jays leader in Home Runs, Runs and RBI was the tower of power on the Jays for over 10 years and is likely the best hitting Jay of all time
2nd Base
#3 Damaso Garcia: I just couldn’t put Nelson Liriano here and Aaron Hill is a year or two away, so by default, Garcia makes the team, even though he only played for the Jays for three of my outlined years
#2 Orlando Hudson: One of the best defensive players in the majors was only the 2nd best Jays defensive 2B. Unfortunately was never the hitter in Toronto as he is in Arizona
#1 Roberto Alomar: In my opinion, the greatest Jay of all time. While he only played 5 seasons in Toronto, he won 2 World Series and was the best player on both Championship teams. He will be the first player inducted to the hall wearing a Jays uniform as he combined incredible defense with excellent hitting and speed
3rd Base
#3 Rance Mulliniks: Part of the great Gance Mulliniorg platoon at the hot corner during the early to mid 80′s. Known for those spectacles in the field, he’s now a pretty solid commentator.
#2 Ed Sprague: Hit the Home Run that turned around the ’92 World Series and then became the every day 3B for almost 6 years. Too bad his synchro swimming wife has no morals or sportsmanship.
#1 Kelly Gruber: He became kind of a bum in his last year with the Jays but he was the team MVP during the late 80′s and made that great chin grazing slide inthe 92 World Series
Shortstop
#3 John McDonald: Has never won a Gold Glove because he doesn’t hit well enough. That’s kind of weird eh! Anyway, makes this list due to great defense and severe lack of SS on the Jays for the last 15 years.
#2: Alex Gonzalez: It’s kind of weird putting such a massive underachiever at #2, but for the same reasons at McDonald, he comes in at #2
#1 Tony Fernandez: He is perhaps the most beloved Blue Jay of all time. In his first stint, he battled it out with Cal Ripken as the best SS inthe AL. in his 2 nd stint, he helped them win the 93 World Series. in his 3rd stint, as a washed up journeyman, he hit .400 into July and made the All Star team. Every time he donned the baby blue, he found the magic. Noone else could get away with having Amy Grant for his entrance music
Left Field
#1 Reed Johnson: He was the sparkplug on the Jays for more than 5 years and provided more hustle than the rest of the team combined. Had an incredible 2006 season at the plate to solidify his position
#2 Shannon Stewart: Has a ccombined BAA of over .300 in his 6 seasons with the Jays. Also stole a career high 51 bases and even had 21 Hr in his stint with the team.
#1 George Bell: Strangely, and despite all the great seasons turned in by Alomar and Delgado, he’s the only Jay to ever win the MVP. I had a huge man crush on him in the late 80′s and was mortified to see him go. Sad that his legacy is that he was later traded by the Cubs for Sammy Sosa.
Centre Field
#3 Lloyd Moseby: He patrolled the Middle Outfield for more seasons than any Jay and was the original star outfielder. The “Shaker” was my favorite Jay from 1984 to 1989.
#2 Devon White: The greatest defensive outfielder I have personally ever seen. He made every play look effortless. Sadly, if he had made them look a little harder, he might have gotten more press. Made “The Catch” in the 1992 World Series.
#1 Vernon Wells: He has been up and down, hot and cold, but is the most talented CF in Jays history. If he could avoid injury and put it all together, he could be one of the best in baseball. Combines great Defense with great offense.
Right Fielder
#3 Shawn Green: It was a hard decision between him and Rios, but Green was a 30-30 man with the Jays and even hit 40 dingers one year. He had an incredible arm, even though it might be the 4th best rightfielder arm in Jays history behind Rios, Mondesi and #2.
#2 Jesse Barfield: According to Lloyd Moseby, he threw lame parties, but he was the original “sort of” 5 tool player for the Jays. He had an incredible arm, stole 22 bases one year, led the league in HR in 1986 and hit around .280 every year.
#1 Joe Carter: It personally hurts me to put him here as I was not a fan, but he provided Jays fans with their greatest moment of all time and he did knock in the runs with consistency. Hard to knock the best run producer on the greatest team of all time.
Designated Hitter
#3 Jose Canseco: only 1 season and he hit less than .240. But he also hit almost 50 HR and almost stole 30 bases and was alot of fun to watch……..steroids or not.
#2 Dave Winfield: Again only 1 season, but WOW. He had one of the greatest hitting seasons ever for a 40 year old, had the winning hit in the 92 World Series, and helped create “Noise”.
#1 Paul Molitor: Maybe the greatest clutch hitter in Jays history. Despite the fact that he was in his latter years when with the Jays, he was the best pure hitter on the team and always seemed to factor into the victories. World Series MVP in 93!!!
Starting Pitcher
#5 Pat Hentgen: Could have put Guzman or Wells here. However, he won the Cy Young in 1996 and was the rock in the Jays rotation for almost 7 years. He had pinpoint control, and was Roy Halladay before Roy Halladay.
#4 Jimmy Key: Another rock and who could forget the way he tipped his hat to the crowd during the 92 World Series after he was passed over during the ALCS, but then pitched a gem in game 4 of the series. He was the greatest Jays left hander.
#3 Roger Clemens: Obviously will never be remembered as a Jay, but he won the Cy Young both seasons for the Jays, and won the ptiching triple crown both seasons as well. Put together two incredible winning streaks with the team and was as close to a sure victory as there ever was with this team.
#2 Dave Steib: He was easily the best Blue Jay during the 80′s and could have been a superstar had he gotten run support or played with any other team. Seeing him go crazy during the 92 World Series despite not playing since April made the celebration that much sweeter.
#1 Roy Halladay: Has been the best pitcher in the AL over the past 7 years and has more complete games than 4 teams during that time. He has incredible command, goads hitters into ground balls and never loses his composure. I feel so confident when he is on the mound.
Middle Reliever
#3 Dan Plesac: The most reliable left hander to come out of the bullpen for 4 years. He was lights out on lefties and pitched over 80 games twice.
#2 Mark Eichorn: He won 14 games in and era when middle relievers didn’t win that many games. He even had a successful second stint with the team years later
#1 Paul Quantrill: Before Paul came along, the all-star game was always dominated by Starters and Closers. Then Paul Quantrill came along and was so dominant for so many years that they had to put him on the team. Since then ,there is atleast 1 mid reliever on the team every year.
Closers
#3 Duane Ward: This is deceiving since he is maybe the 2nd best reliever of all time on the Jays. Had he been classified as a mid reliever, he would be #1. He may be the first ever set up man as the Jays are given credit for inventing the role in the late 80′s and early 90′s. He was the most reliable reliever in Jays history
#2 BJ Ryan: He has fought injuries and missed an entire season, but in 2006, he put up the best relief season in Jays history and maybe won the team 8 or 9 games that they would have lost without him. He plugged the closing hole.
#1 Tom Henke: One thing for sure, he made you sweat. It was a rare occurance for Henke to not let the tying run on base, but he always seemed to close it up. He was the Jays first true closer and ultimately their best
Anyway, hope you enjoyed my take on the 38 greatest Jays. For the record, this list is correct. There is no way you can say anything that will change my mind, but I’d love to hear your opinion anyway, if for nothing more than to hear how stupid you are. Super Kudos to you if you can change my mind.
Tags: Baseball
