Toronto Blue Jays Mount Rushmore

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The only major league team still located north of the border, the Toronto Blue Jays have made a mark on America’s Pastime. Which players made the biggest impact during the Blue Jays’ history?

It did not take much time for the Toronto Blue Jays to become a legitimate threat in the American League. After failing to finish higher than sixth in their first six seasons, the Blue Jays surged over .500. In 1985, in their ninth season, Toronto made the postseason for the first time, taking the eventual World Champion Royals to seven games before falling.

That year set off the first Golden Age of Blue Jays baseball. They remained in contention through 1991, making the playoffs two more times in that span. Then, in 1992 and 1993, they won the World Series, taking the title north of the border for the first time in baseball history.

After a few down years, and the salary explosion in baseball, the Blue Jays continued to hover around the Wild Card berth. However, they were unable to return to the postseason until 2015, when they again fell to the eventual World Champion Royals. They returned in 2016, looking to get their revenge, but lost once again in the ALCS, with Cleveland deposing of the Blue Jays in five games.

During that illustrious history, the Toronto Blue Jays have had their share of stars head up north to join their franchise. Which of those players are the best in team history?

Jose Bautista (2008-present)

Jose Bautista was a part of five different franchises in 2004 before finding a home with the Pirates. However, during the early part of his career, he was a fringe player at best.

It took some time until Bautista became a star with the Toronto Blue Jays. He remained a below average player until the last month of the 2009 campaign, when he unveiled a revamped swing. Suddenly, his immense power potential cam through. Since then, Bautista has led the American League in homers twice, became a six time All Star and three time Silver Slugger, and finished in the top ten of the MVP vote four times.

Overall, Bautista has typically produced at an elite level with the Blue Jays. He has a .253/.372/.506 batting line with Toronto, hitting 288 homers and 219 doubles. Bautista has also been a weapon defensively, leading AL right fielders in double plays four times. At this point, it is rare to see a player test his right arm.

However, at this point, Bautista’s time in Toronto may be over. He signed a free agent contract this past offseason, a one year deal with two option years. As Bautista had a paltry .203/.308/.366 batting line despite his 23 homers, it is unlikely that the Blue Jays pick up that option. After all, it would cost only $500,000 to buy him out, instead of the $17 Million needed to retain his services.

If this is indeed the end for Jose Bautista with the Toronto Blue Jays, he proved to be quite the excellent pickup. Bautista has certainly earned his place amongst the Blue Jays greatest players.

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Tony Fernandez (1983-1990, 1993, 1998-1999, 2001)

Few players were a bigger part of the Toronto Blue Jays first run of success than Tony Fernandez.

A brilliant defensive shortstop, Fernandez also possessed solid all around skills with the bat. He stole 20 or more bases four times, and in 1990, led the American League with 17 triples. Fernandez was a four time All Star during his time as a Blue Jay, and won four Gold Glove awards, contributing as much with his glove as he did with his bat.

That is not to say that Fernandez was not a threat. Overall, during his four separate stints with the Blue Jays, he posted a respectable .297/.353/.412 batting line. He had only 60 homers, but hit 291 doubles and 72 triples, while stealing 172 bases, in his 12 years in Toronto. Fernandez also led American League shortstops in putouts four times, and in assists three times, during his career with the Blue Jays.

Fernandez even helped the franchise when he was not a part of the team. He was part of the blockbuster deal with the San Diego Padres that sent Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter to Toronto, helping the team to their two World Series victories. Fernandez was reacquired on June 11, 1993, getting a ring of his own.

Tony Fernandez was a solid all around player, a key part of the Toronto Blue Jays who was brought back time and time again. It would not be a list of all time great players in Toronto without Fernandez.

Roy Halladay (1998-2009)

The hope was that Roy Halladay would be the next pitcher to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to the postseason. While he failed in that regard, he still developed into the ace they had hoped for.

It took some time for Halladay to establish himself as a star with the Blue Jays. He bounced between the majors and minors until 2002, when he finally established himself as a key part of the starting rotation. From that point, he was a six time All Star, and won the Cy Young award in 2003. In that same season, he set a Blue Jays team record with 22 wins. He led the American League in complete games five times, establishing his reputation as a true workhorse.

Halladay was brilliant for the Blue Jays once he seized a full time role. Overall, he posted a 148-56 record, with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.198 WHiP. In his 2046.2 innings, Halladay struck out 1495 batters while issuing only 455 walks. He threw 49 complete games in that time, an impressive total given how rare complete games have become.

Halladay did eventually get to pitch in the postseason, and he made that first appearance a memorable one. Traded to the Phillies as part of a four team deal, he faced off against the Reds on October 6, 2010. He proceeded to fire the second no hitter in postseason history, with just a single walk separating him from perfection.

Roy Halladay became the type of pitcher the Toronto Blue Jays needed. He just could not get them to that next step on his own.

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Dave Stieb (1979-1992, 1998)

Dave Stieb pitched five one hitters, and lost a no hitter with two out in the ninth inning three times. He appeared to be snakebit when it came to getting that final out.

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Finally, in 1990, everything fell into place for Stieb to get his no hitter. Although the final out was hit hard, it was a line drive to right fielder Junior Felix, who was able to preserve history for the Blue Jays. It would also be the only no hitter thus far in Blue Jays history.

Stieb was far more than those near misses. He was a seven time All Star, a valuable workhorse for the Blue Jays throughout the 1980s. During his time in Toronto, he posted a 175-134 record with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.241 WHiP. In his 2873 innings, he struck out 1658 batters while issuing 1034 walks. Stieb also completed 103 of his 412 starts while throwing 30 shutouts.

His final stint with Toronto was somewhat surprising. He had retired in 1993 after four games with the White Sox due to ongoing back problems. Finally healthy again, he returned in 1998, and made his way back to the majors. That year, at 40 years old, Stieb appeared in 19 games, made three starts, and notched two saves.

Next: A's Mount Rushmore

Dave Stieb was the greatest pitcher in the history of the Toronto Blue Jays. A true workhorse, and one of the better pitchers of the 1980s, he was also one of the most underappreciated pitchers of his time.

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