Toronto Blue Jays all-time roster: Starting Pitcher – Dave Stieb (1979-1992, 1998)
Most people remember Dave Stieb as the pitcher who lost three no-hitters with one out left to go. However, he was much more than that, and one of the more overlooked players in baseball history.
A seven-time All-Star, Stieb was an intimidating figure on the mound, unafraid to come inside and take that inside corner. The master of the brushback, he led the league in hit batsmen five times, keeping the opposition from getting too comfortable in the batter’s box. Stieb also led the American League with a 2.48 ERA in 1985, yet produced a 14-13 record, as he received little run support.
During his time with the Blue Jays, he produced a 175-134 record with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.241 WHiP. In his 2873 innings, Stieb struck out 1658 batters. To this day, he remains the team leader in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched and complete games; his place in Toronto baseball history secure.
He also has the only no-hitter in Blue Jays history. After coming short three different times, losing his no-hit bids with one out left to go, he finally broke through on September 2, 1990. Even then, that final out was troublesome, as Alex Cole walked before Jerry Browne lined out almost directly at Junior Felix to end the game.
The case for the greatest pitcher in Blue Jays history comes down to Roy Halladay and Dave Stieb. Stieb has the records; Halladay had pure dominance. Either way, the Blue Jays could not go wrong with their decision.
Next: An overlooked piece