History of the Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays, formed in 1977 and based in Canada, is currently the only non-US team in major league baseball. The Blue Jays won two consecutive World Series in the 1990s. Their best season, however, came in 1985, when they had 99 wins and 62 losses.

1977-1979

In 1977, the Toronto Blue Jays were established, along with the Seattle Mariners, as an American League franchise team. Their first game in the major leagues, on April 7, 1977, was played on a snowy day in Toronto. They won that first game but they ended the 1977 season with a record of 54-107. The next year was almost as poor (59-103) and Toronto again ended the season in last place in the American League East division. The Blue Jays continued with this losing streak and last place finish until 1982.

From 1977 through 1979, the Blue Jays were managed by Roy Hartsfield. They played their first games at Exhibition Stadium and they continued to play there through half of 1989.

1980-1989

The Blue Jays continued to have losing seasons in 1980 and 1981, while under the leadership of manager Bobby Mattick. In 1982, Bobby Cox became manager and, under his leadership, the team finished the season with a record of 78-84. Although the team improved significantly under Cox, they were still in fourth place in the American League East in 1983, with a winning record of 89-73. The following year was similar, with the same win-loss record but in second place in the division.

The Blue Jays finally saw postseason play in 1985, when they finished in first place in the American League East division. They played against and lost to the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship series. Although the Blue Jays continued to have winning records, it would be four more years before the team would be in a playoff series again.

In 1989, the Blue Jays moved to Rogers Center. Under new manager Cito Gaston, the team once again led the American League East division with 89 wins and 73 losses. However, in the playoffs, they lost the ALCS to the Oakland Athletics.

Pitcher Dave Stieb was one of the key players for the Blue Jays in the 1980s. He first joined the team in 1979 and played with them through 1992. He led the American League in ERA in 1985.

1990-1999

The Blue Jays played well in 1990, but they still finished behind the first place Boston Red Sox. A highlight of the season was the no-hitter by Dave Stieb on September 2nd.

The following year, 1991, began a three-year streak of American League East division titles for the Blue Jays. They lost the pennant race in 1991 to the Minnesota Twins, but they won both the American League pennant and the World Series in 1992 and 1993. Two of the top players on the team during these years were future Hall of Famers Dave Winfield (1992) and Paul Molitor (1993).

In the strike shortened 1994 season, the Blue Jays experienced their first losing season in eleven years, ending in third place in the American League East division with a record of 55-60. The next year was even worse and the Blue Jays were once again the last place team in the American League East with a dismal record of 56-88. The team continued to have losing seasons until 1998, but their 88-74 record that year was not good enough for the strong American League East competition and the Blue Jays finished in third place.

The Blue Jays had four managers in the 1990s. Gaston managed the team through 1997. He was followed by Tim Johnson in 1998 and Jim Fregosi from 1999 through 2000. Gene Tenace served as an interim manager for 33 games in 1991.

In addition to Paul Molitor, the Blue Jays had two other future Hall of Famers on their team in the 1990s. Roberto Alomar played with them from 1991 through 1995 and pitcher Jack Morris played with them in 1992 and 1993.

2000-2009

From 2000 to 2009, the Blue Jays had five winning seasons, with 2006 their best season (87 wins and 75 losses). However, they didn't get to the postseason even once in that decade.

The Blue Jays had 83 wins and 79 losses in 2000. The following season, they posted a losing record of 80 wins and 82 losses. They recovered a bit in 2003, when they ended the season with 86 wins and 76 losses, but they were still far behind the American League East division winners. The next two years, the Blue Jays again had losing seasons.

Jim Fregosi managed the team in 2000, and he was followed by four more managers, including a return of Cito Gaston in 2008. In between Fregosi and Gaston were Buck Martinez (2001 and 2002), Carlos Tosca (2002 to 2004), and John Gibbons (2004 to 2008).

In 1998, pitcher Roy Halladay joined the Blue Jays and he played with them through 2009. He led all major league pitchers in wins in 2003 and he won the AL Cy Young award that year.

2010-2018

From 2010 through 2018, the Blue Jays had four winning seasons (2010, 2014-2016). Their best season was 2015, when they had 93 wins and 69 losses. They went to the postseason in 2015 and 2016.

The Blue Jays finished the 2010 season with 85 wins and 77 losses. Although they had a winning season, they still ended up in fourth place in a strong AL East division. The following year, they were again in fourth place, with 81 wins and 81 losses. Cito Gaston managed them in 2010, but he was replaced by John Farrell in 2011.

After the Blue Jays had another fourth place finish in an injury plagued 2012 season, Farrell was replaced as manager by John Gibbons. His first year back managing the team wasn't a good one for Gibbons or the Blue Jays. They finished the 2013 season in last place in the AL East division, with 74 wins and 88 losses. They played much better in 2014 (83 wins to 79 losses), but they still ended up in third place in the division.

Finally, in 2015, the Blue Jays won a first place AL East title with 93 wins and 69 losses. They then went on to win the ALDS over the Texas Rangers but they lost the ALCS to the Royals. The 2016 season was another good one for the Blue Jays. After winning 89 games and losing 73, they tied the Baltimore Orioles for second place in the AL East division. The two teams played a Wild Card game that the Blue Jays won. They then defeated the Rangers in the ALDS, but once again lost the ALCS, this time to the Cleveland Indians.

The Blue Jays had poor seasons in 2017 and 2018, finishing in fourth place in the AL East division both years. At the end of the 2018 season, John Gibbons and the Blue Jays announced that he would not be returning in 2019. His replacement for 2019 is Charlie Montoyo.

One of the key players for the Blue Jays from 2010 through 2018 was Jose Bautista, who played with them from 2008 through 2017. In 2013, they added an excellent center fielder, Kevin Pillar. Their pitching rotation in 2014 included Aaron Sanchez and Marco Estrada was added a year later.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Toronto Blue Jays
Baseball Reference - Toronto Blue Jays