Answer: Roy Hartsfield
As with any expansion team, the Blue Jays did not get off to even an average start under Hartsfield. In their first three seasons they lost over 100 games each time. Mattick replaced Hartsfield in 1980, then Cox replaced Mattick for the 1982 season. In Cox's second season he had the Blue Jays as a .500 team with 89 wins, then another 89 in 1984. Bobby took the team to 99 wins in 1985 along with their first playoff appearance, but lost the ALCS to the Royals.
From Quiz: Canada's Toronto Blue Jays!
Answer: .400 batting average
Olerud had been touted as a gifted prospect for years due to his patience at the plate and the fluid nature of his swing, but he had been unable to realize his potential and achieve elite results. It came together in '93 in dramatic fashion, and for the first two thirds of the season he was unstoppable. Though he cooled off significantly at season's end, his average of .363 was easily good enough for the batting title. He also led the league in on-base percentage, doubles, enjoyed a 26 game hit streak and finished 3rd place in MVP voting.
From Quiz: Blue Jays: 1993 World Series Champions
Answer: Jack Morris
Morris came to the Blue Jays as a free agent during the off season after being instrumental in helping to eliminate them from the 1991 ALCS while playing for the Minnesota Twins. A two-time World Series champion, and the 1991 World Series MVP, Morris was signed largely for his ability to win in the postseason, something that had eluded the Blue Jays. He went the distance on opening day in Detroit, leading the Blue Jays to a 4-2 win against his former team.
From Quiz: Blue Jays: 1992 World Series Champions
Answer: Jesse Barfield
Barfield starred in what many people considered the best all-around outfield of the 1980s. In 1986, Barfield delivered 40 home runs along with 108 RBIs.
From Quiz: Blue Jays
Answer: Rickey Henderson and Paul Molitor
In Game 6, with the Blue Jays leading three games to two, Carter came to bat with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Blue Jays trailing 6-5, with Rickey Henderson and Paul Molitor on base. On a 2-2 count, Carter hit a three-run walk-off home run off Phillies pitcher Mitch Williams (against whom he was 0-4 career) to win the World Series.
From Quiz: Blue Jay Moments
Answer: 1977
Under the helm of Roy Hartsfield, the Blue Jays finished seventh out of seven teams in the American League East Division in 1977. It was not uncommon for a new team to struggle with rosters, personnel, egos, etc. Unfortunately, they finished in last place in their division for their first five seasons.
From Quiz: Toronto Blue Jay Moments
Answer: Kansas City Royals
The Jays jumped out to a 3-1 series lead, but the Royals were able to come back and win the series, then defeat the Cardinals to win the World Series.
From Quiz: Blue Jays History
Answer: 1977
Under Roy Hartsfield in his first managerial season, the Jays finished with a 54-107 season, 45.5 games behind the World Series victors New York Yankees in the American League East, for a seventh (last) place finish. They would finish last in their first five seasons, but better things were yet to come.
From Quiz: Toronto Blue Jays
Answer: 5
The Blue Jays had five catchers during the season of 2004. The catchers are Kevin Cash, Greg Myers, Gregg Zaun, Bobby Estella, and Guillermo Quiroz.
From Quiz: Blue Jays
Answer: Tony Fernandez, 1986 - 163 games
One of baseball's true anomalies. In 1986. the Blue Jays played a game that was tied after five innings which was eventually called due to rain. Because of that, the stats for the game are retained even though the game ends up being replayed. This allowed for Tony Fernandez to play 163 in a 162 game season. This happens from time to time, but almost never with a player who happened to play in the other 162 regularly scheduled games.
From Quiz: Blue Jays
Answer: Kelly Gruber
Kelly Gruber was a All-Star third basemen. He was the first Blue Jay to hit for the cycle, before Jeff Frye did it in 2000.
From Quiz: Toronto Blue Jays
Answer: Roy Hartsfield
In 1977, manager Hartsfield (#7) led the brand new Blue Jays to a 54-107 record, and seventh place in their division. They improved by five wins the next year, but still occupied seventh place. Outfielder Ewing wore #5, first baseman Fairly wore #6 and catcher Ashby was #8 in 1977.
In 2003, right hander Towers had an 8-1 record, from fourteen starts and one save from his only save opportunity. His ERA was 4.48.
From Quiz: Blue Jays by the Numbers
Answer: 1992
This was the first time that a non-American team had won the World Series.
From Quiz: Toronto Blue Jays Mania
Answer: Richie Zisk
Everyone knows that Doug Ault was the first BLUE JAY to hit a home run at the Ex, but in the first game, in the top of the first inning, the White Sox' Richie Zisk hit the first ever home run in Toronto.
From Quiz: For Serious Blue Jays Fans
Answer: Kansas City
They played the AL Central's Kansas City Royals, led by Mike Sweeney.
From Quiz: Blue Jays' 2,000th Win
Answer: Cito Gaston
Gaston was manager from 1989 to 1997.
From Quiz: 1992 and 1993 Toronto Blue Jays
Answer: Monday June 5, 1989
The dome has the world's largest retractable roof.
From Quiz: The Toronto Blue Jays
Answer: Bill Singer
Veteran right-hander Singer had been acquired from Minnesota in the Expansion Draft in November 1976.
From Quiz: Early Toronto Blue Jays
Answer: 1977
Big-league baseball came to Toronto on a snowy April 7, 1977
From Quiz: Canada'sTeam: Blue Jays
Answer: Oakland Athletics
At the time it was considered the biggest moment in Blue Jays history.
From Quiz: Blue Jays
Answer: Roberto Alomar
Roberto was a second baseman who played for three seasons with the Padres before becoming a Blue Jay in 1991. He played with Toronto for only five seasons but was in the top six of the MVP voting in three of those seasons. Alomar retired with the White Sox in 2004 after 17 career seasons, gathering 10 Gold Glove Awards.
From Quiz: Canada's Toronto Blue Jays!
Answer: Jimy Williams
Williams was fired after getting off to a 12-24 start. Cito took over and led the Jays to the ALCS, where they lost to the eventual World Series champion Oakland A's.
From Quiz: Blue Jays
Answer: Kansas City Royals
The first year the Jays played in the ALCS was 1985 against the Kansas City Royals. The Jays lost 4 games to 3 games.
From Quiz: Blue Jay Moments
Answer: Bobby Cox
Cox was in his fourth season with the Blue Jays in 1985. It was Bobby's fifth season at the helm with Toronto after managing the Atlanta Braves for five seasons. Although making the playoffs in 1985, the Blue Jays would lose the ALCS to the Royals, who would go on to win the World Series over the Cardinals.
From Quiz: Toronto Blue Jay Moments
Answer: George Bell
George had an amazing year in 1987 hitting .308 with 47 home runs and 134 RBIs. He finished ahead of the Tigers Alan Trammell. Teammates Tony Fernandez and Tom Henke finished 8th and 13th in the voting, respectively.
From Quiz: Blue Jays History
Answer: Cliff Johnson
Prior to the 1985 season, Johnson signed with the Texas Rangers. The Jays then re-acquired Johnson in a mid-season trade later that year during the "Drive of 85".
From Quiz: Blue Jays Challenge
Answer: Jack Morris
The Toronto club who began their franchise in 1977, and slowly improved their pitching prowess over the years with many pitchers who came close to the 20-mark, but mostly created a balanced pitching staff. They saw Jack Morris reach 20 in 1992. Jack was in his first season with the Jays after changing lockers from the Twins. It was Morris' third 20-game season. He helped the club all the way to their first World Series in 1992.
From Quiz: Toronto Blue Jays
Answer: Joe Carter
Joe Carter hit his home run on October 23 1993. With that hit, they won the Series. The Blue Jays won the World Series both 1992 and 1993.
From Quiz: Blue Jays
Answer: 1977
In 1977, the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners both joined the American League.
From Quiz: Toronto Blue Jays
Answer: Rick Cerone
Cerone (#9) was the starting catcher in the Jays' first ever game in 1977. He appeared in only 31 games, batting .200 with one home run and ten RBIs. Ashby (#8) caught most of the games that year (124) and had a .210 average. Whitt (#12) was the third catcher in '77, batting .171 in 23 appearances. Milner, who wore the number 3, appeared in two games for the Jays during their second season (1978), batting .444, and then disappeared from view. In 2003, Tom Wilson batted .258 with 5 HR and 35 RBIs in 96 appearances.
From Quiz: Blue Jays by the Numbers
Answer: Joe Carter
Joe carter hit a 3 run home run in the bottom of the ninth, to beat the Phillies 8-6 in game 6 of the World Series.
From Quiz: Toronto Blue Jays Mania
Answer: Phil Neikro
Flanagan won the award in 1979 while pitching for Baltimore, and later played for the Jays from 1987-1990. Cone won the award in 1994 for KC, in between stints with the Jays in 1992 and 1995. Vukovich pitched for the Jays in their first year, 1977, and later won the Cy with the Brewers in 1982 - the year they were AL Champs. Neikro pitched briefly for the Jays during his final season in the majors, 1987. Despite over 300 career wins, the Hall of Fame knuckleballer never captured pitching's top prize.
From Quiz: For Serious Blue Jays Fans
Answer: Paul Byrd
Paul was 6-7 with a 4.44 ERA in 2001. He threw 8 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 4 strikeouts.
From Quiz: Blue Jays' 2,000th Win
Answer: Two
Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter. Alomar went on to play for the Mets, and Carter retired in 1998.
From Quiz: 1992 and 1993 Toronto Blue Jays
Answer: April 7, 1977
They beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5.
From Quiz: The Toronto Blue Jays
Answer: Jerry Johnson
Jerry Johnson got the win for the Blue Jays in relief of Bill Singer on that first Opening Day, April 7, 1977. Ken Brett started and took the loss for the Chicago White Sox. Vuckovich got the save for the Jays.
From Quiz: Early Toronto Blue Jays
Answer: Chicago White Sox
The Jays defeated the Chicago White Sox 9-5.
From Quiz: Canada'sTeam: Blue Jays
Answer: 0.363
It is the highest season batting average ever by a Blue Jay.
From Quiz: Blue Jays
Answer: Jack Morris
They were all 20-game winners for the Blue Jays, but it was Morris who went 21-6 in 1992 for Toronto, good enough for a sixth place spot in the Cy Young voting. It was Morris' third and final 20-win season in his career in 1992 (he went 20-13 in 1983 and 21-8 in 1986 with Detroit). Hentgen also shined from the mound in 1996 when he went 20-10 and won the American League Cy Young Award. It was Pat's only 20-win season in all of his 14 seasons in Major League Baseball. Roger Clemens won 21 for Toronto in 1997 and another 20 in 1998, then David Wells won 20 in 2000.
From Quiz: Canada's Toronto Blue Jays!
Answer: He became the first Blue Jay to win 20 games in a season.
Bolstered by strong run support all season long, Morris went 21 and 6, besting Dave Stieb's team record of 18 wins, set in 1990. Uncharacteristically, his regular season success did not continue into the postseason. He would go 0 and 3 in four postseason starts, and would be the only Blue Jay starter to fail to win a game.
From Quiz: Blue Jays: 1992 World Series Champions
