Baseball History, Callum, Canadian Baseball, Commentary, Toronto Blue Jays

The All Time Jays Team

by

jaysteam

Yesterday Jays broadcaster Jamie Campbell put together his all time favourite Jays list. While not a bad list, I happen to disagree on a few selections. Obviously leaving Kelly Gruber off the list for 3B is at best a slap in the face and, let me be frank, at worst an atrocity.  Let me now present to you my all time favourite Jays team.

ROTATION:
1. Roy Halladay 
2. Dave Stieb
3. Roger Clemens – the most dominant pitching seasons ever turned in by a Jay
4. Pat Hentgen
5. Jimmy Key

Sentimental:
Jim Clancy-The first Jays starter to have a real sniff at success if I recall correctly
John Cerrutti
Doyle Alexander
Mike Flanagan – He was the epitome of the crafty lefthanded pitcher
Todd Stottlemyre -I loved his bloodied up chin from his headfirst slide in the World Series

MIDDLE RELIEVER:
Duane Ward
 

Sentimental:
Jim Acker – When his sinker was on, it was one of the best in baseball. But..wow, did he ever give up a lot of homeruns in retrospect.
Mark Eichhorn – I loved, absolutely loved his funky sidearm delivery as a kid growing up

CLOSER:
Tom Henke – The Terminator had a 10.295k/9IP rate. Amazing.

Sentimental:
Billy Koch – I liked the cut of his jib. And 100mph fastball.
BJ Ryan

FIRST BASE:
Carlos Delgado

Sentimental:
Fred McGriff

SECOND BASE:
Roberto Alomar: You were expecting Joe Lawrence?

Sentimental:
Orlando Hudson – The O-Dog can pick it!!!

THIRD BASE:
Kelly Gruber – you are kidding me if you think anyone else belongs here

Sentimental:
Rance “Tight Pants” Mullinks

SHORT-STOP:
Tony Fernandez

Sentimental:
Alfredo Griffin

CATCHER:
Ernie Whitt

Sentimental:
Pat Borders
Gregg Zaun
Rick Leach
Charlie O’Brien
Darrin Fletcher
Greg Myers
Ken Huckaby – for what he did to Jeter

(I like me some Jays catchers) 

LEFT-FIELD:
Jorge Bell – best Rule V pick ever?

Sentimental:
Joe Carter

CENTRE-FIELD:
Devon White – As my Dad always says, he was as fast as greased lightning.

Sentimental:
Lloyd “Shaker” Moseby
 

RIGHT-FIELD:
Jesse Barfield – Huge cannon! (That’s what she said)

Sentimental:
Shawn Green
Junior Felix
 

DH:
Paul Molitor

Sentimental:
Candido Maldonado

Coaching Staff:

Bobby Mattick, Brian Butterfield, Al Widmar, Brad Arnsberg, Mel Queen, Cito Gaston (as hitting coach)

The Jays!

Callum Hughson
Written By

has written for Mopupduty.com since 2006. Follow Callum on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram (@callumhughson)

  • Can’t argue with too many. Maybe Speier as all-time releiver (eh, Early?).

    Not too many current Jays. Is White better than Wells? (and if so, what would White’s contract be worth?)

  • RC

    No Dave Winfield and No Phil Niekro? I thought being in the hall of fame and killing shithawks were good things… Where is the Jack Morris love?

  • Early

    Good article. Flanagan was a starter. And leaving Grube off the team makes Campbell’s list barely worth dignifing with a response.
    Can’t argue with too much here either. My sentimental favs were all those mid 80s Jays, even if they sucked I loved them. My three outfielders are Wells, Bell and Carter. My releiver is probably Quantrill but Eichorn had some solid years – missed qualifying for ROY by a hair of some sort in ’86. I might even put Ward ahead of Henke or Quant but he played both so he stays out. Look at the ’85 releivers, Tom Filer and Dennis Lamp (18-0 combined) had spectacular seasons from the pen and are often (meaning always) over looked in any mention of Jays history.

  • Devo played in Toronto for 5 years and racked up 5 GG because he is a defensive superstar and I love him for it. Offensively he isn’t the same player Wells is, but I still like him due to the warm and fuzzies I get when i think about him.

    No Winfield respeck, no Niekro respeck. Jack Morris is good, doesn’t make my top 5 but he is still a stud. It is either Morris or Hentgen for me. Both had money handlebar moustaches so it makes for an even more difficult decision.

  • Early

    Winfield played one year, Clemens two and they were solid years, but for the short stints have to leave them off all-time team. Neikro, Viola (was Righetti a Jay) played in a handful of games and can’t be included by me.

  • Gomez99

    Juan Guzman and Dave Stewart were a pair of killers as well

  • Now that I look at this and it is 3 years later, it might be a time to revisit the Devo/Vernon Wells question. Is he better than Wells? Is Wells’ contract, 3 years later, really indicative of his worth?

    • Might have to fit Jose Reyes in at SS in a couple of years as well.

  • Danson Singh

    Wow, John Olerud didn’t even merit a sentimental fave? I guess nice guys really do finish last.

  • Field Marshall Mike

    Mike Flanagan as a sentimental pick? The guy who gave up the longest home run in Jays history to Jose Canseco? Senor Steroids parked that batting practice fastball in the fifth deck at Skydome. Flanagan should have killed himself then.

  • bgh

    Leach was a former star Wolverines QB who played 1B/DH/OF, but who never played C.

  • Shrike

    SS Tony Fernandez

    2B Roberto Alomar

    RF Jose Bautista

    1B Carlos Delgado

    DH Paul Molitor

    LF George Bell

    CF Vernon Wells

    3B Kelly Gruber

    C Ernie Whitt

    Bench: CF Devon White

    OF/1B Joe Carter

    IF Alfredo Griffin

    C Pat Borders

    Starting 5:

    Roy Halladay

    Roger Clemens

    Dave Stieb

    Pat Hentgen

    Jimmy Key

    Bullpen

    Tom Henke (closer)

    Duane Ward (setup)

    BJ Ryan (closer)

    Mark Eichhorn

    Scott Downs (setup)

    Todd Stottlemyre (long relief/spot starter)

    Jim Clancy (long relief/spot starter)

    Unless that team is playing against other all-time great teams that’s about a 120 win team!

  • AJCoop

    Joe Carter played Right Field