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| Jimmy Key | |
|---|---|
.png) Key pitching for Clemson in 1983 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1961-04-22)April 22, 1961 (age 64) Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 6, 1984, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 20, 1998, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 186–117 |
| Earned run average | 3.51 |
| Strikeouts | 1,538 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the Canadian | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2024 |
James Edward Key (born April 22, 1961) is an American former left-handed startingpitcher inMajor League Baseball who played for theToronto Blue Jays (1984–1992),New York Yankees (1993–1996), andBaltimore Orioles (1997–1998). His best personal years were in 1987, when he posted a 17–8 record with a league-leading 2.76 ERA, and in 1993, when he went 18–6 with a 3.00 ERA and 173strikeouts. With the Blue Jays, he won the1992 World Series and with the Yankees, he won the1996 World Series, both over theAtlanta Braves.
Key attendedS. R. Butler High School inHuntsville, Alabama.[1] For the school's baseball team, he compiled a 10–0win–loss record with nineshutouts and a 0.30earned run average (ERA) in his senior year. Key alsobatted .410 with 11home runs and 35runs batted in in his high school career.
Key attendedClemson University, where he playedcollege baseball for theClemson Tigers baseball team in theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC). At Clemson, Key posted a 9–3 record and 2.79 ERA on the mound, and batted .300 with 21 doubles. Key is the only Clemson player to be a member of the first-team All-ACC in two positions (pitcher and DH) in 1982. He pitched the opening game of the 1980College World Series.[2]
TheToronto Blue Jays selected Key in the third round of the1982 MLB draft.[3] He worked his way up the Blue Jays' minor league system during 1982 and 1983, putting up respectable numbers with theFlorence Blue Jays (South Atlantic League), theMedicine Hat Blue Jays (Pioneer League), theKnoxville Blue Jays (Southern League), and theSyracuse Chiefs (International League) before heading to Toronto.
Key made his Major League debut on April 6, 1984, and was utilized in relief situations through his inaugural year, notching 10saves and a 4.65ERA.[4] He wore number 27 in his first season and 22 for the duration of his Blue Jays career.
Key moved into the starting rotation in 1985 and quickly became a cornerstone in the rotation, leading the Blue Jays to their first postseason appearance that year. In 1987, Key led the major leagues with a 2.76 earned run average and finished second behindRoger Clemens in voting for the American LeagueCy Young Award.
In Game 4 of the1992 World Series, Key made his final start for the Blue Jays,[1] surrendering one run over7+2⁄3 innings to earn a 2-1win and put the Jays up 3 games to 1. He left the game to a tremendous ovation. Key would appear once more in the series, as a reliever in the 10th and 11th innings of the 6th and deciding game, earning another winning decision in the series.[5]
As afree agent, Key signed a four-year contract worth $17 million with theNew York Yankees on December 10, 1992.[6] He posted a 49–23 record in 94 games over four seasons with the Yankees. He had his career high of 173 strikeouts in the first year with the Yankees in 1993, and he led the majors with 17 wins in thestrike-shortened season of 1994.[3]
He spent time with theGulf Coast Yankees (1–0 and 0.00 ERA) and Tampa (0–0 and 2.77 ERA) of the Florida State League during rehab assignments during his last season with New York in 1996. In his final start as a Yankee, he outdueledGreg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves in the deciding game of the1996 World Series.[3]
Jimmy Key wore the number 22 while with the Yankees.
Key signed as a free agent with theBaltimore Orioles on December 10, 1996,[3] and posted a 22–13 record in 59 appearances over two seasons. A free agent in his final season, Key retired from the game after the 1998 season largely due to injuries. He made US$7.73 million with the Orioles over 2 seasons. He wore the number 21 with the Orioles (22 having been retired by Baltimore in honor of hall-of-famerJim Palmer).[3]He was assigned to Fredrick of the Carolina League in 1998 (1–0 3.00 ERA) during his final rehab stint. Key was granted free agency for the last time on October 27, 1998, by Orioles GMPat Gillick, the same GM who granted him the same conditions inToronto in 1992.
Key was one of the premierecontrol pitchers in the game with a goodstrikeout-to-walk ratio over most of his career. Hisfastball was not particularly speedy, but was often effective as he could spot it on both corners of the plate—although when his pitch went high, opponents fared well. He also possessed a fine backdoorslider. He had a very goodpickoff move to first base, which he notably demonstrated in Game 4 of the1992 World Series by picking offOtis Nixon, one of the game's premiere base stealers at the time. (During his windup his right knee was bent so that his right foot did not cross the rubber and he could throw to first base without incurring a balk).
Key tended to give up more than his share ofhome runs even while holding his opponents'on-base percentage to a low level. He was injury-prone with significant down time in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996 and 1998. Contrary to some reports, Key never underwentTommy John surgery. Instead, noted surgeonJames Andrews removed bone chips, costing Key several months in the middle of the 1988 season.[7]
Following his retirement from baseball, Key became an amateurgolfer. Now living inPalm Beach Gardens, he has become prominent in the local golfing community.[8]
| Preceded by | American LeagueAll-Star Game Starting Pitcher 1994 | Succeeded by |