| Toronto Blue Jays | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 2025 Toronto Blue Jays season | |||||
| |||||
| |||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| |||||
| Current uniform | |||||
 | |||||
| Retired numbers | |||||
| Colours | |||||
| Name | |||||
| |||||
| Other nicknames | |||||
| |||||
| Ballpark | |||||
| |||||
| Major league titles | |||||
| World Series titles(2) | |||||
| ALPennants(3) | |||||
| AL East Division titles(7) | |||||
| Wild card berths(4) | |||||
| Front office | |||||
| Principal owner | Rogers Communications[4] | ||||
| President | Mark Shapiro | ||||
| General manager | Ross Atkins | ||||
| Manager | John Schneider | ||||
| Website | mlb.com/bluejays | ||||
TheToronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professionalbaseball team based inToronto. The Blue Jays compete inMajor League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of theAmerican League (AL)East Division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games primarily atRogers Centre in downtown Toronto.
The name "Blue Jays" originates from theblue jay bird, and blue is also thetraditional colour of Toronto'scollegiate andprofessional sports teams including theMaple Leafs (ice hockey) and theArgonauts (Canadian football). In 1976, out of the over 4,000 suggestions, 154 people selected the name "Blue Jays."[5] In addition, the team was originally owned by theLabatt Brewing Company, makers of the popular beer Labatt Blue. Colloquially nicknamed the "Jays," the team's official colours are royal blue, white, navy blue, and red.[1][2]
Anexpansion franchise, the club was founded in Toronto in 1977. Originally based atExhibition Stadium, the team began playing its home games at SkyDome upon its opening in 1989. They are the second MLB franchise to be based outside the United States, and the only one remaining since the first Canadian franchise, theMontreal Expos, became theWashington Nationals in 2005. Since 2000, the Blue Jays have been owned byRogers Communications and in 2004, SkyDome was purchased by that company, which renamed it Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays and theAtlanta Braves[d] are the only two MLB teams under corporate ownership; the Blue Jays are the only American League team to be under such ownership.
Due to border restrictions brought about by theCOVID-19 pandemic, the Blue Jays played home games atTD Ballpark inDunedin, Florida, for April and May of the2021 season, andSahlen Field inBuffalo, New York, for the2020 season as well as June and July 2021, returning home to Toronto as of July 30 of that year.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Blue Jays went through struggles typical of an expansion team, frequently finishing last in their division. In 1983, they had theirfirst winning season and two years later, becamedivision champions. From 1985 to 1993, the Blue Jays were an AL East powerhouse, winning five division championships in nine seasons, including three consecutive from1991 to1993. During that run, the team also became back-to-backWorld Series champions in1992 and1993, led by a core group ofaward-winningAll-Star players, includingHall of FamerRoberto Alomar,Joe Carter,John Olerud, andDevon White. The Blue Jays became the first (and, to date, only) team outside the U.S. to appear in and win a World Series and the fastest AL expansion team to do so, winning in their 16th year. As of2019, they are one of only two MLB franchises that are undefeated through multiple World Series appearances, along with theNational League'sMiami Marlins. After 1993, the Blue Jays failed to qualify for the playoffs for 21 consecutive seasons until clinching a playoff berth and division championship in2015. The team clinched a second consecutive playoff berth in2016, after securing anAL wild card position. In both years, the Blue Jays beat theTexas Rangers in theAL Division Series, but lost theAL Championship Series. Most recently, they qualified for the playoffs as a wild card team in2020,2022, and2023. In2025, the Blue Jays won their seventh division title and their thirdAmerican League pennant.
From 1977 to 2025, the Blue Jays' overall win-loss record is3,855–3,856–3 (.500).[6]
The Toronto Blue Jays came into existence in 1976[7] as one of two teams slated to join theAmerican League for the following season via the1977 Major League Baseball expansion.Toronto had been mentioned as a potential major league city as early as the 1880s and been home to theToronto Maple Leafs baseball team of theInternational League from 1896 to 1967. In January 1976, theSan Francisco Giants nearly relocated to Toronto after ownerHorace Stoneham agreed to sell the team to a Canadian consortium. The group, which includedLabatt Breweries of Canada,The Globe and Mail's Howard Webster, and theCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), planned to rebrand the team as the Toronto Giants and play atExhibition Stadium. However, a court ruling halted the move, and the Giants remained in San Francisco. Despite this setback, Toronto's ambition for an MLB team persisted, leading to their successful bid in the 1976 American League expansion, driven by a need to balance the league after Seattle was granted a team as a result of a lawsuit over their loss of the Pilots.
The new Toronto franchise, purchased for $7 million, was named the Toronto Blue Jays following a contest that attracted over 4,000 suggestions. The name reflected Toronto's tradition of using blue in team colours and was influenced by majority owner Labatt Breweries' flagship beer, Labatt Blue. The franchise's first employee,Paul Beeston, began as vice president of business operations, and before the inaugural 1977 season,Peter Bavasi andPat Gillick were appointed as president and assistant general manager, respectively. The Blue Jays debuted on April 7, 1977, with a win against theChicago White Sox amid a snowstorm, marking the beginning of a journey from early struggles to eventual success. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Blue Jays showed gradual improvement, highlighted by their first winning season in 1983. The team's fortunes rose significantly under managerBobby Cox in 1985 when they won their first American League East title. The late 1980s and early 1990s, under managerCito Gaston, were particularly successful, with the Blue Jays winning multiple division titles and back-to-backWorld Series championships in 1992 and 1993, making them the first team outside the US to achieve this feat. Key players during this golden era includedRoberto Alomar,Joe Carter, andDave Stieb.
After the mid-1990s strike and subsequent downturn, the Blue Jays faced challenges but also saw the rise of talents likeRoy Halladay andCarlos Delgado. The late 1990s brought brief revitalization with the acquisition ofRoger Clemens. In the early 2000s, general managerJ. P. Ricciardi led a rebuilding phase, culminating in a competitive roster by the mid-2000s. The team's resurgence in the 2010s featured playoff appearances in 2015 and 2016, driven by stars likeJosé Bautista andJosh Donaldson. The Blue Jays continue to build for future success, with young talents likeVladimir Guerrero Jr.,Bo Bichette, andCavan Biggio leading the charge, though Biggio was later traded in 2024.
During the off-season, the Blue Jays re-signed Kiermaier and signed utility playerIsiah Kiner-Falefa, designated hitterJustin Turner, and pitcherYariel Rodríguez. The Blue Jays also tradedSantiago Espinal for a pitching prospect.
During the regular season, the Blue Jays designated Cavan Biggio for assignment and traded him for a prospect afterwards. Before the 2024 trade deadline, the Blue Jays traded awayYimi García, Nate Pearson, Danny Jansen, Justin Turner, Yusei Kikuchi, Trevor Richards, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Kevin Kiermaier.
The Toronto Blue Jays signedAnthony Santander andMax Scherzer in the off-season. The Blue Jays extended the contract of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for $500 million over 14 seasons, making him amongthe highest paid athletes in the world.
Before the 2025 trade deadline, the Blue Jays traded forSeranthony Domínguez,Shane Bieber,Louis Varland, andTy France.
In 1977, after just 50 home games, the Blue Jays set an MLB record for a first-year expansion team, with an overall attendance of 1,219,551 during those games.[12] By the end of the season, 1,701,152 fans had attended. After setting an attendance record in 1990, with 3,885,284 fans, in 1991, the Blue Jays became the first MLB team to attract overfour million fans, with an attendance of 4,001,526, followed by 4,028,318 in 1992.[13] Each of those records were broken in 1993 by the expansionColorado Rockies, although the Blue Jays' 1993 attendance of 4,057,947 stood as an AL record for 12 years until it was broken by the2005 New York Yankees.[14]
Several Blue Jays became very popular in Toronto and throughout the major leagues, starting withDave Stieb, whose seven All-Star selections is a franchise record. He is closely followed byRoy Halladay andJosé Bautista, who were selected six times each, and byRoberto Alomar andJoe Carter, who were selected five times each. Bautista set a major league record in 2011 (which only stood for a year), with 7,454,753 All-Star votes.[15] In his first season with the Blue Jays in 2015,Josh Donaldson set a new major league record by receiving 14,090,188 All-Star votes.[16]
The team is popular throughout Canada, as the only MLB team based in the country following the relocation of the Montreal Expos to Washington. The team has played a number of exhibition games atBC Place in Vancouver including three-game series against theMilwaukee Brewers prior to both the 1984 and 1985 seasons[17][18] (theVancouver Canadians were the AAA farm team of the Brewers at the time[19]), as well as single games against theDetroit Tigers and Brewers in 1993[20][21] and against theMontreal Expos andSeattle Mariners in 1994 in a series billed as the "Baseball Classic".[22][23][24][25] The Jays also played theCleveland Indians in an exhibition game atWar Memorial Stadium in nearbyBuffalo, New York in 1987.[26] More recently, the club has hosted a pair of exhibition games atOlympic Stadium inMontreal prior to the start of the season against theNew York Mets (2014),[27]Cincinnati Reds (2015),[28]Boston Red Sox (2016),[29]Pittsburgh Pirates (2017),[30]St. Louis Cardinals (2018),[31][32] Milwaukee Brewers (2019).[33][34] A series against theNew York Yankees was scheduled for 2020,[35] but was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[36] The club also has discussed playing more games at BC Place with the president of the Vancouver Canadians.[37][38][39][40]
.jpg)
During theseventh-inning stretch of home games, before singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," Blue Jay fans sing and clap to the pop song "OK Blue Jays" byKeith Hampshire and The Bat Boys, which was released in 1983. The song was remixed in 2003, and since then, the new, shortened version has been played at home games.
At home games, the "Let's Go Blue Jays" chant is played four times followed by "Charge" being played thrice.
From 1979 to 1999, BJ Birdy served as the Blue Jays' sole mascot, played by Kevin Shanahan. In 2000, he was replaced by a duo named Ace and Diamond. After the 2003 season, Diamond was removed by the team, leaving Ace as the team's sole mascot. Since the 2010s, Ace has been accompanied by his younger brother, Junior. This usually happens on the Jr. Jay Saturday promotions until the end of the2017 season. The promotions were moved to select Sundays since the2018 season since the Blue Jays can no longer hold early Saturday afternoon games to accommodateAmerican national broadcasts on Fox, though Fox did occasionally broadcast Blue Jays games at the Rogers Centre.
Since 2012, every Sunday home game, the Blue Jays pay tribute to a member of theCanadian Armed Forces. During the third inning, the team presents the honoured member with a personalized jersey.[41]
Since 2005, "The Star-Spangled Banner" has been sung before "O Canada" at every home game as all of the Blue Jays' opponents are based in the United States. In some home games (including Canada Day home games), "O Canada" is sung in English and French to reflect Canada's bilingual and multicultural heritage and to represent the diverse population of the country. When "O Canada" was sung during the Home Opener, Canada Day, playoff games, and World Series, a giant Canadian flag was presented. Due to time constraints and broadcast scheduling, Sportsnet only airs the national anthems during the home opener, Canada Day, playoff games, and World Series because a commercial break occurs during the anthems. On June 29, 2019, "O Canada" was sung inCree and English.[42] On September 30, 2021, theNational Day for Truth and Reconciliation, "O Canada" was sung in English, French, andAnishinaabemowin. On the following National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30, 2022, "O Canada" was sung in French, English, andBlackfoot. For Blue Jays road games, "O Canada" is sung before the "Star-Spangled Banner" as all road games (since the Expos moved to Washington, DC) for the Blue Jays are in the United States.
The Blue Jays traditionally host an afternoon home game duringCanada Day. During the game, the team wears red jerseys instead of blue jerseys. During the pre-game ceremony, a giant Canadian flag is presented while "O Canada" is sung in English and French byRoyal Canadian Air Force Band vocalist and Warrant Officer David Grenon since 2022. The game was cancelled in 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the game was held inBuffalo, New York due to Canada–U.S. travel restrictions.
Fan Appreciation Weekend traditionally falls on the last weekend of September marking the team's final home games.
.jpg)
The Blue Jays operate a store called the Jays Shop that sells primarily Blue Jays merchandise. This store has two locations at Rogers Centre, though, until January 2023, there was an additional location in theToronto Eaton Centre shopping mall.
The Blue Jays wore pullover uniforms during their first decade of existence. The front of the home white uniforms contained the team name in a unique blue/white/blue split-letter style, with the team logo centred below. The road uniforms were powder blue, with the city name in front and the team logo centred below. Initially, the city name was rendered in bold blue letters before gaining a white outline the following season. By 1979, it was replaced by the team name in a split-lettered white/blue/white style. Player numerals also used the split-letter style, except on the road uniform during its first two seasons. Player names in blue were added to both uniforms for the 1980 season but were dropped from the road uniform in 1981. The caps were blue with the Blue Jays logo on a white panel in front.[43]
In 2008, the Blue Jays' powder blue road uniform from this era was restored as an alternate home uniform worn every Friday until 2010.[44]
The Blue Jays adopted buttoned uniforms upon moving toRogers Centre (then SkyDome) in 1989. Aside from the additions of buttons and belts, the only change affecting the home uniforms was the relocation of the team logo to the left chest. The road uniforms changed from powder blue to grey, while the city name and numerals in blue/white/blue split letters were emblazoned, and the logo moved to the left chest. Player names were also added to the road uniform. All-blue caps were worn with their road uniform while keeping the white-panelled blue caps at home. By 1993, the all-blue caps were worn universally, supplanting and eventually retiring the original cap design.[43] The full-time switch to all-blue caps came out of superstition. After the Blue Jays lost five consecutive games of a road trip midway through the 1993 season, they decided to abandon the white-panelled caps for home games in favour of the road all-blue caps, and promptly won their first home game back, en route to winning their second consecutive World Series championship.[45]
In 1994 the Blue Jays began wearing blue alternate uniforms with the team name and numerals in white/blue/white split letters.[43]
The Blue Jays updated their logo prior to the 1997 season with a new bird design and an enlarged red maple leaf at the back. The usage of red was greatly increased on the team's new uniforms. On the home uniforms, the letters and numerals were changed to blue/teal/blue split letters, while road uniform letters and numerals were changed to blue/red/blue split letters. On the alternate blue uniforms, split letters and numerals became red/blue/red. Red also appeared on the pant and sleeve stripes, while the new logo occupied the left sleeve. Player names also took on the new block split-letter style. An updated all-blue cap was paired with the home and road uniforms, while a red-brimmed blue cap (with a modified logo without a baseball) was used with the blue alternates.[46]
In 1999 the Blue Jays unveiled an alternate sleeveless white uniform, featuring the same lettering style as the regular home uniform. However, the chest numerals were replaced with the primary logo. Blue undershirts were worn with this uniform.[46]
Before the 2001 season, slight modifications were made to the uniforms, eliminating the tricolour stripes and adding a single colour piping along the chest and neck. While the home uniforms remained mostly intact, the road uniforms gained blue sleeves in a faux-vest design. On the alternate white uniform (now a faux vest instead of a straight sleeveless design), the new "T-bird" logo replaced the primary "jay leaf" logo, which moved to the left sleeve. In 2003, the "T-bird" logo became the primary, taking over the previous logo's placement on the caps and sleeves, while the alternate white uniforms brought back chest numerals.[46] The "T-bird" logo depicts a blue jay flexing its biceps and is nicknamed "Muscle Jay."
Before the 2004 season, the Blue Jays adopted a new visual identity, going with a black, silver and graphite motif. The home and black alternates simply read "Jays" in front and in a 3D-oriented diagonal arrangement, with the bird connected to the letter "J." Letters and numerals were in graphite with light blue and silver trim. The road uniforms featured the city name in a similar letter style as the logo, with graphite letters and numerals trimmed in light blue and silver. In 2008, however, amid complaints of illegibility, the Blue Jays tweaked their road uniforms to include 3D-style block letters and numerals in light blue trimmed in black and white, along with chest numerals. The "J-bird" alternate was added to the left sleeve. A red maple leaf would be added on the right sleeve starting in 2009. The Blue Jays wore all-black caps with the "J-bird" logo for much of the uniforms' existence, save for the 2004 and 2005 seasons when they wore all-graphite caps at home, and in 2007 when an alternate all-black cap with the "T" from the previous road uniform was used.[47][48]
Prior to the 2012 season, the Blue Jays unveiled new uniforms and a new logo. The logo is a modernized version of the original logo used from 1977 to 1996. The bird's head was also made sleeker than its 1977–1996 predecessor. The uniforms are similar to the ones used from 1989 to 1996, the team's most successful era. New serifed split letters were also released.[49][50] In 2015, the Blue Jays began wearing a modernized version of the white-panelled blue caps they originally wore from 1977 to 1993 as an alternate.[51] Initially, the modern white-panelled caps were worn occasionally from 2015 to 2022, but after a two-year hiatus, it was brought back for three of the Blue Jays' final four home games in 2025.[52] The return of the white-panelled caps was suggested by Blue Jays pitcherJeff Hoffman after the team lost six of their last seven games amid a heated division race with theNew York Yankees. Consequently, the Blue Jays finished the season winning the final four games, earning the division title.[45]
Before the 2020 season, the Blue Jays unveiled a modernized version of the powder blue uniforms, featuring navy/white/navy serifed split letters and numerals. These uniforms are paired with a powder-brimmed navy cap and an all-navy helmet.[53]
Since 1996, the Blue Jays wore predominantly red or red-accented uniforms every July 1,Canada Day. The uniforms were based on the team's alternate uniforms they wore at the time but with red as the primary colour. On a few occasions, the Blue Jays added red trim to an existing white uniform (or, in the case of the 2006 uniforms, their black alternates) and sometimes added theflag of Canada or a red maple leaf on the uniform.[54]
In 2024, the Blue Jays unveiled aCity Connect uniform inspired by Toronto's nightlife. The jersey is nicknamed "Night Mode" and is a "pitch blue" (dark blue) uniform that features an illustration of the Toronto skyline in royal blue, centred by the "Toronto" wordmark in red. The "pitch blue" colour is a reference toLake Ontario's reflection at night. The traditional Blue Jays logo patch on the sleeve is recoloured to match the uniform. The cap is also "pitch blue" and features a redmaple leaf at the centre of a stylized red and blue "T" in split letters.[55]
TheDetroit Tigers are the Blue Jays' geographic and traditional rival, dating back to the 1980s, when the teams were AL East contenders. The Tigers moved to theAL Central in 1998, and the rivalry has died down as a result, with the teams facing each other only six to seven times per year since 2011.[56] Depending on traffic and border delays, Detroit is about a four-hour drive from Toronto via Highway 401. According toThe Detroit News, a July 2017 three-game series atComerica Park against the Blue Jays drew a season-best-to-date total attendance of 115,088.[57]
Although theSeattle Mariners are not a divisional rival, many Blue Jays fans from Western Canada travel to Seattle when the Blue Jays play there as Seattle is geographically closer to Western Canada than Toronto is. Depending on traffic and border delays, Seattle is about a three-hour drive fromVancouver.The Seattle Times estimated that Blue Jays fans represented around 70 percent of the crowd inSafeco Field for a June 2017 weekend series.[58] In 2025, the teams met in a dramaticAmerican League Championship Series (ALCS), with the Blue Jays defeating the Mariners in seven games.[59]
TheMontreal Expos were the Blue Jays' geographicNational League rival, being the other Canadian MLB team before it was relocated. From 1978 to 1986, the teams played an annual mid-season exhibition game known as thePearson Cup, named after formerPrime MinisterLester B. Pearson. The teams began facing each other in the regular season in 1997 with the advent ofinterleague play. During the 2003 and 2004 seasons, the Expos' last two seasons before relocating to Washington, D.C., as theNationals, the Pearson Cup was awarded after a pair of three-game sets.
The Blue Jays' former radio play-by-play announcer,Tom Cheek, called every Toronto Blue Jays game from the team's inaugural contest on April 7, 1977, until June 3, 2004, when he took two games off following the death of his father—a streak of 4,306 consecutive regular-season games and 41 postseason games. Cheek later died on October 9, 2005, and the team commemorated him during their 2006 season by wearing a circular patch on the left sleeve of their home and road game jerseys. The patch was adorned with the letters 'TC', Cheek's initials, as well as a stylizedmicrophone. Cheek is also honoured with a place in the Blue Jays' "Level of Excellence" in the upper level of the Rogers Centre; the number 4,306 is depicted beside his name. In 2008, Cheek received the third most votes from fans to be nominated for theFord C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence. Cheek finally received the Frick Award posthumously in 2013 after nine years on the ballot.[60]
Radio broadcasts of Blue Jays games originate fromSportsnet 590 CJCL in Toronto, which, like the Blue Jays, is owned by Rogers Communications. After Cheek's retirement in 2005,Jerry Howarth, who had been Cheek's broadcasting partner since 1982, took over as lead play-by-play announcer, withMike Wilner as the secondary play-by-play announcer. During the 2007 to 2012 seasons, former Blue Jays catcherAlan Ashby was the colour commentator. Former Blue Jays pitcherJack Morris served as thecolour commentator during the 2013 season, after which he was replaced by former Montreal Expos catcherJoe Siddall since the 2014 season.
Former Blue Jays pitcherDirk Hayhurst filled in for Morris for some games during the 2013 season.
Another former catcher for the Blue Jays,Gregg Zaun, has served as the occasional colour commentator from the2011 season until the end of the2017 season when he was terminated amid accusations of improper conduct from several female employees.[61]
Following Howarth's retirement in the 2017 season,Ben Wagner was hired as the primary radio play-by-play announcer, splitting said duties withDan Shulman and Mike Wilner.
In November 2020, Mike Wilner was laid off by the team.[62] In February 2021, it was announced that "in an effort to minimize travel and closely adhere to team, league, and government protocols related to thepandemic", all radio broadcasts for the2021 season will be a simulcast of the television broadcast. Wagner will assume an alternative role.[63][64] However, once the Blue Jays returned to Rogers Centre in late July 2021, dedicated radio broadcasts resumed.
The Blue Jays have the largest geographical home market in all of baseball, encompassing all of Canada. Despite this, the number of radio stations that broadcast games is actually quite small. Only 18 radio stations across the country aired at least some Blue Jays games during the 2021 season,[65] which is fewer affiliates than most MLB teams, which have more stations covering smaller geographic areas.
All Blue Jays games are carried nationally onSportsnet (which, like the Blue Jays, is owned by Rogers Communications). As of 2023,Dan Shulman serves as the lead play-by-play announcer, withBuck Martinez as the primary colour commentator; on select series,Toronto Raptors play-by-play announcerMatt Devlin calls the game in place of Shulman, and Joe Siddall works colour commentary in place of Martinez.[66] Prior to that, Martinez had been the primary play-by-play announcer alongside colour commentatorPat Tabler, with Shulman only calling games sporadically since 2016. In previous years, the colour analyst role rotated between Pat Tabler,Rance Mulliniks,Darrin Fletcher, and from 2011 to 2017,Gregg Zaun. Sportsnet became the team's primary carrier soon after it launched in the late 1990s and became the team's exclusive broadcaster in 2010.[67] As of August 2010,Sportsnet One also broadcasts Blue Jays games (often in case of scheduling conflicts with the main Sportsnet channels). Rogers was, however, criticized by fans and critics due to Sportsnet One only being carried byRogers Cable systems on launch.[68]
Sportsnet's broadcasts of the2015 American League Division Series involving the Blue Jays were among the highest-rated telecasts in network history, with Game 4 drawing an audience of 4.38 million viewers.[69]
In September 2012,AMI-tv simulcast three Blue Jays games withdescribed video provided by CJCL correspondentSam Cosentino, which included explanations of on-screen graphics. Paul Beeston praised AMI's involvement, stating that "to our knowledge, we are the first sports organization to have our games provided through this revolutionary approach to accommodating the needs of the blind and low-vision community."[70]
On June 27, 2013, Rogers' over-the-air Toronto multiculturalOmni Television stationCJMT-DT simulcast a Blue Jays game, scheduled to be started by Taiwanese playerChien-Ming Wang, with commentary inMandarin, marking the first ever Canadian MLB broadcast in the language.[71][72] In June 2018, Omni announced that it would air Sunday afternoon games inTagalog, the most spokenlanguage of the Philippines, through the remainder of the season.[73][74] Sportsnet and Omni announced a regular season of Sunday broadcasts in Tagalog for the 2019 season.[75]
TVA Sports has aired games inFrench since 2011, with Denis Casavant and François Paquet on play-by-play andRodger Brulotte on colour. The channel currently has rights to 81 Blue Jay games per season in a three-year deal signed in 2023.[76]Jacques Doucet, former Montreal Expos radio announcer, broadcast the Blue Jays on TVA Sports from 2011 until his retirement in 2022.[77][78]
The Sports Network (TSN), which (like the Jays) was owned by Labatt from 1984 to 1995, served as the primary cable television outlet for the Blue Jays prior to the launch of Sportsnet. TSN (and later, its sister channelTSN2) continued to carry approximately ten Jays games through the 2009 season until May 2010; most recently,Rod Black handled play-by-play while Tabler served as colour commentator on these telecasts.CBC has carried Blue Jays games intermittently throughout the team's history, most recently in 2007 and 2008; those broadcasts featuredJim Hughson as the play-by-play announcer, and former Blue Jays Rance Mulliniks andJesse Barfield on colour commentary.[79] Games also aired onCTV (except in Montreal) from the team's inception until the late 1990s. The Blue Jays have not appeared over-the-air in Canada in English since 2008.
In 2008, Rogers Communications, owner of the Jays, was granted a license by theCanadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC) for a "Baseball TV"specialty channel.[80] The channel would have been dedicated to coverage of baseball, combining content from the United States–basedMLB Network with original Canadian content.[81] However, the channel was never launched, and Rogers sponsored an application to allow distribution of the U.S. MLB Network on Canadian providers instead.[82][83]
Due to the structure of Rogers' MLB broadcast contracts, Sportsnet is not permitted to use its domestic production for Blue Jays games if the team is in postseason play (as it is technically still considered a regional broadcaster) and instead carries the U.S. broadcast (such asFox in 2015, andTBS in 2016). This is in contrast to theNBA's Toronto Raptors (via TSN and Sportsnet), as well as theNHL andMLS's Canadian-based teams (viaHockey Night in Canada on CBC and Sportsnet, and TSN respectively) who were allowed to produce their own broadcasts during postseason games. Buck Martinez has served as a colour commentator for post-season coverage ultimately simulcast by Sportsnet, however, having formerly worked Division Series games for TBS and on theMLB International broadcast of the2016 World Series.[84] In 2022, however, MLB allowed Sportsnet to carry its own production of Blue Jays postseason games as it is technically a national broadcaster.[85]
| Active roster | Inactive roster | Coaches / other | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitchers Bullpen Closer(s) | Catchers Infielders
Outfielders | Pitchers
Infielders Outfielders | Manager Coaches
60-day injured list
| |||
The Toronto Blue Jaysfarm system consists of sevenminor league affiliates.[86]
| Statistic | Single season record | Career record | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Record | Season | Player | Record | |
| Games played: | Tony Fernández | 163 | 1986 | Tony Fernández | 1,450 |
| Plate appearances: | Vernon Wells | 735 | 2003 | Carlos Delgado | 6,018 |
| At bats: | Tony Fernández | 687 | 1986 | Vernon Wells | 5,470 |
| Batting average: | John Olerud | .363 | 1993 | Roberto Alomar | .307 |
| On-base percentage: | John Olerud | .473 | 1993 | John Olerud | .395 |
| Slugging percentage: | Carlos Delgado | .664 | 2000 | Carlos Delgado | .556 |
| On-base plus slugging: | Carlos Delgado | 1.134 | 2000 | Carlos Delgado | .949 |
| Runs scored: | Shawn Green | 134 | 1999 | Carlos Delgado | 889 |
| Hits: | Vernon Wells | 215 | 2003 | Tony Fernández | 1,583 |
| Total bases: | Carlos Delgado | 378 | 2000 | Carlos Delgado | 2,786 |
| Doubles: | Carlos Delgado | 57 | 2000 | Carlos Delgado | 343 |
| Triples: | Tony Fernández | 17 | 1990 | Tony Fernández | 72 |
| Home runs: | José Bautista | 54 | 2010 | Carlos Delgado | 336 |
| RBI | Carlos Delgado | 145 | 2003 | Carlos Delgado | 1,058 |
| Walks: | José Bautista | 132 | 2011 | Carlos Delgado | 827 |
| Stolen bases: | Dave Collins | 60 | 1984 | Lloyd Moseby | 255 |
| Games played (pitcher): | Mark Eichhorn | 89 | 1987 | Jason Frasor | 505 |
| Games started: | Jim Clancy | 40 | 1982 | Dave Stieb | 408 |
| Wins: | Roy Halladay | 22 | 2003 | Dave Stieb | 175 |
| Losses: | Jerry Garvin Phil Huffman | 18 | 1977 1979 | Jim Clancy | 140 |
| Winning percentage: | Dennis Lamp | 1.000 | 1985 | Roger Clemens | .759 |
| Innings pitched: | Dave Stieb | 288.1 | 1982 | Dave Stieb | 2,873 |
| ERA: | Mark Eichhorn | 1.72 | 1986 | Tom Henke | 2.48 |
| Earned runs: | Erik Hanson | 129 | 1996 | Dave Stieb | 1,091 |
| Strikeouts: | Roger Clemens | 292 | 1997 | Dave Stieb | 1,658 |
| Complete Games: | Dave Stieb | 19 | 1982 | Dave Stieb | 102 |
| Shutouts: | Dave Stieb | 5 | 1982 | Dave Stieb | 30 |
| Saves: | Duane Ward | 45 | 1993 | Tom Henke | 217 |
| [87][88] | |||||
Only one Blue Jays pitcher has thrown ano-hitter in franchise history. It was accomplished byDave Stieb on September 2, 1990, against theCleveland Indians, after losing three no-hit bids with two outs in the ninth inning.[89]
Noperfect games, a special subcategory of no-hitter, has been thrown in Blue Jays history. The franchise came closest on August 4, 1989, when Stieb gave up a double to Yankees' batterRoberto Kelly with two outs in the ninth, who then scored by the next batter.[90]
| # | Date | Pitcher | Final score | Base- runners | Opponent | Catcher | Plate umpire | Manager | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 2, 1990 | Dave Stieb | 3–0 | 4 | Cleveland Indians | Pat Borders | Drew Coble | Cito Gaston |
| [91] |
Roger Clemens won the pitchingTriple Crown in 1997 and 1998.[92]
Eleven former Blue Jays, one former manager, and one former general manager have been elected into theBaseball Hall of Fame. Second baseman Roberto Alomar, elected to the Hall of Fame in 2011, is the first player to be inducted based primarily on service as a player for the Blue Jays.
| Toronto Blue Jays Hall of Famers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliation according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Bobby Doerr, a second baseman with theBoston Red Sox, served as a hitting coach with the Blue Jays early in their history, 1977–1981, and was the first person associated with the franchise to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, in 1986.
Early Wynn, the Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (1972) and career 300-game winner, was a radio broadcaster for the Blue Jays withTom Cheek during their first few years, 1977–1981.
| Toronto Blue JaysFord C. Frick Award recipients | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliation according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum | |||||||||
|
| Toronto Blue JaysBBWAA Career Excellence Award recipients | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliation according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum | |||||||||
|
| Blue Jays in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Inductee | Position | Tenure | Notes |
| 12 | Roberto Alomar | 2B | 1991–1995 | |
| — | Gord Ash | GM | 1995–2001 | Born in Toronto, attendedYork University |
| — | Paul Beeston | Executive | 1976–1997 2008–2015 | Born inWelland, Ontario, attendedUniversity of Western Ontario |
| 11 | George Bell | LF | 1981, 1983–1990 | |
| 29, 43 | Joe Carter | OF/1B | 1991–1997 | |
| — | Tom Cheek | Broadcaster | 1977–2004 | |
| 6, 21, 25 | Carlos Delgado | 1B | 1993–2004 | |
| — | Jacques Doucet | Broadcaster | 2011–present | Born inMontreal, elected mainly for his broadcasting career withMontreal Expos |
| 20, 22, 40 | Rob Ducey | OF | 1987–1992, 2000 | Born inToronto, raised inCambridge |
| 1 | Tony Fernández | SS | 1983–1990, 1993 1998–1999, 2001 | |
| 35 | Jeff Francis | P | 2015 | Born inVancouver, British Columbia, attendedUniversity of British Columbia |
| 43 | Cito Gaston | Manager | 1989–1997 2008–2010 | |
| — | Pat Gillick | GM | 1978–1994 | |
| 32, 52 | Roy Halladay | P | 1998–2009 | |
| — | Peter Hardy | Executive | 1976–1993 | Born inToronto,Ontario |
| 50 | Tom Henke | P | 1985–1992 | |
| 41 | Pat Hentgen | P | 1991–1999, 2004 | |
| 47 | Corey Koskie | 3B | 2005 | Born inAnola, Manitoba, attendedUniversity of Manitoba |
| — | Tony Kubek | Broadcaster | 1977–1989 | |
| 3 | Bobby Mattick | Manager | 1980–1981 | |
| 39 | Dave McKay | 2B/3B | 1977–1979 | Born inVancouver, British Columbia |
| 15 | Lloyd Moseby | CF | 1980–1989 | |
| 9 | John Olerud | 1B | 1989–1996 | |
| 48 | Paul Quantrill | P | 1996–2001 | Born inLondon, Ontario |
| — | Jim Ridley | Scout | 1976–2002 | Born inToronto |
| — | Gladwyn Scott | Scout | 1987–1993 | Born inHamiota, Manitoba |
| 24 | Matt Stairs | OF/DH/1B | 2007–2008 | Born inSaint John, New Brunswick, grew up inFredericton, New Brunswick |
| — | Howard Starkman | Executive | 1976–2014 | Born in Toronto |
| 37 | Dave Stieb | P | 1979–1992, 1998 | |
| 31 | Duane Ward | P | 1986–1995 | |
| 12 | Ernie Whitt | C | 1977–1978, 1980–1989 | |
|
Soon after becoming the first person to be inducted in the Hall of Fame as a Blue Jay, on July 31, 2011, second baseman Roberto Alomar was the first person to have his number, #12, retired by the Blue Jays.[96] However, #12 was unretired due to controversies surrounding Alomar.[97]Jordan Hicks became the first Blue Jay since 2011 to wear this number in 2023.
On March 29, 2018, the Blue Jays retired #32 in honour ofRoy Halladay, who died in an airplane crash on November 7, 2017, becoming the second number to be retired by the Blue Jays.[98]
In 1996, the Blue Jays instituted a "Level of Excellence" on the 500 level of theRogers Centre, honouring "tremendous individual achievement."
 Tony Fernández SS, 3B: 1983–1990, 1993, 1998–1999, 2001 |  George Bell LF: 1981–1990 |  Carlos Delgado 1B: 1993–2004 |
 Joe Carter RF, 1B: 1991–1997 |  Dave Stieb P: 1979–1992, 1998 |  Cito Gaston Manager: 1989–1997, 2008–2010 |
 Tom Cheek Broadcaster: 1977–2005 |  Paul Beeston VP: 1976–1989; President: 1989–1997, 2008–2015 |  Roy Halladay P: 1998–2009 |
 Pat Gillick GM: 1978–1994 |  José Bautista RF, 3B: 2008–2017 |
Players' uniform numbers were listed—and in Tom Cheek's case, the number of consecutive games he called for the Blue Jays[99]—until the 2013 All-Star Break, even though, with the exception ofRoberto Alomar andRoy Halladay these numbers have not been retired. During the 2013 All-Star Break, the Level of Excellence was redesigned for the addition of Carlos Delgado's name. The redesign removed all uniform numbers from the Level of Excellence aside from Roberto Alomar's retired #12, Roy Halladay's retired #32 and Tom Cheek's 4306 consecutive called games streak.[100] On April 30, 2021, the Blue Jays announced that they would remove Alomar from the Level of Excellence and take down his banner at Rogers Centre after he was banned from baseball for sexual harassment.[101][102]
The Jays Care Foundation is the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball organization and conducts events to support local organizations and community members.[103] They also provide baseball education and life skill workshops to the youth of communities across Canada.[104][105][106]
Not just with all those Blue Jays fans flocking to downtown Detroit, thousands of them among a crowd for the finale of three-game series that drew a season-best 115,088 attendance.
Since 2011, Doucet has been the French-language voice of the Blue Jays for TVA. The Montreal native announced his retirement effective at season's end last month.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | World Series champions 1992–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | American League champions 1992–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | American League champions 2025 | Succeeded by Current |
|}
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
.svg)
