Jimmy Key was born in Huntsville, Alabama in 1961. He grew to become an exceptionally controlled pitcher under the coaching of his father, and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox during his senior year of high school. Key turned down the White Sox, however, to accept a full scholarship at Clemson University in South Carolina. Following a dazzling collegiate career, he was drafted again in 1982 – this time by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Key spent two seasons in the Jays minor league system starting with the Medicine Hat Blue Jays in Alberta before his MLB debut in 1984, when he set a franchise rookie record with ten saves. He made his first All-Star appearance in 1985, then played his best-ever season with the Jays in 1987, winning 17-8, pitching 261 innings, and boasting an ERA of 2.76. Key’s efforts earned him the title of American League Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News, as well as second place in the American League Cy Young Award voting.
Key attained All-Star status again in 1991, then was the winning pitcher for Game Six of the 1992 Fall Classic against the Atlanta Braves, sharing in the glory of the Jays’ first World Series victory. 1992 was ultimately Key’s last season with the Jays, and one in which he cemented himself as a star pitcher in the team’s history. Key holds records for first in ERA (3.42) and WHIP (1.20), as well as fourth in wins (116), games started (250), innings pitched (1,695-2/3) and shutouts (10).
The pitcher then signed with the New York Yankees and his successes continued. He reached his career record of eighteen wins in 1993, played the All-Star games of 1993 and 1994, earned a second Pitcher of the Year Award in 1994, was once again the runner-up for the Cy Young Award in 1994, and won a second World Series in 1996. Key joined the Baltimore Orioles for their 1997 American League East Championship win, and finally retired after the end of the 1998 season following fourteen years in Major League Baseball.
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame is honoured to celebrate Jimmy Key’s legacy as one of the most successful pitchers in Blue Jays history, and of baseball in Canada.
See the Artifacts
Taken between 1989 and 1992, this photo depicts Jimmy Key pitching for the Jays.
Jimmy Key’s home jersey which he wore during the 1988 season with the Toronto Blue Jays. This pullover style of jersey was replaced the following season with a button-down jersey.
A Rawlings baseball autographed by Jimmy Key.
