Over 50 seasons of Blue Jays baseball, there have been some truly historic moments, and some extraordinary people who made it all happen. Let’s have a look back at just a few of the greats!
Broken legs don't stop plays…
Before Buck Martinez became one of the most esteemed broadcasters in franchise history, he was a catcher for the Blue Jays from 1981-86. On July 9, 1985, 36-year-old Martinez would find himself in an unusual predicament at home plate against the Mariners. In the bottom of the 3rd, with one runner on second, Seattle’s Gorman Thomas singled to right field where Jesse Barfield scooped up the ball and gunned it home, attempting to catch Phil Bradley, who was charging for the plate. Martinez caught the ball just as Bradley arrived at home plate, resulting in a horrific collision between the two players. Martinez was slammed to the ground, but with the ball still in his hand, he sat up to see Thomas continuing around the bases. He attempted to throw the ball to third baseman Garth Iorg but it flew past him into leftfield. As Thomas ran for home, George Bell grabbed the ball, and sent it back to Martinez at the plate. Martinez, still sitting in the dirt, caught the throw and tagged Thomas from the ground to earn the unusual double play. On his back in the dirt next to home plate, it became apparent just how badly the catcher was injured. Martinez was taken off the field on a stretcher, where they discovered that the initial collision had broken Martinez’s fibula and dislocated his ankle. He was out for the remainder of the season.
Buck Martinez would eventually manage the team, and he became a beloved member of the Blue Jays broadcasting team. From the Sportsnet booth, he called further Blue Jays ALDS, ALCS and World Series runs, his voice the soundtrack of many memorable Blue Jays moments for Canadians everywhere.
One and only
Dave Stieb, one of the toughest Jays to ever take the mound for the Blue Jays, was the only one in franchise history to ever throw a no-hitter!
In 1988, Stieb suffered through losing a pair of no-hitters in back-to-back starts, both of which were lost with two outs in the 9th inning! If that wasn’t heartbreaking enough, Stieb then lost a perfect game in 1989, again with only one out remaining in the 9th. Stieb was knocking on the door of perfection, and he’d been so close so many times! At last, on September 2, 1990, in a game against the Cleveland Indians, Stieb forced Jerry Browne to line out to right field for the final out of the Blue Jays’ first (and so far, only) franchise no-hitter. Seconds after the last pitch was caught by outfielder Junior Félix, the team rushed forward and lifted Stieb into the air in celebration.
Devo vs. The Outfield Wall
As a 5x Gold Glover with the Blue Jays, Devon White was a star in Toronto’s outfield. He had made numerous impressive catches, but it was in 1992 that one defensive play shocked the world. In Game 3 of the 1992 World Series, Atlanta Braves’ David Justice drove a ball way out to deep center field in the 4th inning. In a beautiful moment of impeccable timing, White jumped for the ball, making the catch as he plunged face-first into the outfield wall padding. He then landed on his feet, turned and gunned the ball back into the infield, initiating a double play. It remains one of the greatest catches in Blue Jays history.
4 Home Runs
On September 25th, 2003 Carlos Delgado walked into SkyDome with 299 career home runs… and a terrible flu. He left the stadium that evening with 303 career home runs. That’s right, on this seemingly below-average day, Delgado hit 4 home runs in one game against Tampa Bay, becoming the 15th MLB player to ever do so. The feat still stands as a franchise record for the most home runs in one game for the Blue Jays, and it confirmed Delgado as a Toronto legend.
(Bat) Flippin’ Awesome
“The Bat Flip” is one of the most iconic moments in Blue Jays history. On October 14, 2015, José Bautista stepped up to the plate during a do-or-die ALDS Game 5 match against the Texas Rangers. With two on base and the game tied at 3-3 in the 7th, he slammed a three-run home run over the left field wall. Overcome by the moment, he tossed his bat in the air, flipping it in celebration and defiance. The 6-3 lead held, sending Toronto to the ALCS for the first time since 1993. This moment solidified Bautista’s legacy as one of the greatest Blue Jays of all time.
Springer Dinger
George Springer is one of the most well-known household names amongst Blue Jays fans today. Springer is the winner of three Silver Slugger awards, he has made four All-Star appearances, but what really made his name in Toronto history is the “Springer Dinger”. During Game 7 of the 2025 ALCS against Cleveland, Toronto was trailing. They had scored just one run in the first inning, with Cleveland leading 3-1 by the end of the 6th. In the bottom of the 7th, with two on base and an incredibly nervous crowd, Springer stepped up to the plate and hit the ball soaring over the leftfield wall. The 3-run home run launched the Blue Jays into the World Series for the first time in 32 years. The moment was all his as he leapt and screamed into the air all the way to home plate. With the series tied 3-3, the Blue Jays were in need of a miracle and the “Springer Dinger” was all that we could have asked for.
WAMCO
WAMCO is a popular term for the five players that typically made up the top of the batting order for the Blue Jays in 1993: Devon White, Roberto Alomar, Paul Molitor, Joe Carter, and John Olerud. This dominant group helped propel the Blue Jays to their second World Series title with their unstoppable offence. If you combine the career awards of every member of WAMCO, you would have 20 Gold Gloves and 10 Silver Sluggers, not to mention a combined 29 All-Star selections. Additionally, John Olerud won the Batting Title in 1993, leading the AL with an average of .363. Incredibly, Blue Jays took the two and three spots as well, with Paul Molitor recording a batting average of .332, and Alomar in third at .326.
The 1980s Outfield
Another iconic grouping took over the Blue Jays outfield throughout the 1980s, forming perhaps the most talented outfield trio in franchise history. From 1984-1988, George Bell, Lloyd Moseby and Jesse Barfield patrolled left, centre and rightfield respectively. This powerful trio is remembered as one of the best in franchise history, as they were essential to the Blue Jays’ arrival in the post-season in ‘85 and ‘87 both for their fielding and hitting abilities. During their time in Toronto, they collected a combined 5 Silver Sluggers, 2 Gold Gloves, and of course, George Bell took home the MVP ring in 1987 (the first in Blue Jays franchise history).
Doc
One of the most iconic Blue Jays of all time, Roy “Doc” Halladay‘s history with the team began in 1998, when the young pitcher nearly threw a no-hitter in his debut season. September 27th was the last day of the season for the Blue Jays, and Halladay was looking to make his mark. He pitched a no-hitter into the 8th inning, but was thwarted when Bobby Higginson of the Detroit Tigers smashed a home run off of him. Halladay would eventually earn his first Cy Young with the Blue Jays in 2003 after winning 22 games that season. He held a .661 winning percentage overall (the best in franchise history) and ranks second all-time in Blue Jays pitchers for wins, shutouts, strikeouts and WAR. He also pitched numerous shut-outs for the team, including one on his last day with the Blue Jays.
Roy Halladay and his wife Brandy were also two of the biggest supporters of the Jays Care Foundation, with Roy donating $100,000 a year as a part of his contract with the club. He also sponsored “Doc’s Box” at the Rogers Centre, which invited children and families from the Hospital for Sick Children to watch the game in a private box. His kind heart and contributions to the club make him one of the most highly regarded Blue Jays of all time.
Duane Ward
A reliever and a miracle worker, Duane Ward was one of the best pitchers the Jays ever had in the bullpen, playing for the team from 1986 through 1995 (with the exception of ‘94, due to injury). In his first five seasons with the Jays, he is noted for never appearing less than 64 times a season and pitching over 100 innings each year. After Tom Henke departed from the team in 1992, Ward became the team’s new designated closer. In this role he helped lead the Jays to the World Series championship in 1993. That same year he set a franchise record of 45 saves and 70 games in one season. In his 9 seasons with the Jays, he appeared in 452 total games, the second-most by a pitcher for Toronto. After retiring, he would continually promote and work for the Jays as an alumnus, even working in baseball clinics for the Toronto Blue Jays Academy and Jays Care Foundation.
Dr. Ron Taylor
Ron Taylor was a Canadian legend on the ballfield. With two World Series championship rings earned with the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets, he is the only Canadian player to win a World Series with two different teams. After hanging up his cleats, Taylor returned to school, earning a degree in medicine from the University of Toronto. In addition to his own practice, Dr. Taylor then became the Blue Jays’ team doctor from 1979 to 2014. Throughout his tenure with Toronto, he worked with numerous players, including the two World Series winning teams.
Cito Gaston
After retiring from 11 seasons playing in the major leagues, Cito Gaston joined the Blue Jays in 1982 as a full-time batting instructor. In 1989 he replaced Jimy Williams as Manager of the Blue Jays, becoming the man who would truly make the Blue Jays fly. Within the next 4 seasons he guided the team to winning four Division Championships and two World Series titles, writing his name into history as the first black manager to win a World Series. He managed the team until 1997, later returning as a coach before managing again from 2008-2010. He is the greatest Blue Jays manager of all time, and one of Major League Baseball’s greatest all-time managers as well.
Paul Beeston
Hired on May 10, 1976 as the organization’s first ever employee, Paul Beeston would evolve into one of the most vital members of the Blue Jays franchise. In December of 1991, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the franchise, where he would oversee both World Series-winning teams. In 1997, he became the President and Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball. He still works with the team today, more than 50 years after he was hired.
Hazel Mae
As the franchise grows and evolves, so does its diversity, and as a result we are seeing a growing number of powerful women who are driving the Blue Jays organization. Marnie Starkman, the Executive VP of Business Operations is one of the highest ranking female executives in Major League Baseball. The Blue Jays have also had multiple female coaches within their organization, including 2024 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Ashley Stephenson. One individual whose legacy is still being written is Hazel Mae, on-field Blue Jays reporter with Sportsnet. Mae started with Rogers Sportsnet in 2001 and climbed through the ranks to become the Jays’ on-field reporter in 2015, the role we all know and love her for. Dodging Gatorade at the end of every Blue Jays win and reporting on the biggest moments, she is the second woman to win the Jack Graney Award for lifetime media excellence. Mae has also lately been joined on the Sportsnet team by Madison Shipman, who made history on July 10, 2026 as she became the first woman to call a regular season Blue Jays game on the TV broadcast. Hazel Mae has blazed a trail, setting the standard for women in sports broadcasting, and bringing us some of the biggest news in Toronto baseball.
