The Cooperstown career of Fred McGriff began in Toronto (well, in the Yankees organization, before they traded him as a Minor Leaguer in 1986, appearing in three Games, but the First Baseman appeared in 107 Games the year after, blasting 20 Home Runs, and proving himself as a capable Major League power hitter.

Entering 1988, “The Crime Dog” was now one of the better First Basemen in the AL, and he broke out with a 34 Home Run/82 RBI season.  1989 was his best year in a Blue Jays uniform, winning the Home Run (36) and OPS Title (.924) with a Silver Slugger and All-Star Game appearance.  McGriff was also sixth in MVP voting. 

After another good year in 1990, McGriff was traded to San Diego, leaving behind 130 Home Runs.  The Jays would win the 1992 and 1993 World Series, but McGriff got his rig shortly after in 1995 as an Atlanta Brave.

In 2023, McGriff was chosen by the Veteran’s Committee for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

In the glory days of the early 90s Blue Jays, Devon White was their leadoff man, helping them win their coveted back-to-back World Series Titles in 1992 and 1993.

White first tasted Major League action in 1985 as a member of the California Angels and was a starting Centerfielder two years later.  White made his first All-Star Game in 1989, but after a sub-par 1990, White was traded to Toronto in a transaction that history favored the Blue Jays.

White’s first three years in Toronto were fantastic.  A Gold Glove recipient in all five of his Jays years, White led the AL in Total Zone Runs in 1992 and Defensive bWAR and was a crucial cog in the Jays World Series wins in 1992 and 1993, the latter of which was an All-Star year.  In all those campaigns, White had at least 155 Hits, 15 Home Runs, and 30 Stolen Bases, but as competent as he was with his bat, he was considered the best defensive Centerfielder in the American League.  

White slipped in 1994 and 1995, though he was still good, he left for the Marlins for the 1996 Season via free agency.  With Toronto, White batted .270 with 733 Hits and 126 Stolen Bases.

Jim Clancy was not a superstar over his long career, but he was a dependable Starter for over a decade with the Blue Jays and provided necessary depth in the rotation.  Few Pitchers in the Majors can say that for a team.

A Third Round Pick from Washington State, John Olerud is one of a handful of players who never played in the Minors before tasting the Majors.

Playing only a handful of games in 1989, the First Baseman was used in a platoon in 1990 and 1991, but it was evident that Olerud was ready to take it over full-time.  Olerud was their everyday First Baseman when they won their first World Series in 1992, and he was one of the best players in the AL the following season when the Blue Jays repeated as champions.  

Olerud was still good over the next three seasons, though he was not as offensively potent.  Olerud won the 1993 Batting Title (.363) and led the league in OBP (.473), OPS (1.072), OPS+ (186), and Doubles (54).  He finished third in MVP voting, and this was his only season as a Jay where he went to an All-Star Game.  Toronto traded Olerud to the Mets as part of an overhaul, leaving the organization with 910 Hits, 109 Home Runs, and a Batting Average of .293.  Olerud was also inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.