Dave Stieb barely beat out Roy Halladay for the top spot on this list, and it does fit to have Stieb at number one, as he was arguably the first real star of the franchise.
Stieb made his first appearance for the Jays in 1979 and was their ace a year later, going to his first of seven All-Star Games. In the first half of the 80s, Toronto was dealing with the typical issues of an expansion team, and it likely cost Stieb a 20-win season, as it is conceivable that on a better team, his back-to-back 17 Win years (1982 & 1983) could have hit 20.
While Stieb was generating press in Canada, many American fans were unaware of his skills. A power pitcher, Stieb was also known for his volatility and intense competitiveness, which did not always make him a clubhouse favorite, but a man that his teammates wanted on their side. Stieb never won a Cy Young, but in 1982, The Sporting News named him the American League Pitcher of the Year.
Stieb would later win the ERA Title in 1985 and anchor the team to their first postseason. He remained one of the top hurlers in the AL for the rest of the decade, and when the 80s ended, only Jack Morris had more Wins.
Stieb received a ring, and though that year's contributions were minimal, Toronto was built on his arm. Back issues held Stieb to minimal starts in the early 90s, and Toronto had to create a contender without him, which they did, winning the World Series in 1992. Stieb signed with the White Sox after the season, though he retired a year after. He attempted a comeback in 1998 with Toronto but retired shortly after.
Stieb is, as of this writing, the all-time franchise leader in bWAR for Pitchers (56.9), Wins (175), and Strikeouts (1,656). He is also a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, and is enshrined in the Jays Level of Excellence.
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