40. Willie Upshaw

When the Toronto Blue Jays plucked Willie Upshaw from the New York Yankees organization in the 1977 Rule 5 draft, they were a fledgling expansion franchise seeking foundational building blocks. The raw, left-handed-hitting prospect needed a patient developmental runway, spending his first few summers in Canada in part-time roles and minor-league assignments. By 1982, however, that investment paid off as Upshaw firmly seized the everyday first-base job, anchoring the infield for a rising young squad that was rapidly learning how to win.

Once entrenched at first, Upshaw quickly blossomed into one of the American League's premier offensive catalysts. He rattled off three consecutive seasons crossing the 150-hit threshold, showcasing a beautiful, fluid left-handed stroke that perfectly manipulated the gaps at Exhibition Stadium. He combined that line-drive consistency with excellent over-the-fence muscle, blasting 21 home runs in 1982 to signal his arrival as a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat.

That steady upward climb culminated in a historic individual masterpiece during a magnificent 1983 campaign. Upshaw completely paralyzed junior-circuit pitching, putting together the finest season of his life. He became the first player in Blue Jays history to eclipse the 100-RBI barrier, launching a career-high 27 home runs and racking up 177 hits. His clinical approach at the plate was reflected in a sparkling .306/.373/515 slash line, a high-leverage performance that drew significant national attention and earned him an 11th-place finish in the AL MVP balloting.

While Upshaw would never quite replicate the blistering statistical peak of that 1983 showcase, his steady bat and veteran poise remained central to the franchise's golden era. He slugged 19 home runs in 1984 and was a major engine for the historic 1985 squad, which won 99 games to capture Toronto's first-ever American League East pennant. He would give the club two more productive years of iron-man durability before the Cleveland Indians purchased his contract ahead of the 1988 season.

With the Blue Jays, Upshaw had 778 hits, 142 doubles, 112 home runs, and 427 RBIs with a .265/.336/442 slash line (109 OPS+).