Toronto Blue Jays managers
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[edit] Roy Hartsfield
- See also: Roy Hartsfield
- September 22, 1976 - September 30, 1979
- Overall Record: 163-309 (.345)
Hartsfield became Toronto's inaugural manager in 1976, but the ballclub never could escape the cellar. The Blue Jays lost 100 games in each of Hartsfield's three seasons as manager, and he was fired in 1979.
[edit] Bobby Mattick
- See also: Bobby Mattick
- September 30, 1979 - October 7, 1981
- Overall Record: 104-164 (.388)
Mattick was much more noted for his role with the team outside of his managerial duties. He helped draft the expansion club in 1976-1979, and became a member of the front office afterwards. His role as scout and vice president helped the team win their only two World Championships in 1992-93. The Blue Jays' training facility in Dunedin, Florida is named in his honour.
[edit] Bobby Cox
- See also: Bobby Cox
- October 15, 1981 - October 25, 1985
- Overall Record: 355-292 (.549)
Toronto flourished under Cox's leadership, enjoying their first winning season (1983) and capturing their first AL East Championship (1985) under him. Cox became famous for his platooning style of play – a style that some say cost Toronto in the 1985 ALCS vs. Kansas City. Cox won Toronto's only Manager of the Year Award in 1985.
[edit] Jimy Williams
- See also: Jimy Williams
- October 25, 1985 - May 15, 1989
- Overall Record: 281-241 (.537)
Williams, the team's third base coach since 1980, took over as the manager of a winning club for 1986. The Jays, however, never truly clicked under him and, though competitive, never returned to the glory of 1985. By 1988, Williams was locking horns with players, most notably left fielder George Bell, who refused to comply with his manager's request to play designated hitter. The Blue Jays continued to play lackluster baseball into the first half of the 1989 campaign, and Williams was let go near the midpoint of the season.
[edit] Cito Gaston
- See also: Cito Gaston
- May 15, 1989 - September 24, 1997
- Overall Record: 681-635 (.517)
The longest-serving and most successful manager in team history, Gaston saw the Blue Jays realize their dream in 1992 and 1993, as the club won back-to-back World Series. For this accomplishment, he was later enshrined in the team's Level of Excellence (the only manager to have such an honour). In addition to the two World Championships, he also saw Toronto claim two American League pennants and four division crowns. Previously the team's batting coach, Gaston had helped groom stars like Bell, Lloyd Moseby, Jesse Barfield, Fred McGriff, and Cecil Fielder. He also coached Carlos Delgado, Pat Hentgen, and Roger Clemens during some of the best years of their careers. Success became fleeting after the 1994 Players Strike, however, and Gaston was relieved of his duties in late 1997.
[edit] Tim Johnson
- See also: Tim Johnson (baseball)
- November 24, 1997 - March 17, 1999
- Overall Record: 88-74 (.543)
In one of the strangest seasons for a Blue Jays manager, Johnson found himself in the middle of a firestorm over false statements he made about being a Vietnam War veteran. The statements, made to be an inspiration to his struggling team, backfired, and alienated Johnson from many of his players. Despite a poor first half of the 1998 season, Toronto finished strong in the second half. Still, the controversy could not be squelched, and run-ins with pitching coach Mel Queen doomed Johnson in 1999.
[edit] Jim Fregosi
- See also: Jim Fregosi
- March 17, 1999 - October 10, 2000
- Overall Record: 167-157 (.515)
Fregosi was hired by Toronto in spring training of 1999 and charged with cleaning up Johnson's mess. Ironically, he had been the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies when they had lost the 1993 World Series to the Blue Jays. The team was a contender in both of his seasons, and in 2000, Toronto featured an offensive explosion with Delgado leading the way. Team management looked to go in a different direction in 2001, however, and axed Fregosi, making him the tenth manager to be fired that offseason.
[edit] Buck Martinez
- See also: Buck Martinez
- November 3, 2000 - June 3, 2002
- Overall Record: 100-115 (.465)
A former Blue Jay catcher and broadcaster for TSN and ESPN, Martinez took over the managerial reins in Toronto for the 2001 season. The Blue Jays, though offensively potent, remained stalled in third place in the AL East during his tenure. Although he survived the GM change from Gord Ash to J.P. Ricciardi and the poor trade for Mike Sirotka, Martinez could not survive long into 2002, being fired after a 20-33 start.
[edit] Carlos Tosca
- See also: Carlos Tosca
- June 3, 2002 - August 9, 2004
- Overall Record: 191-191 (.500)
Tosca, who had served as third base coach under Martinez, took over midway through 2002. The Jays finished solidly that year, and Tosca and his staff were rewarded with two-year extensions. In 2003, Tosca coached Toronto's triple-headed monster of Delgado, Vernon Wells and Roy Halladay with success. The team finished above .500 for the first time since 2000, but remained mired in third place in the division behind the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Noted for his Moneyball style of coaching, Tosca emphasized a high OBP and few steals. In 2004 the team treaded backwards, plummeting to last place in the AL East, and Tosca found himself in hot water with the fans and the media. He was fired in August of that season.
[edit] John Gibbons
- See also: John Gibbons
- August 9, 2004 - present
- Record after 2007 season: 270-266 (.504)
Gibbons replaced Tosca and saw himself immersed in Toronto's youth movement. In 2005, the club played well, even though they did not rise above .500 and third place in the AL East. Gibbons helped rookies Gustavo Chacín and Aaron Hill, and the Jays showed flashes of a bright future to come. 2006 saw an influx of payroll and an infusion of All-Star talent. That season also displayed Gibbons' fiery demeanor, as the manager became embroiled in separate headline-grabbing clubhouse altercations with designated hitter Shea Hillenbrand and starting pitcher Ted Lilly. Gibbons' Blue Jays went on to finish above third in the division for the first time since 1993, but injuries and inconsistency, especially regarding the pitching staff, derailed their playoff hopes.
[edit] References
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