Blue Jays memories: 1983, Getting into the race, part one

The 1983 season was a wild ride for the Toronto Blue Jays, and the moment they turned the corner from league doormat, to contender. And it was so much fun to watch.

  

Bobby Cox was the manager of the 1983 Toronto Blue Jays.

Source: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

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Low expectations

The Blue Jays really began to turn their franchise around in the last part of the 1982 season, winning 17 out their last 26 games. The arrival of manager Bobby Cox, coupled with general manager Pat Gillick’s shrewd acquisition of key players, as well as good prospects, allowed the team to blossom in 1983.

They seemed to do it with mirrors at times. Cox employed a strategy where he platooned players at several positions, starting a right-handed batter or left-handed batter depending on the pitcher they faced. Individually, their stats were not impressive, but added together they made a major contribution at the plate. So, Garth Iorg and Rance Mulliniks alternated at third base, while Ernie Whitt and Buck Martinez alternated behind the plate at catcher. They also platooned a number of outfielders depending on game situation.

Garth Iorg platooned at third base
with the 1983 Toronto Blue Jays.

Source: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

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Rance Mulliniks platooned at third base
with the 1983 Toronto Blue Jays.

Source: www.bluebirdbanter.com

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They had no super stars in the field, aside from outfielder Dave Collins who had been a solid player for the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Yankees before the Jays traded for him in 1983. He was largely regarded as their best player going into the season. They also had two young outfielders, Lloyd Moseby in centre and Jesse Barfield in right, who were solid. The infield was anchored by shortstop Alfredo Griffin, who had been American League rookie of the year in 1979, an award he shared with John Castino of the Minnesota Twins. Complementing Griffin up the middle was second baseman Damaso
Garcia who was a great hitter, and formed a potent double-play combination with Griffin. Willie Upshaw had cemented his position at first base, playing well with his bat and glove.

Ernie Whitt platooned at catcher with the
1983 Toronto Blue Jays.

Source: http://www.sportslogos.net/

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Buck Martinez platooned at catcher with the
1983 Toronto Blue Jays.

Source: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

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The pitching staff was also a mixed bag, that became a microcosm of the team itself. Dave Stieb was the ace of the staff, having pitched five shut outs and 19 complete games the previous season to lead the American League. They had two other solid starters in Jim Clancy and Luis Leal, with Jim Gott, who had played some rookie league ball for the Calgary Cardinals of the Pioneer League, as a credible fourth starter. However, their bullpen was suspect. Closers Joey McLaughlin and Roy Lee Jackson could do the job, but they were by no means like the stoppers who

could be counted on to close a game every time they came out of the pen.

Alfredo Griffin was the shortstop for
the 1983 Toronto Blue Jays.

Source: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

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Damaso Garcia played second base for
the 1983 Toronto Blue Jays.

Source: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

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So, at the time, no one heard of most of these people and give them little chance of winning the American League East.

Surprise, surprise

Lloyd Moseby played centrefield for
the 1983 Toronto Blue Jays.

Source: www.pinterest.ca/pin/541276448960878675

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Jesse Barfield played rightfield for
the 1983 Toronto Blue Jays.

Source: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

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The season started the same way so many others had before them. Although Stieb beat Red Sox ace Dennis Eckersley in Fenway Park in Boston on opening day, the Jays could not really put together any sort of winning streak, trading wins and losses, closing out the first month of the season with an 8-10 record. They were sixth in the American League East and 2.5 games out of first. Nothing special, or surprising.

Dave Stieb was the ace of the pitching
staff for the 1983 Toronto Blue Jays.

Source: sabr.org

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Jim Clancy was another one of the aces of
the 1983 Toronto Blue Jays' pitching staff.

Source: www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

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It all changed in May, as the Jays caught fire. They went 15-6 to start the month, moving into a tie for first on May 23 when Luis Leal beat Milt Wilcox and the Tigers at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. It was the latest point in a season in franchise history that the Jays were in first place.

By the time the smoke had cleared, the Jays had gone 18-9 in May, to up their record to 26-19, and a one-game lead in the division. Moreover, Dave Stieb had been named pitcher of the month for May.

It was more of the same in June, as the Jays went 16-12, and doubled their division lead to two games with a 42-31 record.

They lost two of three to Seattle to start July, but had achieved something never before done in Blue Jays history. They led the American League East at the all-star break, with a one-game lead.

Adding to the excitement, Dave Stieb was named starter of the American League team at the all-star game at Comiskey Field in Chicago on July 6. He earned the win as the American League won 13-3, on the strength of a grand slam by Fred Lynn, the first and only grand slam in all-star history. Stieb struck out the side in the first inning too, fanning Andre Dawson, Dale Murphy and Mike Schmidt. It was also the first first of two straight years Stieb started the all-star game. Even though they were in first place, the Jays had no other players named to the all-star team. They were still a well-kept secret.

The Blue Jays would remain in first alone, or tied for first until July 25. They fell out of first on July 26, and were 2.5 games back by the end of July. Their record for the month was 15-12, and overall they were 57-43, still way further ahead than anyone predicted. Better yet, they were still in striking distance of first place.

*This is from the vault