Jessie Barfield: Legendary Blue Jays outfielder

Jesse Barfield in his day with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Source: https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2021/4/13/22379357/
top-60-all-time-greatest-jays-6-jesse-barfield
(May be subject to copyright)

Every time he caught a fly ball in right field, and an opposing runner tagged up at third base, opponents cringed. I cheered.

Every time he came to the plate, opposing pitchers cringed. I cheered.

So when I heard recently that Jesse Barfield had been selected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, I cheered.

For a long time, until the day he was traded to the New York Yankees, he was my favourite Toronto Blue Jay.

In the beginning
Jesse Barfield broke into the Major Leagues with Toronto in 1981, when he appeared in 25 games and batted .232.

He earned a regular spot in the line-up in 1982, hitting .246 with 18 home runs and 55 runs batted in. He began to show a hint of things to come with the first pinch-hit, grand slam home run in franchise history. He also finished eighth in American League rookie-of-the-year balloting.

The end of the 1982 season was the first time the Jays began to show signs of becoming a better team, going 17-12 to end the season, and finishing with a 78-84 record, their best to date.

Breaking out
In 1983, Barfield hit .253 with 27 home runs and 58 RBIs. That was a breakout year for the Jays, not only finishing with a winning record for the first time, but also occupying first place for a considerable period of time. The Jays platooned several positions including the outfield, where Barfield shared playing time with Hosken Powell.

The following season Barfield hit .284 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs. By now, the Jays had solidified their outfield with George Bell in left field, Lloyd Moseby in centre field, and Barfield in right field. It was one of the best in franchise history, and definitely the best of the decade. The Jays also chased the Detroit Tigers all season long, and finished second to the eventual World Series champions. It was the best finish in the standings in franchise history.

In the 1985 season, the Blue Jays achieved another milestone, winning their first division championship. Barfield hit .289 with 27 home runs, 22 stolen bases and 22 outfield assists. He was the Blue Jays’ first 20-20 man – 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season.

It would be the only time he appeared in the playoffs, as the Jays faced the Kansas City Royals. They lost to the eventual World Series champions in seven games, after jumping out to a 3-1 series lead. Barfield hit .280 with one home run, four RBIs and one stolen base.

Jesse Barfield in the process of
throwing out a runner. He had one
of the strongest arms I've ever seen.
Source: https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/
objects/241504/dig-those-shades-
outfielder-jesse-barfield-is-the-picture-o
(May be subject to copyright)

Career year
The next season, 1986, was a career year for Jesse Barfield, and a year I remember very well. He led the Major Leagues with 40 home runs; had 108 RBIs; 170 hits including 35 doubles; 107 runs; and batted .289. He won his first Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger, and was named to the American League All-Star team.

I also remember that all-star game well. The National League had a runner at third base. The batter launched a deep fly ball to right field. The runner tagged, but the third base coach, who had seen Barfield play, held the runner because of Barfield’s strong arm.

That motion he made, cocking his arm to throw after he made a catch, looked like a cannon about to go off. That was Barfield’s biggest strength.

Closing out the decade
In 1987, Barfield appeared in 159 games, the most of his career, batting .263 with 28 home runs and 84 RBIs. He won his second Gold Glove as well.

The following season, 1988, he batted .244 with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs. It would be his last full season with the Jays.

Crushing blow
Barfield had appeared in 28 games in the 1989 season, batting .200 with five home runs and 11 RBIs.

Then one day that summer, I was sleeping in, in my room in res. My friend James Taylor just walked into my room and woke me up.

“Vogt, I’ve got bad news,” he said. “The Toronto Blue Jays trade Jesse ‘The Body’ Barfield…”

Then he lowered his voice. “To the New York Yankees for Al Leiter.”

I was crushed. My favourite Blue Jay was now, ugh, a Yankee.

After that, I never actually saw Jesse Barfield play again, although I heard injuries hampered his career. Ironically it ended in 1992, the same year the Blue Jays, and many of Barfield's teammates, won the World Series.

Parting thoughts
Jesse Barfield struck fear into the hearts of base runners every time he caught a fly ball and squared up to throw. I held my breath with anticipation because he threw out more base runners than any outfielder. When he did, it could kill any rally the opposing team was thinking of starting.

The same was true when he stepped to the plate. He was always a threat to go deep and break open any close game.

The knock on Barfield was that he struck out too much, often in key situations when he needed to drive in a run. What he was criticized for was that he always smiled, shook it off, and said God willing he would get out of whatever slump he was in.

He was criticized for having a positive attitude, smiling, and relying on his faith.That still amazes me.

Those are all values that made him a good person, not just a good ball player.

I was as frustrated as any fan when he struck out with the bases loaded, but I loved the fact he was always smiling, and always positive. That was due in large part to his faith.

The game, and all professional sports, need more of what Jesse Barfield was bringing. It would make baseball – and the world – a better place.

Jesse Barfield will always be my favourite Blue jay, as much for what he was off the field as he was on the field.