1989 Toronto Blue Jays season explained

Toronto Blue Jays
Season:	1989
Misc:	American League East Champions
League:	American League
Division:	East
Ballpark:	Exhibition Stadium
City:	Toronto
Record:	89–73 (.549)
Divisional Place:	1st
Owners:	Labatt Breweries, Imperial Trust, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
General Managers:	Pat Gillick
Managers:	Jimy Williams, Cito Gaston
Television:	CFTO-TV (Don Chevrier, Tony Kubek, Fergie Olver) The Sports Network (Fergie Olver, Buck Martinez)
Radio:	CJCL (AM) (Jerry Howarth, Tom Cheek)

The 1989 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's 13th season of Major League Baseball. It resulted in the Blue Jays finishing first in the American League East with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses. The Blue Jays' ace pitcher Dave Stieb led the staff with 17 victories, and the team was offensively buoyed by the league's home run king Fred McGriff.^[1] Toronto won the AL East pennant in the final weekend of the season against the favored Baltimore Orioles.^[1] The Blue Jays lost the ALCS in five games to the eventual World Series champion Oakland Athletics. It was the team's last season at Exhibition Stadium, before moving to SkyDome halfway into the season. The Blue Jays hit eight grand slams, the most in MLB in 1989.^[2]

Transactions

Transactions by the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season before the 1989 season.^[3]

October 1988

	Signed amateur free agent Carlos Delgado to a contract.
	Steve Davis granted free agency. Lou Thornton granted free agency. Dave Walsh granted free agency.
	Jim Clancy granted free agency.
	Released Frank Wills.
	Released Doug Bair.

November 1988

	Mike Flanagan granted free agency. Rick Leach granted free agency.

December 1988

	Gerónimo Berroa drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 1988 MLB Rule 5 draft. Matt Stark drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 1988 MLB Rule 5 draft. Eric Yelding drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 1988 MLB Rule 5 draft.
	Drafted Tom Gilles from the Minnesota Twins in the 1988 Minor League Draft. Drafted Mauro Gozzo from the Kansas City Royals in the 1988 Minor League Draft.
	Player rights of Cecil Fielder sold to the Hanshin Tigers of the NPB.
	Re-signed free agent Mike Flanagan to a contract.

January 1989

	Re-signed free agent Frank Wills to a contract.
	Signed free agent Bob Brenly from the San Francisco Giants to a contract.
	Signed free agent Tom Lawless from the St. Louis Cardinals to a one-year, $175,000 contract.
	Signed free agent Chico Walker from the Chicago Cubs to a contract.

February 1989

	Re-signed free agent Doug Bair to a one-year, $150,000 contract.

March 1989

	Acquired DeWayne Buice from the California Angels for Cliff Young.
	Player rights of Mark Eichhorn sold to the Atlanta Braves.

Regular season

The regular season would represent a turning point for the Blue Jays in many different ways. The Blue Jays started the 1989 season in Kansas City against the Royals. Behind the pitching of Jimmy Key, the Jays won the first game of the season 4–3.^[4] The rest of the month would result in a losing record for the Jays. After the first month of the season, the Blue Jays had 10 wins and 20 losses and sat 6.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the standings. The result was that Pat Gillick made his first trade in 605 days.^[4] On April 30, Gillick sent Jesse Barfield to the New York Yankees in exchange for Al Leiter.^[4] The reason for the deal was that management was convinced that Rob Ducey was ready to be an everyday outfielder. The spot eventually went to the surprising Junior Felix that year, and Ducey never became the everyday player the Jays imagined him to be.

The Blue Jays had never fired a manager in the middle of the season. After the Jays were swept by the Minnesota Twins in a three-game series, including a 13–1 loss in the final game of the series, the Jays had 12 wins and 24 losses.^[5] The Jays had also lost 15 of their last 19 games. Gillick decided that a change was needed. On Monday, May 15, Jimy Williams had become the first Jays manager to be fired in mid-season.^[6] Williams would be replaced by Cito Gaston, the first black manager in the history of the franchise.

The Blue Jays' last game at Exhibition Stadium was against the first team they played there, the Chicago White Sox. From there, the Blue Jays opened the new Skydome with a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. On September 30, they clinched the American League East division title at the new ballpark.

Notable games

April 16, 1989 - Blue Jays third baseman Kelly Gruber hits for the cycle in a 15–8 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
May 4, 1989 - In a game versus the California Angels, Junior Felix hits a home run in his first Major League at-bat, becoming only the 60th Major Leaguer to achieve the feat.^[7]
May 28, 1989 - The Blue Jays play their final game at Exhibition Stadium, a 7–5 10-inning win over the Chicago White Sox. Coincidentally, the White Sox had been the Jays' opponents in their first game at Exhibition Stadium (also the first game in franchise history) twelve years before.
June 4, 1989 - The Blue Jays stage a remarkable comeback in a game against the Red Sox in Boston. Trailing 10–0 after six innings, they slowly close the gap, finally taking an 11-10 lead on a ninth-inning grand slam by Ernie Whitt. Boston ties the score in the bottom half of the inning, but Junior Felix smokes a two-run home run in the top of the 12th inning, giving Toronto a 13–11 victory.^[8] ^[9]
June 5, 1989 - The Blue Jays play their first game in the brand-new SkyDome, a 5–3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.^[10]
August 4, 1989 - With the Blue Jays leading the New York Yankees 2–0, Dave Stieb comes one out away from pitching a perfect game, but the Yankees' Roberto Kelly cracks a double into left field to break it up. Steve Sax then singles Kelly home to cut the lead to 2–1, but the Blue Jays ace holds on for the victory. It marks the third time in two seasons that Stieb has lost a no-hitter with two out in the ninth inning.^[11]
September 30, 1989 - In the next-to-last game of the regular season (and the last edition of NBC Sports' Saturday afternoon Game of the Week before the series moved to CBS the following season), the Blue Jays clinch their second American League East division title. Tom Henke strikes out the Baltimore Orioles' Larry Sheets for the final out.^[12]

Opening Day starters

Transactions

Transactions for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1989 regular season.^[13]

April 1989

	Acquired Al Leiter from the New York Yankees for Jesse Barfield.

May 1989

	Signed amateur free agent Robert Pérez to a contract.

June 1989

	Released Dane Johnson.
	Player rights of Doug Bair sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
	Signed free agent Ozzie Virgil Jr. from the Atlanta Braves to a contract.

July 1989

	Released Bob Brenly.
	Acquired Mookie Wilson from the New York Mets for Jeff Musselman and Mike Brady. Selected Lee Mazzilli off of waivers from the New York Mets.

August 1989

	Acquired Jim Acker from the Atlanta Braves for Francisco Cabrera and Tony Castillo.
	Signed amateur free agent Paul Spoljaric to a contract.

Draft picks

June 5, 1989: John Olerud was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 3rd round of the 1989 amateur draft. Player signed August 26, 1989.^[14]
June 5, 1989: Aaron Small was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 22nd round of the 1989 amateur draft. Player signed June 8, 1989.^[15]

Roster

1989 Toronto Blue Jays
Roster
Pitchers		CatchersInfielders		OutfieldersOther batters		ManagerCoaches (hitting)

Game log

|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 1 || April 3 || @ Royals || 4–3 || Key (1–0) || Gubicza (0–1) || Henke (1) || 38,595 || 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 2 || April 5 || @ Royals || 2–1 || Gordon (1–0) || Stottlemyre (0–1) || || 17,126 || 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 3 || April 6 || @ Royals || 3–2 || Montgomery (1–0) || Ward (0–1) || Farr (1) || 18,883 || 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 4 || April 7 || @ Rangers || 10–9 || Castillo (1–0) || Guante (1–1) || Henke (2) || 22,914 || 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 5 || April 8 || @ Rangers || 5–4 || Moyer (1–0) || Key (1–1) || Russell (2) || 26,073 || 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 6 || April 9 || @ Rangers || 3–2 || Rogers (1–0) || Henke (0–1) || || 19,498 || 2–4|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 7 || April 10 || @ Yankees || 8–0 || Stieb (1–0) || Hawkins (0–2) || || 17,192 || 3–4|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 8 || April 11 || @ Yankees || 11–6 (10) || Henke (1–1) || Righetti (0–1) || || 20,277 || 4–4|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 9 || April 12 || @ Yankees || 5–3 || Candelaria (1–1) || Castillo (1–1) || Guetterman (1) || 17,900 || 4–5|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 10 || April 14 || Royals || 3–0 || Key (2–1) || Leibrandt (0–1) || || 46,028 || 5–5|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 11 || April 15 || Royals || 10–5 || Aquino (2–0) || Ward (0–2) || || 25,247 || 5–6|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 12 || April 16 || Royals || 15–8 || Wells (1–0) || Saberhagen (1–1) || Castillo (1) || 35,210 || 6–6|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 13 || April 17 || Yankees || 7–2 || Hawkins (1–2) || Flanagan (0–1) || || 23,260 || 6–7|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 14 || April 18 || Yankees || 2–0 || LaPoint (1–1) || Musselman (0–1) || Righetti (1) || 25,040 || 6–8|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 15 || April 19 || Yankees || 4–2 || Candelaria (2–1) || Key (2–2) || Guetterman (3) || 26,471 || 6–9|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 16 || April 21 || Rangers || 6–3 || Stieb (2–0) || Brown (1–1) || Ward (1) || 22,186 || 7–9|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 17 || April 22 || Rangers || 4–2 || Ward (1–2) || Hough (2–1) || || 27,278 || 8–9|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 18 || April 23 || Rangers || 4–1 || Ryan (2–1) || Stottlemyre (0–2) || || 31,473 || 8–10|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 19 || April 24 || @ Athletics || 5–4 || Nelson (2–1) || Henke (1–2) || || 25,099 || 8–11|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 20 || April 25 || @ Athletics || 3–1 || Davis (2–1) || Cerutti (0–1) || Eckersley (7) || 12,437 || 8–12|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 21 || April 26 || @ Mariners || 7–6 || Trout (2–1) || Wells (1–1) || Jackson (1) || 7,399 || 8–13|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 22 || April 27 || @ Mariners || 6–1 || Flanagan (1–1) || Dunne (0–1) || || 8,600 || 9–13|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 23 || April 28 || @ Angels || 9–0 || McCaskill (4–1) || Stottlemyre (0–3) || || 30,958 || 9–14|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 24 || April 29 || @ Angels || 4–3 (10) || Minton (1–0) || Ward (1–3) || || 49,906 || 9–15|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 25 || April 30 || @ Angels || 1–0 (11) || McClure (1–0) || Henke (1–3) || || 31,125 || 9–16|-|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 26 || May 2 || Athletics || 8–5 || Honeycutt (1–0) || Ward (1–4) || Plunk (1) || 23,439 || 9–17|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 27 || May 3 || Athletics || 2–0 || Flanagan (2–1) || Moore (3–2) || || 22,370 || 10–17|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 28 || May 4 || Angels || 3–2 (10) || Harvey (1–0) || Ward (1–5) || Minton (3) || 21,188 || 10–18|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 29 || May 5 || Angels || 5–3 || Abbott (2–2) || Cerutti (0–2) || Harvey (5) || 24,188 || 10–19|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 30 || May 6 || Angels || 5–4 || McClure (2–0) || Ward (1–6) || || 39,123 || 10–20|- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb"| -- || May 7 || Angels || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for July 17|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 31 || May 8 || Mariners || 10–1 || Stieb (3–0) || Dunne (1–2) || || 23,293 || 11–20|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 32 || May 9 || Mariners || 4–3 || Hanson (4–2) || Flanagan (2–2) || Schooler (7) || 24,234 || 12–20|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 33 || May 10 || Mariners || 3–2 || Key (3–2) || Langston (4–4) || || 33,216 || 12–21|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 34 || May 12 || @ Twins || 6–5 || Berenguer (1–0) || Wells (1–2) || Reardon (6) || 24,073 || 12–22|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 35 || May 13 || @ Twins || 10–8 || Rawley (3–4) || Stieb (3–1) || Reardon (7) || 29,712 || 12–23|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 36 || May 14 || @ Twins || 13–1 || Viola (2–5) || Flanagan (2–3) || || 33,980 || 12–24|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 37 || May 15 || Indians || 5–3 || Key (4–2) || Farrell (2–3) || || 22,330 || 13–24|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 38 || May 16 || Indians || 7–6 || Henke (2–3) || Atherton (0–2) || Ward (2) || 23,214 || 14–24|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 39 || May 17 || Indians || 6–3 || Black (2–5) || Stieb (3–2) || Jones (7) || 24,406 || 14–25|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 40 || May 19 || @ White Sox || 9–3 || Flanagan (3–3) || King (4–4) || || 11,282 || 15–25|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 41 || May 20 || @ White Sox || 11–1 || Key (5–2) || Hillegas (1–5) || || 18,029 || 16–25|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 42 || May 21 || @ White Sox || 9–3 || Cerutti (1–2) || Pérez (2–5) || Ward (3) || 16,488 || 17–25|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 43 || May 22 || Twins || 6–2 || Anderson (5–2) || Stieb (3–3) || || 40,134 || 17–26|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 44 || May 23 || Twins || 2–1 || Wells (2–2) || Berenguer (2–2) || || 24,443 || 18–26|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 45 || May 24 || Twins || 10–4 || Viola (3–6) || Flanagan (3–4) || || 27,138 || 18–27|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 46 || May 26 || White Sox || 11–3 || Key (6–2) || Hillegas (1–6) || || 30,105 || 19–27|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 47 || May 27 || White Sox || 5–3 || Pérez (3–5) || Cerutti (1–3) || Thigpen (7) || 37,437 || 19–28|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 48 || May 28 || White Sox || 7–5 (10) || Henke (3–3) || Thigpen (0–1) || || 46,120 || 20–28|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 49 || May 29 || @ Indians || 5–3 || Candiotti (6–2) || Flanagan (3–5) || Jones (10) || 19,947 || 20–29|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 50 || May 30 || @ Indians || 6–2 || Farrell (3–5) || Sanchez (0–1) || || 6,204 || 20–30|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 51 || May 31 || @ Indians || 7–4 || Black (4–6) || Key (6–3) || Jones (11) || 12,890 || 20–31|-|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 52 || June 2 || @ Red Sox || 7–2 || Cerutti (2–3) || Dopson (5–4) || Ward (4) || 33,584 || 21–31|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 53 || June 3 || @ Red Sox || 10–2 || Stieb (4–3) || Boddicker (3–5) || || 33,942 || 22–31|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 54 || June 4 || @ Red Sox || 13–11 (12) || Ward (2–6) || Lamp (0–1) || || 33,760 || 23–31|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 55 || June 5 || Brewers || 5–3 || August (5–6) || Key (6–4) || Plesac (13) || 48,378 || 23–32|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 56 || June 6 || Brewers || 6–4 || Aldrich (1–0) || Ward (2–7) || Crim (3) || 45,520 || 23–33|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 57 || June 7 || Brewers || 4–2 || Cerutti (3–3) || Bosio (6–4) || || 45,372 || 24–33|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 58 || June 9 || Tigers || 2–0 || Stieb (5–3) || Tanana (5–6) || Wells (1) || 48,219 || 25–33|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 59 || June 10 || Tigers || 11–8 || Williams (3–2) || Key (6–5) || || 48,430 || 25–34|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 60 || June 11 || Tigers || 4–0 || Flanagan (4–5) || Schwabe (1–1) || Ward (5) || 48,274 || 26–34|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 61 || June 12 || Tigers || 5–4 (11) || Henke (4–3) || Gibson (2–4) || || 48,531 || 27–34|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 62 || June 13 || @ Brewers || 4–3 || Ward (3–7) || Plesac (2–3) || || 15,469 || 28–34|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 63 || June 14 || @ Brewers || 6–1 || Stieb (6–3) || Krueger (2–1) || || 14,808 || 29–34|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 64 || June 15 || @ Brewers || 6–4 || Fossas (1–0) || Key (6–6) || Plesac (15) || 16,964 || 29–35|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 65 || June 16 || Mariners || 4–3 || Henke (5–3) || Schooler (1–1) || || 48,363 || 30–35|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 66 || June 17 || Mariners || 3–2 || Ward (4–7) || Jackson (2–1) || || 48,336 || 31–35|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 67 || June 18 || Mariners || 8–2 || Bankhead (4–4) || Wills (0–1) || || 48,329 || 31–36|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 68 || June 19 || @ Angels || 8–1 || Stieb (7–3) || Finley (7–6) || || 24,430 || 32–36|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 69 || June 20 || @ Angels || 6–2 || Key (7–6) || McCaskill (7–4) || || 23,956 || 33–36|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 70 || June 21 || @ Angels || 6–1 (14) || Henke (6–3) || Minton (1–2) || || 24,259 || 34–36|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 71 || June 22 || @ Athletics || 4–2 (13) || Hernandez (1–0) || Corsi (0–1) || Wells (2) || 21,418 || 35–36|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 72 || June 23 || @ Athletics || 10–8 || Buice (1–0) || Young (2–8) || Henke (3) || 27,795 || 36–36|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 73 || June 24 || @ Athletics || 7–1 || Stewart (12–3) || Stieb (7–4) || || 39,659 || 36–37|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 74 || June 25 || @ Athletics || 6–3 || Davis (6–3) || Key (7–7) || Honeycutt (8) || 49,219 || 36–38|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 75 || June 27 || @ Orioles || 16–6 || Tibbs (5–0) || Flanagan (4–6) || || 30,136 || 36–39|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 76 || June 28 || @ Orioles || 2–1 || Hickey (2–2) || Cerutti (3–4) || Olson (12) || 35,757 || 36–40|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 77 || June 29 || @ Orioles || 11–1 || Cummings (1–0) || Schmidt (7–7) || || 39,528 || 37–40|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 78 || June 30 || Red Sox || 3–1 || Boddicker (5–7) || Wells (2–3) || Murphy (3) || 48,429 || 37–41|-|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 79 || July 1 || Red Sox || 3–1 || Hetzel (1–0) || Stottlemyre (0–4) || Smith (10) || 48,639 || 37–42|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 80 || July 2 || Red Sox || 4–1 (11) || Murphy (1–3) || Wells (2–4) || Smith (11) || 48,516 || 37–43|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 81 || July 3 || Red Sox || 3–2 || Cerutti (4–4) || Smithson (4–7) || Ward (6) || 48,483 || 38–43|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 82 || July 4 || Orioles || 8–0 || Schmidt (8–7) || Stieb (7–5) || Williamson (7) || 44,025 || 38–44|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 83 || July 5 || Orioles || 5–4 || Milacki (5–8) || Key (7–8) || Olson (13) || 49,239 || 38–45|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 84 || July 6 || Orioles || 4–1 || Stottlemyre (1–4) || Ballard (10–4) || Ward (7) || 46,629 || 39–45|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 85 || July 7 || @ Tigers || 6–4 || Cummings (2–0) || Hernández (2–2) || Henke (4) || 25,213 || 40–45|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 86 || July 8 || @ Tigers || 8–3 || Cerutti (5–4) || Alexander (4–9) || Ward (8) || 31,342 || 41–45|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 87 || July 9 || @ Tigers || 2–0 || Stieb (8–5) || Tanana (7–9) || Henke (5) || 32,428 || 42–45|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 88 || July 13 || Athletics || 11–7 || Burns (5–2) || Key (7–9) || || 48,207 || 42–46|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 89 || July 14 || Athletics || 4–1 || Stieb (9–5) || Welch (10–5) || Ward (9) || 48,325 || 43–46|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 90 || July 15 || Athletics || 6–1 || Flanagan (5–6) || Stewart (13–5) || || 48,238 || 44–46|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 91 || July 16 || Athletics || 6–2 || Moore (12–5) || Cerutti (5–5) || Burns (7) || 48,405 || 44–47|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 92 || July 17 || Angels || 6–4 || Wells (3–4) || Abbott (8–6) || Henke (6) || || 45–47|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 93 || July 17 || Angels || 5–4 || Wells (4–4) || McClure (2–1) || Henke (7) || 48,641 || 46–47|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 94 || July 18 || Angels || 1–0 || Blyleven (10–2) || Key (7–10) || || 48,717 || 46–48|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 95 || July 20 || @ Mariners || 5–2 || Bankhead (10–4) || Stieb (9–6) || Powell (2) || 15,723 || 46–49|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 96 || July 21 || @ Mariners || 8–1 || Flanagan (6–6) || Harris (1–3) || || 17,591 || 47–49|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 97 || July 22 || @ Mariners || 7–1 || Cerutti (6–5) || Dunne (1–5) || Ward (10) || 22,044 || 48–49|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 98 || July 23 || @ Mariners || 5–2 || Johnson (4–2) || Key (7–11) || || 17,973 || 48–50|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 99 || July 24 || @ Rangers || 6–3 || Stottlemyre (2–4) || Álvarez (0–1) || Henke (8) || 33,754 || 49–50|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 100 || July 25 || @ Rangers || 4–0 || Stieb (10–6) || Ryan (11–6) || Ward (11) || 25,297 || 50–50|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 101 || July 26 || @ Rangers || 11–1 || Brown (9–6) || Flanagan (6–7) || || 16,633 || 50–51|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 102 || July 28 || @ Yankees || 6–2 || Cerutti (7–5) || LaPoint (6–9) || || 37,222 || 51–51|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 103 || July 29 || @ Yankees || 7–2 || Cary (1–0) || Key (7–12) || || 42,179 || 51–52|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 104 || July 30 || @ Yankees || 7–6 || Guetterman (3–5) || Ward (4–8) || || 45,107 || 51–53|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 105 || July 31 || @ Yankees || 6–5 || Wells (5–4) || Hawkins (12–10) || Henke (9) || 21,019 || 52–53|-|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 106 || August 1 || Royals || 2–1 || Saberhagen (11–5) || Stottlemyre (2–5) || || 48,528 || 52–54|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 107 || August 2 || Royals || 8–0 || Cerutti (8–5) || Gubicza (9–9) || || 48,765 || 53–54|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 108 || August 3 || Royals || 5–0 || Gordon (12–4) || Key (7–13) || || 48,731 || 53–55|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 109 || August 4 || Yankees || 2–1 || Stieb (11–6) || Parker (3–2) || || 48,789 || 54–55|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 110 || August 5 || Yankees || 5–4 || Hawkins (13–10) || Ward (4–9) || Righetti (18) || 49,155 || 54–56|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 111 || August 6 || Yankees || 6–5 || Stottlemyre (3–5) || Terrell (0–2) || || 49,025 || 55–56|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 112 || August 7 || Rangers || 2–1 || Cerutti (9–5) || Jeffcoat (5–5) || || 48,773 || 56–56|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 113 || August 8 || Rangers || 7–0 || Gozzo (1–0) || Witt (9–10) || || 48,689 || 57–56|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 114 || August 9 || Rangers || 4–3 || Hough (7–11) || Stieb (11–7) || Russell (24) || 48,962 || 57–57|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 115 || August 11 || @ Royals || 6–2 || Saberhagen (13–5) || Flanagan (6–8) || || 40,027 || 57–58|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 116 || August 12 || @ Royals || 2–0 || Stottlemyre (4–5) || Gubicza (10–10) || Henke (10) || 40,934 || 58–58|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 117 || August 13 || @ Royals || 8–3 || Gordon (14–4) || Cerutti (9–6) || || 33,619 || 58–59|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 118 || August 14 || @ Red Sox || 4–2 || Gozzo (2–0) || Boddicker (10–9) || Henke (11) || 35,058 || 59–59|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 119 || August 15 || @ Red Sox || 7–2 || Stieb (12–7) || Smithson (6–11) || Ward (12) || 34,800 || 60–59|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 120 || August 16 || @ Red Sox || 7–3 || Wells (6–4) || Murphy (3–6) || Henke (12) || 35,310 || 61–59|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 121 || August 17 || @ Orioles || 11–6 || Ballard (12–6) || Cerutti (9–7) || || 40,147 || 61–60|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 122 || August 18 || @ Orioles || 9–2 || Gozzo (3–0) || Johnson (2–2) || || 31,668 || 62–60|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 123 || August 19 || @ Orioles || 5–1 || Key (8–13) || Milacki (7–11) || || 38,111 || 63–60|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 124 || August 20 || @ Orioles || 7–2 || Harnisch (3–6) || Stieb (12–8) || Thurmond (4) || 37,242 || 63–61|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 125 || August 22 || Tigers || 3–2 (14) || Gozzo (4–0) || Núñez (2–3) || || 49,072 || 64–61|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 126 || August 23 || Tigers || 11–4 || Wills (1–1) || Robinson (3–3) || || 49,233 || 65–61|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 127 || August 24 || Tigers || 11–3 || Flanagan (7–8) || Morris (3–11) || || 49,201 || 66–61|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 128 || August 25 || Brewers || 3–1 || Key (9–13) || Peterek (0–1) || Henke (13) || 49,457 || 67–61|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 129 || August 26 || Brewers || 7–0 || Stieb (13–8) || Higuera (9–5) || || 49,507 || 68–61|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 130 || August 27 || Brewers || 5–4 || Stottlemyre (5–5) || Bosio (14–9) || Ward (13) || 49,507 || 69–61|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 131 || August 28 || Brewers || 8–2 || Filer (5–2) || Cerutti (9–8) || Krueger (3) || 49,219 || 69–62|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 132 || August 29 || White Sox || 3–2 || Flanagan (8–8) || Pall (4–5) || Henke (14) || 49,565 || 70–62|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 133 || August 30 || White Sox || 2–1 || Key (10–13) || Dotson (4–8) || Ward (14) || 49,435 || 71–62|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 134 || August 31 || White Sox || 5–1 || Stieb (14–8) || Rosenberg (4–10) || || 49,422 || 72–62|-|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 135 || September 1 || Twins || 7–3 || Stottlemyre (6–5) || Guthrie (1–1) || || 49,350 || 73–62|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 136 || September 2 || Twins || 4–2 || Cerutti (10–8) || Smith (10–5) || Henke (15) || 49,291 || 74–62|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 137 || September 3 || Twins || 9–4 || Aguilera (1–3) || Flanagan (8–9) || || 49,073 || 74–63|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 138 || September 4 || @ White Sox || 5–2 || Key (11–13) || Dotson (4–9) || Henke (16) || 9,318 || 75–63|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 139 || September 5 || @ White Sox || 6–1 || Stieb (15–8) || Rosenberg (4–11) || || 7,858 || 76–63|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 140 || September 6 || @ White Sox || 4–2 || Stottlemyre (7–5) || King (7–9) || Ward (15) || 7,350 || 77–63|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 141 || September 7 || @ Indians || 12–4 || Cerutti (11–8) || Candiotti (12–8) || || 6,098 || 78–63|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 142 || September 8 || @ Indians || 5–4 || Jones (7–8) || Acker (0–1) || || 13,489 || 78–64|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 143 || September 9 || @ Indians || 7–5 (16) || Wills (2–1) || Kaiser (0–1) || || 15,154 || 79–64|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 144 || September 10 || @ Indians || 5–4 (10) || Acker (1–1) || Olin (1–2) || || 12,045 || 80–64|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 145 || September 12 || @ Twins || 8–2 || West (3–1) || Stottlemyre (7–6) || || 14,849 || 80–65|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 146 || September 13 || @ Twins || 3–2 || Tapani (2–0) || Cerutti (11–9) || Reardon (29) || 14,903 || 80–66|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 147 || September 14 || @ Twins || 2–0 || Guthrie (2–1) || Flanagan (8–10) || Reardon (30) || 14,262 || 80–67|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 148 || September 15 || Indians || 5–2 || Key (12–13) || Swindell (13–5) || Henke (17) || 49,444 || 81–67|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 149 || September 16 || Indians || 3–2 (11) || Wells (7–4) || Jones (7–9) || || 49,218 || 82–67|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 150 || September 17 || Indians || 2–1 (10) || Acker (2–1) || Bailes (4–9) || || 49,501 || 83–67|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 151 || September 18 || Red Sox || 6–3 || Boddicker (13–11) || Cerutti (11–10) || Murphy (8) || 49,579 || 83–68|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 152 || September 19 || Red Sox || 6–5 (13) || Henke (7–3) || Harris (2–2) || || 49,352 || 84–68|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 153 || September 20 || Red Sox || 10–3 || Clemens (16–10) || Key (12–14) || || 49,571 || 84–69|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 154 || September 22 || @ Brewers || 7–3 || Stieb (16–8) || Reuss (9–8) || || 15,569 || 85–69|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 155 || September 23 || @ Brewers || 4–1 || August (12–11) || Stottlemyre (7–7) || Plesac (32) || 24,640 || 85–70|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 156 || September 24 || @ Brewers || 8–3 || Filer (7–3) || Cerutti (11–11) || Crim (7) || 17,485 || 85–71|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 157 || September 25 || @ Tigers || 2–0 || Key (13–14) || Dubois (0–4) || Henke (18) || 15,990 || 86–71|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 158 || September 26 || @ Tigers || 4–3 || Henneman (11–4) || Ward (4–10) || || 16,185 || 86–72|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 159 || September 27 || @ Tigers || 8–1 || Stieb (17–8) || Alexander (6–18) || Henke (19) || 18,331 || 87–72|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 160 || September 29 || Orioles || 2–1 (11) || Henke (8–3) || Williamson (10–4) || || 49,636 || 88–72|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 161 || September 30 || Orioles || 4–3 || Wills (3–1) || Williamson (10–5) || Henke (20) || 49,553 || 89–72|-|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 162 || October 1 || Orioles || 7–5 || McDonald (1–0) || Gozzo (4–1) || || 49,469 || 89–73|-|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 1 || October 3 || @ Athletics || 7–3 || Stewart (1–0) || Stieb (0–1) || || 49,435 || 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 2 || October 4 || @ Athletics || 6–3 || Moore (1–0) || Stottlemyre (0–1) || Eckersley (1) || 49,444 || 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"| 3 || October 6 || Athletics || 7–3 || Key (1–0) || Davis (0–1) || || 50,268 || 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 4 || October 7 || Athletics || 6–5 || Welch (1–0) || Flanagan (0–1) || Eckersley (2) || 50,076 || 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"| 5 || October 8 || Athletics || 4–3 || Stewart (2–0) || Stieb (0–2) || Eckersley (3) || 50,024 || 1–4|-

Player stats

= Indicates team leader

= Indicates league leader

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	129	385	101	.262	11	53
1B	161	551	148	.269	36	92
2B	132	418	110	.263	5	53
3B	135	545	158	.290	18	73
SS	140	573	147	.257	11	64
LF	153	613	182	.297	18	104
CF	135	502	111	.221	11	43
RF	110	415	107	.258	9	46
DH	103	273	65	.238	3	29

^[16]

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
99	300	78	.260	3	34
94	241	62	.257	3	29
54	238	71	.298	2	17
48	88	15	.170	1	6
21	80	16	.200	5	11
41	76	16	.211	0	7
59	70	16	.229	0	3
28	66	15	.227	4	11
19	52	15	.288	1	7
17	44	5	.114	0	1
20	12	2	.167	0	0
3	12	2	.167	0	0
9	11	2	.182	1	2
6	8	2	.250	0	0
6	8	3	.375	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
33	216.0	13	14	3.88	118
33	206.2	17	8	3.35	101
33	205.1	11	11	3.07	69
30	171.2	8	10	3.93	47
27	127.2	7	7	3.88	63
1	6.2	0	0	4.05	4

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
24	71.1	1	0	3.66	41
9	31.2	4	1	4.83	10
5	21.0	2	0	3.00	8
4	11.2	0	1	10.03	4
5	11.0	0	1	10.64	3
6	10.2	0	0	2.53	14

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
64	8	3	20	1.92	116
66	4	10	15	3.77	122
54	7	4	2	2.40	78
17	1	1	1	6.11	10
14	2	1	0	1.59	24
7	1	0	0	4.76	7
7	1	0	0	5.82	10

^[16]

ALCS

See main article: 1989 American League Championship Series.

Game 1

October 3, 1989, at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum

align=left width=28%	Team	width=6%	1	width=6%	2	width=6%	3	width=6%	4	width=6%	5	width=6%	6	width=6%	7	width=6%	8	width=6%	9	width=6%	R	width=6%	H	width=6%	E
Toronto	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	1
Oakland	0	1	0	0	1	3	0	2	X	7	11	0
W: Dave Stewart (1-0) L: Dave Stieb (0-1)
HR: TOR - Ernie Whitt (1) OAK - Dave Henderson (1), Mark McGwire (1)

Game 2

October 4, 1989, at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum

align=left width=28%	Team	width=6%	1	width=6%	2	width=6%	3	width=6%	4	width=6%	5	width=6%	6	width=6%	7	width=6%	8	width=6%	9	width=6%	R	width=6%	H	width=6%	E
Toronto	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	3	5	1
Oakland	0	0	0	2	0	3	1	0	X	6	9	1
W: Mike Moore (1-0) L: Todd Stottlemyre (0-1) S: Dennis Eckersley (1)
HR: OAK - Dave Parker (1)

Game 3

October 6, 1989, at SkyDome

align=left width=28%	Team	width=6%	1	width=6%	2	width=6%	3	width=6%	4	width=6%	5	width=6%	6	width=6%	7	width=6%	8	width=6%	9	width=6%	R	width=6%	H	width=6%	E
Oakland	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	8	1
Toronto	0	0	0	4	0	0	3	0	X	7	8	0
W: Jimmy Key (1-0) L: Storm Davis (0-1)
HR: OAK - Dave Parker (2)

Game 4

October 7, 1989, at SkyDome

align=left width=28%	Team	width=6%	1	width=6%	2	width=6%	3	width=6%	4	width=6%	5	width=6%	6	width=6%	7	width=6%	8	width=6%	9	width=6%	R	width=6%	H	width=6%	E
Oakland	0	0	3	0	2	0	1	0	0	6	11	1
Toronto	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	2	0	5	13	0
W: Bob Welch (1-0) L: Mike Flanagan (0-1) S: Dennis Eckersley (2)
HR: OAK - Rickey Henderson 2 (2), José Canseco (1)

Game 5

October 8, 1989, at SkyDome

align=left width=28%	Team	width=6%	1	width=6%	2	width=6%	3	width=6%	4	width=6%	5	width=6%	6	width=6%	7	width=6%	8	width=6%	9	width=6%	R	width=6%	H	width=6%	E
Oakland	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	4	4	0
Toronto	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	9	0
W: Dave Stewart (2-0) L: Dave Stieb (0-2) S: Dennis Eckersley (3)
HR: TOR - Lloyd Moseby (1), George Bell (1)

Award winners

George Bell, Player of the Month Award, August
Tony Fernández, Gold Glove Award
Fred McGriff, Player of the Month Award, April
Fred McGriff, American League Leader in Home Runs (36)
Fred McGriff, Silver Slugger Award

All-Star Game

Kelly Gruber, third base
Tony Fernandez, shortstop ^[17]

Farm system

External links

1989 Toronto Blue Jays at Baseball Reference
1989 Toronto Blue Jays at Baseball Almanac

Notes and References

Book: Complete Book of 1990 Baseball Cards . 1990 . Publications International, Ltd. . 0-88176-804-9. 12.
Web site: Team Batting Event Finder: 1989, All Teams, Home Runs, With Runners on 123. Baseball Reference. July 3, 2018.
Web site: 1989 Toronto Blue Jays Trades and Transactions . baseball-reference.com . 16 July 2023.
Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.230, Penguin Books,
Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.231, Penguin Books,
Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.232, Penguin Books,
Web site: Baseball Almanac. Home Run in First At-Bat. June 9, 2011.
Web site: Kelly . Cathal . Red-hot Jays burn hole in Bosox . . August 18, 2008 . March 20, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121015105418/http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/480296 . October 15, 2012 . live . mdy .
Web site: Associated Press. Jays, Down by 10-0, Stun Red Sox, 13-11. The New York Times. June 5, 1989. March 20, 2009.
Web site: Associated Press. Blue Jays Open the SkyDome but Lose. The New York Times. June 6, 1989. March 20, 2009.
Web site: Martinez. Michael. A Perfect Night for Stieb Is Ruined by Kelly. The New York Times. August 5, 1989. May 15, 2009.
Web site: Gammons. Peter. Oh, What A Relief It Is. https://archive.today/20121202233758/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1068895/index.htm. dead. December 2, 2012. Sports Illustrated. October 9, 1989. March 20, 2009.
Web site: 1989 Toronto Blue Jays Trades and Transactions . baseball-reference.com . 17 July 2023.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/o/olerujo01.shtml John Olerud
Web site: Aaron Small Stats.
Web site: 1989 Toronto Blue Jays Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com . 2009-06-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090411161216/http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TOR/1989.shtml . April 11, 2009 . mdy .
https://web.archive.org/web/20071012192230/http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/tor/history/all_stars.jsp Blue Jays All-Stars | bluejays.com: History
Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007