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[edit] Managers
- Roy Hartsfield
- Record: 163-309 (.345)
- Hired: September 22, 1976
- Fired: September 30, 1979
- Notes: 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.
- Bobby Mattick
- Record: 104-164 (.388)
- Hired: September 30, 1979
- Resigned: October 7, 1981
- Notes: 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.
- Bobby Cox
- Record: 355-292 (.549)
- Hired: October 15, 1981
- Succeeded: October 25, 1985
- Notes: Toronto flourished under Cox's leadership, having their first winning season, and capturing their first A.L. East Championship 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.
- Jimy Williams
- Record: 281-241 (.537)
- Hired: October 25, 1985
- Fired: May 15, 1989
- Notes: Williams, the team's third base coach since 1980, took over a winning baseball team in 1985. The Jays never truly clicked under Williams, and the team, though competitive, never returned to the glory of 1985. By 1988, Williams was having run-ins with players, notably George Bell, who refused Williams' DH assignment. The first Toronto manager to play in the then-new SkyDome, he was fired mid-season in 1989.
- Cito Gaston
- Record: 681-635 (.517)
- Hired: May 31, 1989
- Fired: September 24, 1997
- Notes: The longest-serving 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 honor). Including the two World Championships, he saw Toronto claim two American League pennants, and four division crowns. Previously the team's batting coach, he helped groom stars like Bell, Lloyd Moseby, Jesse Barfield, Fred McGriff and Cecil Fielder. He also coached Carlos Delgado, Pat Hentgen and Roger Clemens in some of the best years of their careers. Success became fleeting after the 1994 Players Strike and Gaston was relieved of his duties in late 1997, leaving as Toronto's most successful manager.
- Tim Johnson
- Record: 88-74 (.543)
- Hired: November 24, 1997
- Fired: March 17, 1999
- Notes: 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 the players on the team. Toronto, despite a poor first half to the 1998 season, finished strong in the second half. Still, the controversy couldn't be squelched, and run-ins with pitching coach Mel Queen doomed Johnson in 1999.
- Jim Fregosi
- Record: 167-157 (.515)
- Hired: March 17, 1999
- Fired: October 10, 2000
- Notes: Fregosi was hired in Spring Training of 1999 and charged with cleaning up Johnson's mess. Ironically, Jim Fregosi had previously been the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, the Blue Jays' 1993 World Series opponent. Toronto was a contender in both of his seasons, and in 2000, the club featured an offensive explosion with Delgado leading the way. Toronto looked to go a different direction in 2001, and axed Fregosi making him the tenth manager to be fired that offseason.
- Buck Martinez
- Record: 100-115 (.465)
- Hired: November 3, 2000
- Fired: June 3, 2002
- Notes: A former Blue Jay catcher and ESPN broadcaster, Martinez took over the helms in Toronto for 2001 and early 2002. The Jays, though offensively potent, remained stalled in third place in the A.L. East. Surviving the GM change to J.P. Ricciardi and the poor trade for Mike Sirotka, Martinez couldn't survive long into 2002, being fired after a 20-33 start.
- Carlos Tosca
- Record: 191-191 (.500)
- Hired: June 3, 2002
- Fired: August 9, 2004
- Notes: Tosca, former third base coach under Buck Martinez took over midway through 2002. The Jays finished strong 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 in 3rd placed behind Boston and New York once again. Noted for his Moneyball style of coaching, Tosca preached OBP and few steals. In 2004 the team treaded backwards, and Tosca found himself in hot water with the fans and the media. He was fired in August of that season.
- John Gibbons
- Record: 186-187
- Hired: August 9, 2004
- Notes: Gibbons replaced Tosca and saw himself immersed in Toronto's youth movement. In 2005, the club played well, even though they were under .500 and back in third place again. 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 showed 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 went on to manage the team to its best finish (second) since 1993, but injuries and inconsistency derailed the Jays' AL East title hopes.
[edit] References
