The 1991 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's 15th season of Major League Baseball. It resulted in the Blue Jays finishing first in the American League East with a record of 91 wins and 71 losses. The team's paid attendance of 4,001,527 led the major leagues, as the Jays became the first team in MLB history to draw four million fans in a season. Toronto lost the ALCS to the eventual world champion Minnesota Twins in five games.
On December 4, 1990, the San Diego Padres and Blue Jays made one of the biggest blockbuster deals of the decade. The Padres traded second baseman Roberto Alomar and outfielder Joe Carter to the Blue Jays in exchange for first baseman Fred McGriff and shortstop Tony Fernández. Blue Jays GM Pat Gillick and Padres GM Joe McIlvaine originally talked about just trading Joe Carter for Fred McGriff.[1] The Padres were losing Jack Clark and needed a new first baseman. The Blue Jays had John Olerud ready to take over at first base but were losing outfielder George Bell. Gillick decided to up the ante by trying to get Alomar. Gillick figured that with Garry Templeton in the twilight of his career, Fernández would be an adequate replacement.[1] Alomar feuded with Padres manager Greg Riddoch and the thinking was that Bip Roberts and Joey Cora could platoon at second base.[1] Over the next two seasons, Alomar and Carter would help the Blue Jays win the 1992 and 1993 World Series.
Transactionsedit
Transactions by the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season before the 1991 season.[2]
George Bell granted free agency (signed with Chicago Cubs on December 6, 1990 to a three-year, $9.8 million contract). Bud Black granted free agency (signed with San Francisco Giants on November 9, 1990 to a four-year, $10 million contract). John Candelaria granted free agency (signed with Los Angeles Dodgers on March 25, 1991 to a one-year, $830,000 contract). Rance Mulliniks granted free agency (signed with Toronto Blue Jays to a two-year, $1.5 million contract on December 4, 1990).
Re-signed Roberto Alomar to a one-year, $1.25 million contract.
Regular seasonedit
May 1, 1991: The Blue Jays were part of baseball history, as Nolan Ryan threw his seventh and last no-hitter against them in Arlington.
July 1, 1991: Joe Carter was named the AL Player of the Month for the month of June.
August 13, 1991: After making 25 consecutive save opportunities, Tom Henke picked up a blown save after Paul Molitor hit a home run in the ninth.
October 2, 1991: The Blue Jays clinched the American League East title in a 6-5 walk-off win over the California Angels. Joe Carter hit the game-winning single. The Jays also became the first team to have their season attendance pass the 4 million mark.
Manager Cito Gaston was sidelined with a herniated disc [9] from August 21 to September 25. Gene Tenace served as the team's interim manager,[10] going 19–14 and keeping the Jays in first place in the AL East for the duration of Gaston's absence.
The Blue Jays hosted the 1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It was the 62nd Midsummer Classic and was played on July 9 at SkyDome. Roberto Alomar was voted in as the starting second baseman for the American League, while pitcher Jimmy Key and outfielder Joe Carter were named as reserves on the AL team. Key got the win as the American League's All-Stars triumphed over the National League All-Stars, 4-2.
Player statsedit
= Indicates team leader
Battingedit
Starters by positionedit
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
^"Jays' Manager Is Hospitalized". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 22, 1991. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
^"Gene Tenace". www.retrosheet.org. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
^"All-Stars". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
^"1991 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
^Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007