The 1988 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's 12th season of Major League Baseball. It resulted in the Blue Jays finishing in fourth (tie-breaker went to Milwaukee) in the American League East with a record of 87 wins and 75 losses. This was their last full season at Exhibition Stadium before moving to their new home in June of the following year.
1988 Toronto Blue Jays | ||
---|---|---|
League | American League | |
Division | East | |
Ballpark | Exhibition Stadium | |
City | Toronto | |
Record | 87–75 (.537) | |
Divisional place | 4th | |
Owners | Labatt Breweries, Imperial Trust, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | |
General managers | Pat Gillick | |
Managers | Jimy Williams | |
Television | CFTO-TV (Don Chevrier, Tony Kubek, Fergie Olver) The Sports Network (Fergie Olver, Buck Martinez) | |
Radio | CJCL (AM) (Jerry Howarth, Tom Cheek) | |
|
Transactions
editTransactions by the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season before the 1988 season.[1]
October 1987
editOctober 6 | Player rights to Tom Filer sold to the Milwaukee Brewers. |
October 15 | Odell Jones granted free agency. José Segura granted free agency. |
October 23 | Released Charlie Moore. |
November 1987
editNovember 9 | Garth Iorg granted free agency. |
November 22 | Craig McMurtry granted free agency. |
December 1987
editDecember 7 | Joe Johnson drafted by the California Angels in the 1987 MLB Rule 5 draft. |
January 1988
editJanuary 22 | Juan Beníquez granted free agency. |
January 25 | Re-signed free agent Juan Beníquez to a one-year, $400,000 contract. |
January 26 | Signed amateur free agent Graeme Lloyd to a contract. |
February 1988
editFebruary 22 | Signed free agent Mark Ross from the Pittsburgh Pirates to a contract. |
March 1988
editMarch 24 | Signed free agent Sal Butera from the Minnesota Twins to a one-year, $100,000 contract. |
March 25 | Player rights of Willie Upshaw sold to the Cleveland Indians. |
Regular season
edit- April 4, 1988: George Bell set a major league record for the most home runs hit on Opening Day, with three.[2] Bell accomplished this in a game versus the Kansas City Royals.
- September 24 and 30, 1988: Dave Stieb had two consecutive no-hitters broken up in the ninth inning with two outs and two strikes.
Season standings
editTeam | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston Red Sox | 89 | 73 | .549 | — | 53–28 | 36–45 |
Detroit Tigers | 88 | 74 | .543 | 1 | 50–31 | 38–43 |
Milwaukee Brewers | 87 | 75 | .537 | 2 | 47–34 | 40–41 |
Toronto Blue Jays | 87 | 75 | .537 | 2 | 45–36 | 42–39 |
New York Yankees | 85 | 76 | .528 | 3½ | 46–34 | 39–42 |
Cleveland Indians | 78 | 84 | .481 | 11 | 44–37 | 34–47 |
Baltimore Orioles | 54 | 107 | .335 | 34½ | 34–46 | 20–61 |
Record vs. opponents
editSources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | BAL | BOS | CAL | CWS | CLE | DET | KC | MIL | MIN | NYY | OAK | SEA | TEX | TOR |
Baltimore | — | 4–9 | 5–7 | 4–7 | 4–9 | 5–8 | 0–12 | 4–9 | 3–9 | 3–10 | 4–8 | 7–5 | 6–6 | 5–8 |
Boston | 9–4 | — | 8–4 | 7–5 | 8–5 | 6–7 | 6–6 | 10–3 | 7–5 | 9–4 | 3–9 | 6–6 | 8–4 | 2–11 |
California | 7–5 | 4–8 | — | 9–4 | 8–4 | 5–7 | 5–8 | 3–9 | 4–9 | 6–6 | 4–9 | 6–7 | 8–5 | 6–6 |
Chicago | 7–4 | 5–7 | 4–9 | — | 3–9 | 3–9 | 7–6 | 6–6 | 4–9 | 3–9 | 5–8 | 9–4 | 8–5 | 7–5 |
Cleveland | 9–4 | 5–8 | 4–8 | 9–3 | — | 4–9 | 6–6 | 9–4 | 5–7 | 6–7 | 4–8 | 5–7 | 6–6 | 6–7 |
Detroit | 8–5 | 7–6 | 7–5 | 9–3 | 9–4 | — | 8–4 | 5–8 | 1–11 | 8–5 | 4–8 | 9–3 | 8–4 | 5–8 |
Kansas City | 12–0 | 6–6 | 8–5 | 6–7 | 6–6 | 4–8 | — | 3–9 | 7–6 | 6–6 | 8–5 | 7–5 | 7–6 | 4–8 |
Milwaukee | 9–4 | 3–10 | 9–3 | 6–6 | 4–9 | 8–5 | 9–3 | — | 7–5 | 6–7 | 3–9 | 8–4 | 8–4 | 7–6 |
Minnesota | 9–3 | 5–7 | 9–4 | 9–4 | 7–5 | 11–1 | 6–7 | 5–7 | — | 3–9 | 5–8 | 8–5 | 7–6 | 7–5 |
New York | 10–3 | 4–9 | 6–6 | 9–3 | 7–6 | 5–8 | 6–6 | 7–6 | 9–3 | — | 6–6 | 5–7 | 5–6 | 6–7 |
Oakland | 8–4 | 9–3 | 9–4 | 8–5 | 8–4 | 8–4 | 5–8 | 9–3 | 8–5 | 6–6 | — | 9–4 | 8–5 | 9–3 |
Seattle | 5–7 | 6–6 | 7–6 | 4–9 | 7–5 | 3–9 | 5–7 | 4–8 | 5–8 | 7–5 | 4–9 | — | 6–7 | 5–7 |
Texas | 6–6 | 4–8 | 5–8 | 5–8 | 6–6 | 4–8 | 6–7 | 4–8 | 6–7 | 6–5 | 5–8 | 7–6 | — | 6–6 |
Toronto | 8–5 | 11–2 | 6–6 | 5–7 | 7–6 | 8–5 | 8–4 | 6–7 | 5–7 | 7–6 | 3–9 | 7–5 | 6–6 | — |
Transactions
editTransactions for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1988 regular season.[3]
April 1988
editApril 7 | Signed free agent Doug Bair from the Philadelphia Phillies to a contract. Signed free agent Frank Wills from the Cleveland Indians to a contract. |
May 1988
editMay 31 | Released Juan Beníquez. |
1988 Draft
edit- June 1, 1988: David Weathers was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 3rd round of the 1988 amateur draft. Player signed June 4, 1988.
Roster
edit1988 Toronto Blue Jays | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roster | |||||||||
Pitchers
|
Catchers
Infielders
|
Outfielders
Other batters |
Manager
Coaches
|
Game log
edit1988 Game Log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April: 9–13 (Home: 4–9; Away: 5–4)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
May: 13–16 (Home: 6–5; Away: 7–11)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
June: 17–11 (Home: 10–4; Away: 7–7)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July: 12–14 (Home: 4–8; Away: 8–6)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
August: 14–14 (Home: 7–7; Away: 7–7)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September: 20–7 (Home: 12–3; Away: 8–4)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Player stats
edit= Indicates team leader |
Batting
editStarters by position
editNote: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Ernie Whitt | 127 | 398 | 100 | .251 | 16 | 70 |
1B | Fred McGriff | 154 | 536 | 151 | .282 | 34 | 82 |
2B | Manuel Lee | 116 | 381 | 111 | .291 | 2 | 38 |
3B | Kelly Gruber | 158 | 569 | 158 | .278 | 16 | 81 |
SS | Tony Fernández | 154 | 648 | 186 | .287 | 5 | 70 |
LF | George Bell | 156 | 614 | 165 | .269 | 24 | 97 |
CF | Lloyd Moseby | 128 | 472 | 113 | .239 | 10 | 42 |
RF | Jesse Barfield | 137 | 468 | 114 | .244 | 18 | 56 |
DH | Rance Mulliniks | 119 | 337 | 101 | .300 | 12 | 48 |
Other batters
editNote: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nelson Liriano | 99 | 276 | 73 | .264 | 3 | 23 |
Rick Leach | 87 | 199 | 55 | .276 | 0 | 23 |
Cecil Fielder | 74 | 174 | 40 | .230 | 9 | 23 |
Pat Borders | 56 | 154 | 42 | .273 | 5 | 21 |
Sil Campusano | 73 | 132 | 41 | .218 | 2 | 12 |
Sal Butera | 23 | 60 | 14 | .233 | 1 | 6 |
Juan Beníquez | 27 | 58 | 17 | .293 | 1 | 8 |
Rob Ducey | 27 | 54 | 17 | .315 | 0 | 6 |
Alexis Infante | 19 | 15 | 3 | .200 | 0 | 0 |
Lou Thornton | 11 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
Pitching
editStarting pitchers
editNote: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Flanagan | 34 | 211.0 | 13 | 13 | 4.18 | 99 |
Dave Stieb | 32 | 207.1 | 16 | 8 | 3.04 | 147 |
Jim Clancy | 36 | 196.1 | 11 | 13 | 4.49 | 118 |
Jimmy Key | 21 | 131.1 | 12 | 5 | 3.29 | 65 |
Todd Stottlemyre | 28 | 98.0 | 4 | 8 | 5.69 | 67 |
Jeff Musselman | 15 | 85.0 | 8 | 5 | 3.18 | 39 |
Other pitchers
editNote: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
John Cerutti | 46 | 123.2 | 6 | 7 | 3.13 | 65 |
José Núñez | 13 | 29.1 | 0 | 1 | 3.07 | 18 |
Relief pitchers
editNote: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tom Henke | 52 | 4 | 4 | 25 | 2.91 | 66 |
Duane Ward | 64 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 3.30 | 91 |
David Wells | 41 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4.62 | 56 |
Mark Eichhorn | 37 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4.19 | 28 |
Tony Castillo | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 | 14 |
Frank Wills | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.23 | 19 |
Doug Bair | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.05 | 8 |
Mark Ross | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.91 | 4 |
Awards and records
edit- George Bell, Most Home Runs hit on Opening Day (3)
- Tony Fernández, Gold Glove Award
- Dave Stieb, pitcher[4]
Farm system
editReferences
edit- ^ "1988 Toronto Blue Jays Trades and Transactions". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
- ^ SI.com - Statitudes - Statitudes: Opening Day 2002, By the Numbers - Sunday March 30, 2003 01:50 AM
- ^ "1988 Toronto Blue Jays Trades and Transactions". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- ^ 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
External links
edit- 1988 Toronto Blue Jays at Baseball Reference
- 1988 Toronto Blue Jays at Baseball Almanac