BY CLAYTON RICHER – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
The last time the Toronto Blue Jays were crowned champions of the baseball world was 1993, a title which clinched back-to-back World Series titles north of the border. The champagne hasn’t flown in the Blue Jays clubhouse in some 20 years since the Joe Carter walk off home run off Philadelphia Phillies closer Mitch Williams.
I thought it would be interesting to compare 1993 to 2013:
The Blue Jays would finish the 1993 season with an impressive 95-67 record. There were four divisions comprised of seven teams in each division. The American League East contained the Blue Jays, Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Indians, Brewers and Tigers.
The Jays payroll was $47 million and change which included the two highest paid players in the major leagues. Joe Carter was the highest paid player in the majors earning $5.5 million and pitcher Jack Morris a close second at $5.4 million. Now Morris is the radio analyst for the 2013 Blue Jays on Sportsnet 590 The Fan.
Have your say: Have an opinion on the news of the day? Better yet, want to become a Fan Fuel blogger? Email us here. | April Whitzman represents the Blue Jays as MLB Fan Cave finalist
Current president Paul Beeston was also the president and CEO of the Blue Jays in 1993. Current general manager Alex Anthopoulos was 16 years old and was back home in Montreal probably studying for his driver’s examination.
The Blue Jays short season class-A minor league affiliate was the St. Catharines Blue Jays.
Carlos Delgado caught 107 games for the double-A Knoxville Smokies hitting 25 home runs as a 21-year-old.
The Blue Jays had four selections in the first round of the 1993 Amateur Baseball draft with the 15th, 37th, 40th and 41st picks. The Jays would select pitcher Chris Carpenter with the 15th overall selection followed by a trio of draft busts Matt Farner, Jeremy Lee and Mark Lukasiewicz.
The first round of the 1993 draft did produce the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Torii Hunter, Derrick Lee, Jason Varitek and Billy Wagner.
The 1993 attendance number is the most in franchise history and still stands to this date. The Jay saw 4,057,947 fans enter through the turnstiles at the SkyDome. The Blue Jays were first in attendance in the American League for six consecutive years from 1989 through to 1994.
The opening day battery was Jack Morris and Pat Borders. The Jays visited the Seattle Mariners losing the opener 8-1.
Seven Blue Jays represented the Jays in the All-Star Game including four in the starting lineup (Alomar, Carter, Olerud and Molitor were voted in)
The Blue Jays would lead the American League in stolen bases with 170 in 1993.
The Blue Jays current bullpen coach Pat Hentgen would lead the team in wins posting a 19-9 record in 1993. John Olerud won the batting title batting at .363 with Paul Molitor and Roberto Alomar finishing second and third respectively.
Roberto Alomar and Devon White were awarded Gold Glove awards in 1993 for their defensive prowess.
Current Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie was three years old and likely still wearing diapers in 1993. He will be leaned upon heavily in 2013 if the Blue Jays are going to be successful. Here’s hoping the Blue Jays can bottle some of that 1993 glory for their 20 year anniversary and make a run at baseball’s Holy Grail.
Related read:
More MLB: At Blue Jays State of the Franchise
Clayton Richer is a baseball writer for Baseball Hot Corner, his interviews and blogs can be found daily at www.baseballhotcorner.com as well you can also follow him on twitter MLBHotCorner