The 3 Greatest Blue Jays Pitchers of All-Time

The Blue Jays have a rich history of producing some of the finest pitchers to have ever played in MLB. But with so much talent to choose from, which pitchers stand above the rest at the top of the Jays all-time rankings? Let’s find out, with our list of the three greatest pitchers in Toronto history.

3. Roger Clemens

Despite a short tenure with the Jays between 1997-98, Roger Clemens put up some incredible stats in a Toronto jersey. He had a 11 game winning-streak to start his stay with the team and went on to finish his 1998 season with 15 wins in a row.

Clemens’ single-season numbers for WAR (Wins above replacement) in 1997 put him at the very top, with a jaw-dropping 11.9 in that campaign. In his two seasons with the Blue Jays he  won the triple crown of pitching with league leads in wins, ERA and strikeouts. He also took home the AL Cy Young Award in both seasons. 

2. Roy Halladay

Despite having a down period in the middle of his career, the numbers Halladay put up are still some of the best in Blue Jays history. His lengthy stay of 11 years with the team saw much success, particularly in the early 2000s.

In 2002, he boasted a 19-7 record and a year later, he won his first of two Cy Young Awards, finishing with his career best 22-7. Halladay left via trade to Philadelphia in 2009, completing his time in Toronto with a 149-76 record, giving him the title of the AL’s winningest pitcher of the 2000s. 

1. Dave Stieb

Without too much surprise, at the very top of our list is the great Dave Stieb. Playing with the Jays from 1979 to 1992 and a brief stint in 1998, Stieb leads Toronto in most important pitching categories.

He had 175 wins with the Jays, which is 27 ahead of the nearest competitor and had the franchise’s first and only no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians in 1990. He also had the best 

career WAR at a spectacular 57.0.

It’s unlikely that we will see any pitcher topping Stieb any time soon in a Jays uniform. His long career with the team and incredible stats should see him at the top of this list for many years to come.

If you’d like to see more Blue Jays rankings, check out our list of the three greatest players to ever wear a Toronto jersey.