Blue Bird Banter

28 Years Ago Today: The Blue Jays traded 28-year-old John Olerud to the Mets for 27-year-old Robert Person. I don’t know if it is the worst trade in team history, but it is my least favourite. We won the World Series in 1992 and 1993. Then 1994, 95 and 96 didn’t go as well. The Jays won with an older lineup, and that lineup seemed to age quickly after the second World Series … [Read more...] about Today in Blue Jays History: Olerud traded for Person

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images It is Troy Tulowitzki’s first time on the Hall of Fame ballot. Troy played 13 seasons in the MLB. Nine and a half with the Rockies, two and a half with the Blue Jays and got into five games with the Yankees to round out his career. All players need a taste of evil at some point. He played 1291 games. Hit .290/.361/.495 with 225 home runs with … [Read more...] about Hall of Fame Poll: Troy Tulowitzki

Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images It is Ichiro Suzuki’s first time on the Hall of Fame Ballot. Ichiro played 19 years in the MLB (after 9 seasons in the JPPL). He played for the Mariners, Yankees, and Marlins before returning to Seattle for 17 games over two seasons. He played his last MLB game at age 45. In 2653 MLB games, he hit .311/.355/.402 with 117 home runs, 96 … [Read more...] about Hall of Fame Poll: Ichiro Suzuki

Photo by Dick Darrell/Toronto Star via Getty Images We have a quartet of Blue Jays’ birthdays today. Jim Clancy turns 69, Roy Howell turns 71, Jeremy Accardo turns 43, and Willie Blair turns 59 Clancy was an original Jay, picked up in the expansion draft in 1976. The Jays called him up in July 1977, our first season. He would be a Blue Jay for 12 seasons, battling Dave … [Read more...] about Blue Jays Birthdays: Jim Clancy, Roy Howell and Jeremy Accardo

Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images There isn’t much news about the Jays today. Teoscar Hernandez is looking for a three-year contract in the low $20 million per range. I’m okay with that; sign the man. Or, I’d take two years at, say, $10 million a year if they are looking for a bargain. As my dad used to say, ‘Cheap at half the price’. It is Jimmy Rollins’ fourth time … [Read more...] about Hall of Fame Polls: Jimmy Rollins