1989 Toronto Blue Jays season

The 1989 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's 13th season of Major League Baseball. It resulted in the Blue Jays finishing first in the American League East with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses. The Blue Jays' ace pitcher Dave Stieb led the staff with 17 victories, and the team was offensively buoyed by the league's home run king Fred McGriff.^[1] Toronto won the AL East pennant in the final weekend of the season against the favored Baltimore Orioles.^[1] The Blue Jays lost the ALCS in five games to the eventual World Series champion Oakland Athletics. It was the team's last season at Exhibition Stadium, before moving to SkyDome halfway into the season. The Blue Jays hit eight grand slams, the most in MLB in 1989.^[2]

1989 Toronto Blue Jays
American League East Champions
League	American League
Division	East
Ballpark	Exhibition Stadium
City	Toronto
Record	89–73 (.549)
Divisional place	1st
Owners	Labatt Breweries, Imperial Trust, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
General managers	Pat Gillick
Managers	Jimy Williams, Cito Gaston
Television	CFTO-TV (Don Chevrier, Tony Kubek, Fergie Olver) The Sports Network (Fergie Olver, Buck Martinez)
Radio	CJCL (AM) (Jerry Howarth, Tom Cheek)
← 1988 Seasons 1990 →

Transactions

Transactions by the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season before the 1989 season.^[3]

October 1988

October 9	Signed amateur free agent Carlos Delgado to a contract.
October 15	Steve Davis granted free agency. Lou Thornton granted free agency. Dave Walsh granted free agency.
October 24	Jim Clancy granted free agency.
October 28	Released Frank Wills.
October 31	Released Doug Bair.

November 1988

November 4

Mike Flanagan granted free agency. Rick Leach granted free agency.

December 1988

December 5	Gerónimo Berroa drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 1988 MLB Rule 5 draft. Matt Stark drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 1988 MLB Rule 5 draft. Eric Yelding drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 1988 MLB Rule 5 draft.
December 6	Drafted Tom Gilles from the Minnesota Twins in the 1988 Minor League Draft. Drafted Mauro Gozzo from the Kansas City Royals in the 1988 Minor League Draft.
December 22	Player rights of Cecil Fielder sold to the Hanshin Tigers of the NPB.
December 24	Re-signed free agent Mike Flanagan to a contract.

January 1989

January 12	Re-signed free agent Frank Wills to a contract.
January 18	Signed free agent Bob Brenly from the San Francisco Giants to a contract.
January 23	Signed free agent Tom Lawless from the St. Louis Cardinals to a one-year, $175,000 contract.
January 28	Signed free agent Chico Walker from the Chicago Cubs to a contract.

February 1989

February 17

Re-signed free agent Doug Bair to a one-year, $150,000 contract.

March 1989

March 9	Acquired DeWayne Buice from the California Angels for Cliff Young.
March 29	Player rights of Mark Eichhorn sold to the Atlanta Braves.

Regular season

The regular season would represent a turning point for the Blue Jays in many different ways. The Blue Jays started the 1989 season in Kansas City against the Royals. Behind the pitching of Jimmy Key, the Jays won the first game of the season 4–3.^[4] The rest of the month would result in a losing record for the Jays. After the first month of the season, the Blue Jays had 10 wins and 20 losses and sat 6.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the standings. The result was that Pat Gillick made his first trade in 605 days.^[4] On April 30, Gillick sent Jesse Barfield to the New York Yankees in exchange for Al Leiter.^[4] The reason for the deal was that management was convinced that Rob Ducey was ready to be an everyday outfielder. The spot eventually went to the surprising Junior Felix that year, and Ducey never became the everyday player the Jays imagined him to be.

The Blue Jays had never fired a manager in the middle of the season. After the Jays were swept by the Minnesota Twins in a three-game series, including a 13–1 loss in the final game of the series, the Jays had 12 wins and 24 losses.^[5] The Jays had also lost 15 of their last 19 games. Gillick decided that a change was needed. On Monday, May 15, Jimy Williams had become the first Jays manager to be fired in mid-season.^[6] Williams would be replaced by Cito Gaston, the first black manager in the history of the franchise.

The Blue Jays' last game at Exhibition Stadium was against the first team they played there, the Chicago White Sox. From there, the Blue Jays opened the new Skydome with a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. On September 30, they clinched the American League East division title at the new ballpark.

Notable games

• April 16, 1989 – Blue Jays third baseman Kelly Gruber hits for the cycle in a 15–8 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
• May 4, 1989 – In a game versus the California Angels, Junior Felix hits a home run in his first Major League at-bat, becoming only the 60th Major Leaguer to achieve the feat.^[7]
• May 28, 1989 – The Blue Jays play their final game at Exhibition Stadium, a 7–5 10-inning win over the Chicago White Sox. Coincidentally, the White Sox had been the Jays' opponents in their first game at Exhibition Stadium (also the first game in franchise history) twelve years before.
• June 4, 1989 – The Blue Jays stage a remarkable comeback in a game against the Red Sox in Boston. Trailing 10–0 after six innings, they slowly close the gap, finally taking an 11-10 lead on a ninth-inning grand slam by Ernie Whitt. Boston ties the score in the bottom half of the inning, but Junior Felix smokes a two-run home run in the top of the 12th inning, giving Toronto a 13–11 victory.^[8][9]
• June 5, 1989 – The Blue Jays play their first game in the brand-new SkyDome, a 5–3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.^[10]
• August 4, 1989 – With the Blue Jays leading the New York Yankees 2–0, Dave Stieb comes one out away from pitching a perfect game, but the Yankees' Roberto Kelly cracks a double into left field to break it up. Steve Sax then singles Kelly home to cut the lead to 2–1, but the Blue Jays ace holds on for the victory. It marks the third time in two seasons that Stieb has lost a no-hitter with two out in the ninth inning.^[11]
• September 30, 1989 – In the next-to-last game of the regular season (and the last edition of NBC Sports' Saturday afternoon Game of the Week before the series moved to CBS the following season), the Blue Jays clinch their second American League East division title. Tom Henke strikes out the Baltimore Orioles' Larry Sheets for the final out.^[12]

Opening Day starters

• Jesse Barfield
• George Bell
• Pat Borders
• Bob Brenly
• Kelly Gruber
• Jimmy Key
• Manuel Lee
• Nelson Liriano
• Fred McGriff
• Lloyd Moseby

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

AL East

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Toronto Blue Jays	89	73	.549	—	46‍–‍35	43‍–‍38
Baltimore Orioles	87	75	.537	2	47‍–‍34	40‍–‍41
Boston Red Sox	83	79	.512	6	46‍–‍35	37‍–‍44
Milwaukee Brewers	81	81	.500	8	45‍–‍36	36‍–‍45
New York Yankees	74	87	.460	14½	41‍–‍40	33‍–‍47
Cleveland Indians	73	89	.451	16	41‍–‍40	32‍–‍49
Detroit Tigers	59	103	.364	30	38‍–‍43	21‍–‍60

Record vs. opponents

1989 American League record v t e Sources:
Team	BAL	BOS	CAL	CWS	CLE	DET	KC	MIL	MIN	NYY	OAK	SEA	TEX	TOR
Baltimore	—	6–7	6–6	6–6	7–6	10–3	6–6	7–6	4–8	8–5	5–7	6–6	9–3	7–6
Boston	7–6	—	4–8	7–5	8–5	11–2	4–8	6–7	6–6	7–6	7–5	5–7	6–6	5–8
California	6–6	8–4	—	8–5	5–7	11–1	4–9	7–5	11–2	6–6	5–8	7–6	6–7	7–5
Chicago	6–6	5–7	5–8	—	7–5	4–8	6–7	10–2	5–8	5–6	5–8	7–6	3–10	1–11
Cleveland	6–7	5–8	7–5	5–7	—	5–8	8–4	3–10	5–7	9–4	2–10	6–6	7–5	5–8
Detroit	3–10	2–11	1–11	8–4	8–5	—	6–6	6–7	5–7	6–7	4–8	4–8	4–8	2–11
Kansas City	6–6	8–4	9–4	7–6	4–8	6–6	—	8–4	7–6	6–6	7–6	9–4	8–5	7–5
Milwaukee	6–7	7–6	5–7	2–10	10–3	7–6	4–8	—	9–3	8–5	5–7	7–5	5–7	6–7
Minnesota	8–4	6–6	2–11	8–5	7–5	7–5	6–7	3–9	—	6–6	6–7	7–6	5–8	9–3
New York	5–8	6–7	6–6	6–5	4–9	7–6	6–6	5–8	6–6	—	3–9	8–4	5–7	7–6
Oakland	7–5	5–7	8–5	8–5	10–2	8–4	6–7	7–5	7–6	9–3	—	9–4	8–5	7–5
Seattle	6–6	7–5	6–7	6–7	6–6	8–4	4–9	5–7	6–7	4–8	4–9	—	6–7	5–7
Texas	3–9	6–6	7–6	10–3	5–7	8–4	5–8	7–5	8–5	7–5	5–8	7–6	—	5–7
Toronto	6–7	8–5	5–7	11–1	8–5	11–2	5–7	7–6	3–9	6–7	5–7	7–5	7–5	—

Transactions

Transactions for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1989 regular season.^[13]

April 1989

April 30

Acquired Al Leiter from the New York Yankees for Jesse Barfield.

May 1989

May 1

Signed amateur free agent Robert Pérez to a contract.

June 1989

June 12	Released Dane Johnson.
June 16	Player rights of Doug Bair sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
June 24	Signed free agent Ozzie Virgil Jr. from the Atlanta Braves to a contract.

July 1989

July 18	Released Bob Brenly.
July 31	Acquired Mookie Wilson from the New York Mets for Jeff Musselman and Mike Brady. Selected Lee Mazzilli off of waivers from the New York Mets.

August 1989

August 24	Acquired Jim Acker from the Atlanta Braves for Francisco Cabrera and Tony Castillo.
August 26	Signed amateur free agent Paul Spoljaric to a contract.

Draft picks

• June 5, 1989: John Olerud was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 3rd round of the 1989 amateur draft. Player signed August 26, 1989.^[14]
• June 5, 1989: Aaron Small was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 22nd round of the 1989 amateur draft. Player signed June 8, 1989.^[15]

Roster

1989 Toronto Blue Jays
Roster
Pitchers 24 Jim Acker 38 DeWayne Buice 27 Tony Castillo 55 John Cerutti 32 Steve Cummings 46 Mike Flanagan 47 Mauro Gozzo 50 Tom Henke 42 Xavier Hernandez 22 Jimmy Key 28 Al Leiter 13 Jeff Musselman 45 José Núñez 33 Alex Sanchez 37 Dave Stieb 30 Todd Stottlemyre 31 Duane Ward 36 David Wells 44 Frank Wills		Catchers 10 Pat Borders 16 Greg Myers 21 Ozzie Virgil 12 Ernie Whitt Infielders  1 Tony Fernández 17 Kelly Gruber 14 Alexis Infante  4 Manuel Lee  2 Nelson Liriano 19 Fred McGriff  9 John Olerud		Outfielders 29 Jesse Barfield 34 Kevin Batiste 11 George Bell 20 Rob Ducey 54 Junior Félix 29 Glenallen Hill 18 Tom Lawless 15 Lloyd Moseby  3 Mookie Wilson Other batters  9 Bob Brenly 21 Francisco Cabrera 13 Lee Mazzilli  5 Rance Mulliniks		Manager 43 Cito Gaston  3 Jimy Williams Coaches 43 Cito Gaston (hitting)  7 John McLaren (third base) 25 Mike Squires (first base)  8 John Sullivan (bullpen) 41 Al Widmar (pitching)

Game log

1989 Game Log
April: 9–16 (Home: 4–5; Away: 5–11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 3 @ Royals 4–3 Key (1–0) Gubicza (0–1) Henke (1) 38,595 1–0 2 April 5 @ Royals 2–1 Gordon (1–0) Stottlemyre (0–1) 17,126 1–1 3 April 6 @ Royals 3–2 Montgomery (1–0) Ward (0–1) Farr (1) 18,883 1–2 4 April 7 @ Rangers 10–9 Castillo (1–0) Guante (1–1) Henke (2) 22,914 2–2 5 April 8 @ Rangers 5–4 Moyer (1–0) Key (1–1) Russell (2) 26,073 2–3 6 April 9 @ Rangers 3–2 Rogers (1–0) Henke (0–1) 19,498 2–4 7 April 10 @ Yankees 8–0 Stieb (1–0) Hawkins (0–2) 17,192 3–4 8 April 11 @ Yankees 11–6 (10) Henke (1–1) Righetti (0–1) 20,277 4–4 9 April 12 @ Yankees 5–3 Candelaria (1–1) Castillo (1–1) Guetterman (1) 17,900 4–5 10 April 14 Royals 3–0 Key (2–1) Leibrandt (0–1) 46,028 5–5 11 April 15 Royals 10–5 Aquino (2–0) Ward (0–2) 25,247 5–6 12 April 16 Royals 15–8 Wells (1–0) Saberhagen (1–1) Castillo (1) 35,210 6–6 13 April 17 Yankees 7–2 Hawkins (1–2) Flanagan (0–1) 23,260 6–7 14 April 18 Yankees 2–0 LaPoint (1–1) Musselman (0–1) Righetti (1) 25,040 6–8 15 April 19 Yankees 4–2 Candelaria (2–1) Key (2–2) Guetterman (3) 26,471 6–9 16 April 21 Rangers 6–3 Stieb (2–0) Brown (1–1) Ward (1) 22,186 7–9 17 April 22 Rangers 4–2 Ward (1–2) Hough (2–1) 27,278 8–9 18 April 23 Rangers 4–1 Ryan (2–1) Stottlemyre (0–2) 31,473 8–10 19 April 24 @ Athletics 5–4 Nelson (2–1) Henke (1–2) 25,099 8–11 20 April 25 @ Athletics 3–1 Davis (2–1) Cerutti (0–1) Eckersley (7) 12,437 8–12 21 April 26 @ Mariners 7–6 Trout (2–1) Wells (1–1) Jackson (1) 7,399 8–13 22 April 27 @ Mariners 6–1 Flanagan (1–1) Dunne (0–1) 8,600 9–13 23 April 28 @ Angels 9–0 McCaskill (4–1) Stottlemyre (0–3) 30,958 9–14 24 April 29 @ Angels 4–3 (10) Minton (1–0) Ward (1–3) 49,906 9–15 25 April 30 @ Angels 1–0 (11) McClure (1–0) Henke (1–3) 31,125 9–16
May: 11–15 (Home: 8–9; Away: 3–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 26 May 2 Athletics 8–5 Honeycutt (1–0) Ward (1–4) Plunk (1) 23,439 9–17 27 May 3 Athletics 2–0 Flanagan (2–1) Moore (3–2) 22,370 10–17 28 May 4 Angels 3–2 (10) Harvey (1–0) Ward (1–5) Minton (3) 21,188 10–18 29 May 5 Angels 5–3 Abbott (2–2) Cerutti (0–2) Harvey (5) 24,188 10–19 30 May 6 Angels 5–4 McClure (2–0) Ward (1–6) 39,123 10–20 -- May 7 Angels Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for July 17 31 May 8 Mariners 10–1 Stieb (3–0) Dunne (1–2) 23,293 11–20 32 May 9 Mariners 4–3 Hanson (4–2) Flanagan (2–2) Schooler (7) 24,234 12–20 33 May 10 Mariners 3–2 Key (3–2) Langston (4–4) 33,216 12–21 34 May 12 @ Twins 6–5 Berenguer (1–0) Wells (1–2) Reardon (6) 24,073 12–22 35 May 13 @ Twins 10–8 Rawley (3–4) Stieb (3–1) Reardon (7) 29,712 12–23 36 May 14 @ Twins 13–1 Viola (2–5) Flanagan (2–3) 33,980 12–24 37 May 15 Indians 5–3 Key (4–2) Farrell (2–3) 22,330 13–24 38 May 16 Indians 7–6 Henke (2–3) Atherton (0–2) Ward (2) 23,214 14–24 39 May 17 Indians 6–3 Black (2–5) Stieb (3–2) Jones (7) 24,406 14–25 40 May 19 @ White Sox 9–3 Flanagan (3–3) King (4–4) 11,282 15–25 41 May 20 @ White Sox 11–1 Key (5–2) Hillegas (1–5) 18,029 16–25 42 May 21 @ White Sox 9–3 Cerutti (1–2) Pérez (2–5) Ward (3) 16,488 17–25 43 May 22 Twins 6–2 Anderson (5–2) Stieb (3–3) 40,134 17–26 44 May 23 Twins 2–1 Wells (2–2) Berenguer (2–2) 24,443 18–26 45 May 24 Twins 10–4 Viola (3–6) Flanagan (3–4) 27,138 18–27 46 May 26 White Sox 11–3 Key (6–2) Hillegas (1–6) 30,105 19–27 47 May 27 White Sox 5–3 Pérez (3–5) Cerutti (1–3) Thigpen (7) 37,437 19–28 48 May 28 White Sox 7–5 (10) Henke (3–3) Thigpen (0–1) 46,120 20–28 49 May 29 @ Indians 5–3 Candiotti (6–2) Flanagan (3–5) Jones (10) 19,947 20–29 50 May 30 @ Indians 6–2 Farrell (3–5) Sanchez (0–1) 6,204 20–30 51 May 31 @ Indians 7–4 Black (4–6) Key (6–3) Jones (11) 12,890 20–31
June: 17–10 (Home: 6–5; Away: 11–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 52 June 2 @ Red Sox 7–2 Cerutti (2–3) Dopson (5–4) Ward (4) 33,584 21–31 53 June 3 @ Red Sox 10–2 Stieb (4–3) Boddicker (3–5) 33,942 22–31 54 June 4 @ Red Sox 13–11 (12) Ward (2–6) Lamp (0–1) 33,760 23–31 55 June 5 Brewers 5–3 August (5–6) Key (6–4) Plesac (13) 48,378 23–32 56 June 6 Brewers 6–4 Aldrich (1–0) Ward (2–7) Crim (3) 45,520 23–33 57 June 7 Brewers 4–2 Cerutti (3–3) Bosio (6–4) 45,372 24–33 58 June 9 Tigers 2–0 Stieb (5–3) Tanana (5–6) Wells (1) 48,219 25–33 59 June 10 Tigers 11–8 Williams (3–2) Key (6–5) 48,430 25–34 60 June 11 Tigers 4–0 Flanagan (4–5) Schwabe (1–1) Ward (5) 48,274 26–34 61 June 12 Tigers 5–4 (11) Henke (4–3) Gibson (2–4) 48,531 27–34 62 June 13 @ Brewers 4–3 Ward (3–7) Plesac (2–3) 15,469 28–34 63 June 14 @ Brewers 6–1 Stieb (6–3) Krueger (2–1) 14,808 29–34 64 June 15 @ Brewers 6–4 Fossas (1–0) Key (6–6) Plesac (15) 16,964 29–35 65 June 16 Mariners 4–3 Henke (5–3) Schooler (1–1) 48,363 30–35 66 June 17 Mariners 3–2 Ward (4–7) Jackson (2–1) 48,336 31–35 67 June 18 Mariners 8–2 Bankhead (4–4) Wills (0–1) 48,329 31–36 68 June 19 @ Angels 8–1 Stieb (7–3) Finley (7–6) 24,430 32–36 69 June 20 @ Angels 6–2 Key (7–6) McCaskill (7–4) 23,956 33–36 70 June 21 @ Angels 6–1 (14) Henke (6–3) Minton (1–2) 24,259 34–36 71 June 22 @ Athletics 4–2 (13) Hernandez (1–0) Corsi (0–1) Wells (2) 21,418 35–36 72 June 23 @ Athletics 10–8 Buice (1–0) Young (2–8) Henke (3) 27,795 36–36 73 June 24 @ Athletics 7–1 Stewart (12–3) Stieb (7–4) 39,659 36–37 74 June 25 @ Athletics 6–3 Davis (6–3) Key (7–7) Honeycutt (8) 49,219 36–38 75 June 27 @ Orioles 16–6 Tibbs (5–0) Flanagan (4–6) 30,136 36–39 76 June 28 @ Orioles 2–1 Hickey (2–2) Cerutti (3–4) Olson (12) 35,757 36–40 77 June 29 @ Orioles 11–1 Cummings (1–0) Schmidt (7–7) 39,528 37–40 78 June 30 Red Sox 3–1 Boddicker (5–7) Wells (2–3) Murphy (3) 48,429 37–41
July: 15–12 (Home: 6–7; Away: 9–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 79 July 1 Red Sox 3–1 Hetzel (1–0) Stottlemyre (0–4) Smith (10) 48,639 37–42 80 July 2 Red Sox 4–1 (11) Murphy (1–3) Wells (2–4) Smith (11) 48,516 37–43 81 July 3 Red Sox 3–2 Cerutti (4–4) Smithson (4–7) Ward (6) 48,483 38–43 82 July 4 Orioles 8–0 Schmidt (8–7) Stieb (7–5) Williamson (7) 44,025 38–44 83 July 5 Orioles 5–4 Milacki (5–8) Key (7–8) Olson (13) 49,239 38–45 84 July 6 Orioles 4–1 Stottlemyre (1–4) Ballard (10–4) Ward (7) 46,629 39–45 85 July 7 @ Tigers 6–4 Cummings (2–0) Hernández (2–2) Henke (4) 25,213 40–45 86 July 8 @ Tigers 8–3 Cerutti (5–4) Alexander (4–9) Ward (8) 31,342 41–45 87 July 9 @ Tigers 2–0 Stieb (8–5) Tanana (7–9) Henke (5) 32,428 42–45 88 July 13 Athletics 11–7 Burns (5–2) Key (7–9) 48,207 42–46 89 July 14 Athletics 4–1 Stieb (9–5) Welch (10–5) Ward (9) 48,325 43–46 90 July 15 Athletics 6–1 Flanagan (5–6) Stewart (13–5) 48,238 44–46 91 July 16 Athletics 6–2 Moore (12–5) Cerutti (5–5) Burns (7) 48,405 44–47 92 July 17 Angels 6–4 Wells (3–4) Abbott (8–6) Henke (6) 45–47 93 July 17 Angels 5–4 Wells (4–4) McClure (2–1) Henke (7) 48,641 46–47 94 July 18 Angels 1–0 Blyleven (10–2) Key (7–10) 48,717 46–48 95 July 20 @ Mariners 5–2 Bankhead (10–4) Stieb (9–6) Powell (2) 15,723 46–49 96 July 21 @ Mariners 8–1 Flanagan (6–6) Harris (1–3) 17,591 47–49 97 July 22 @ Mariners 7–1 Cerutti (6–5) Dunne (1–5) Ward (10) 22,044 48–49 98 July 23 @ Mariners 5–2 Johnson (4–2) Key (7–11) 17,973 48–50 99 July 24 @ Rangers 6–3 Stottlemyre (2–4) Álvarez (0–1) Henke (8) 33,754 49–50 100 July 25 @ Rangers 4–0 Stieb (10–6) Ryan (11–6) Ward (11) 25,297 50–50 101 July 26 @ Rangers 11–1 Brown (9–6) Flanagan (6–7) 16,633 50–51 102 July 28 @ Yankees 6–2 Cerutti (7–5) LaPoint (6–9) 37,222 51–51 103 July 29 @ Yankees 7–2 Cary (1–0) Key (7–12) 42,179 51–52 104 July 30 @ Yankees 7–6 Guetterman (3–5) Ward (4–8) 45,107 51–53 105 July 31 @ Yankees 6–5 Wells (5–4) Hawkins (12–10) Henke (9) 21,019 52–53
August: 20–9 (Home: 6–4; Away: 14–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 106 August 1 Royals 2–1 Saberhagen (11–5) Stottlemyre (2–5) 48,528 52–54 107 August 2 Royals 8–0 Cerutti (8–5) Gubicza (9–9) 48,765 53–54 108 August 3 Royals 5–0 Gordon (12–4) Key (7–13) 48,731 53–55 109 August 4 Yankees 2–1 Stieb (11–6) Parker (3–2) 48,789 54–55 110 August 5 Yankees 5–4 Hawkins (13–10) Ward (4–9) Righetti (18) 49,155 54–56 111 August 6 Yankees 6–5 Stottlemyre (3–5) Terrell (0–2) 49,025 55–56 112 August 7 Rangers 2–1 Cerutti (9–5) Jeffcoat (5–5) 48,773 56–56 113 August 8 Rangers 7–0 Gozzo (1–0) Witt (9–10) 48,689 57–56 114 August 9 Rangers 4–3 Hough (7–11) Stieb (11–7) Russell (24) 48,962 57–57 115 August 11 @ Royals 6–2 Saberhagen (13–5) Flanagan (6–8) 40,027 57–58 116 August 12 @ Royals 2–0 Stottlemyre (4–5) Gubicza (10–10) Henke (10) 40,934 58–58 117 August 13 @ Royals 8–3 Gordon (14–4) Cerutti (9–6) 33,619 58–59 118 August 14 @ Red Sox 4–2 Gozzo (2–0) Boddicker (10–9) Henke (11) 35,058 59–59 119 August 15 @ Red Sox 7–2 Stieb (12–7) Smithson (6–11) Ward (12) 34,800 60–59 120 August 16 @ Red Sox 7–3 Wells (6–4) Murphy (3–6) Henke (12) 35,310 61–59 121 August 17 @ Orioles 11–6 Ballard (12–6) Cerutti (9–7) 40,147 61–60 122 August 18 @ Orioles 9–2 Gozzo (3–0) Johnson (2–2) 31,668 62–60 123 August 19 @ Orioles 5–1 Key (8–13) Milacki (7–11) 38,111 63–60 124 August 20 @ Orioles 7–2 Harnisch (3–6) Stieb (12–8) Thurmond (4) 37,242 63–61 125 August 22 Tigers 3–2 (14) Gozzo (4–0) Núñez (2–3) 49,072 64–61 126 August 23 Tigers 11–4 Wills (1–1) Robinson (3–3) 49,233 65–61 127 August 24 Tigers 11–3 Flanagan (7–8) Morris (3–11) 49,201 66–61 128 August 25 Brewers 3–1 Key (9–13) Peterek (0–1) Henke (13) 49,457 67–61 129 August 26 Brewers 7–0 Stieb (13–8) Higuera (9–5) 49,507 68–61 130 August 27 Brewers 5–4 Stottlemyre (5–5) Bosio (14–9) Ward (13) 49,507 69–61 131 August 28 Brewers 8–2 Filer (5–2) Cerutti (9–8) Krueger (3) 49,219 69–62 132 August 29 White Sox 3–2 Flanagan (8–8) Pall (4–5) Henke (14) 49,565 70–62 133 August 30 White Sox 2–1 Key (10–13) Dotson (4–8) Ward (14) 49,435 71–62 134 August 31 White Sox 5–1 Stieb (14–8) Rosenberg (4–10) 49,422 72–62
September: 17–10 (Home: 8–3; Away: 9–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 135 September 1 Twins 7–3 Stottlemyre (6–5) Guthrie (1–1) 49,350 73–62 136 September 2 Twins 4–2 Cerutti (10–8) Smith (10–5) Henke (15) 49,291 74–62 137 September 3 Twins 9–4 Aguilera (1–3) Flanagan (8–9) 49,073 74–63 138 September 4 @ White Sox 5–2 Key (11–13) Dotson (4–9) Henke (16) 9,318 75–63 139 September 5 @ White Sox 6–1 Stieb (15–8) Rosenberg (4–11) 7,858 76–63 140 September 6 @ White Sox 4–2 Stottlemyre (7–5) King (7–9) Ward (15) 7,350 77–63 141 September 7 @ Indians 12–4 Cerutti (11–8) Candiotti (12–8) 6,098 78–63 142 September 8 @ Indians 5–4 Jones (7–8) Acker (0–1) 13,489 78–64 143 September 9 @ Indians 7–5 (16) Wills (2–1) Kaiser (0–1) 15,154 79–64 144 September 10 @ Indians 5–4 (10) Acker (1–1) Olin (1–2) 12,045 80–64 145 September 12 @ Twins 8–2 West (3–1) Stottlemyre (7–6) 14,849 80–65 146 September 13 @ Twins 3–2 Tapani (2–0) Cerutti (11–9) Reardon (29) 14,903 80–66 147 September 14 @ Twins 2–0 Guthrie (2–1) Flanagan (8–10) Reardon (30) 14,262 80–67 148 September 15 Indians 5–2 Key (12–13) Swindell (13–5) Henke (17) 49,444 81–67 149 September 16 Indians 3–2 (11) Wells (7–4) Jones (7–9) 49,218 82–67 150 September 17 Indians 2–1 (10) Acker (2–1) Bailes (4–9) 49,501 83–67 151 September 18 Red Sox 6–3 Boddicker (13–11) Cerutti (11–10) Murphy (8) 49,579 83–68 152 September 19 Red Sox 6–5 (13) Henke (7–3) Harris (2–2) 49,352 84–68 153 September 20 Red Sox 10–3 Clemens (16–10) Key (12–14) 49,571 84–69 154 September 22 @ Brewers 7–3 Stieb (16–8) Reuss (9–8) 15,569 85–69 155 September 23 @ Brewers 4–1 August (12–11) Stottlemyre (7–7) Plesac (32) 24,640 85–70 156 September 24 @ Brewers 8–3 Filer (7–3) Cerutti (11–11) Crim (7) 17,485 85–71 157 September 25 @ Tigers 2–0 Key (13–14) Dubois (0–4) Henke (18) 15,990 86–71 158 September 26 @ Tigers 4–3 Henneman (11–4) Ward (4–10) 16,185 86–72 159 September 27 @ Tigers 8–1 Stieb (17–8) Alexander (6–18) Henke (19) 18,331 87–72 160 September 29 Orioles 2–1 (11) Henke (8–3) Williamson (10–4) 49,636 88–72 161 September 30 Orioles 4–3 Wills (3–1) Williamson (10–5) Henke (20) 49,553 89–72
October: 0–1 (Home: 0–1; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 162 October 1 Orioles 7–5 McDonald (1–0) Gozzo (4–1) 49,469 89–73

1989 Playoff Game Log
American League Championship Series: 1–4 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Series 1 October 3 @ Athletics 7–3 Stewart (1–0) Stieb (0–1) 49,435 0–1 2 October 4 @ Athletics 6–3 Moore (1–0) Stottlemyre (0–1) Eckersley (1) 49,444 0–2 3 October 6 Athletics 7–3 Key (1–0) Davis (0–1) 50,268 1–2 4 October 7 Athletics 6–5 Welch (1–0) Flanagan (0–1) Eckersley (2) 50,076 1–3 5 October 8 Athletics 4–3 Stewart (2–0) Stieb (0–2) Eckersley (3) 50,024 1–4

Player stats

= Indicates team leader

= Indicates league leader

Batting

Starters by position

Note: 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	129	385	101	.262	11	53
1B	Fred McGriff	161	551	148	.269	36	92
2B	Nelson Liriano	132	418	110	.263	5	53
3B	Kelly Gruber	135	545	158	.290	18	73
SS	Tony Fernández	140	573	147	.257	11	64
LF	George Bell	153	613	182	.297	18	104
CF	Lloyd Moseby	135	502	111	.221	11	43
RF	Junior Félix	110	415	107	.258	9	46
DH	Rance Mulliniks	103	273	65	.238	3	29

^[16]

Other batters

Note: 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
Manuel Lee	99	300	78	.260	3	34
Pat Borders	94	241	62	.257	3	29
Mookie Wilson	54	238	71	.298	2	17
Bob Brenly	48	88	15	.170	1	6
Jesse Barfield	21	80	16	.200	5	11
Rob Ducey	41	76	16	.211	0	7
Tom Lawless	59	70	16	.229	0	3
Lee Mazzilli	28	66	15	.227	4	11
Glenallen Hill	19	52	15	.288	1	7
Greg Myers	17	44	5	.114	0	1
Alexis Infante	20	12	2	.167	0	0
Francisco Cabrera	3	12	2	.167	0	0
Ozzie Virgil	9	11	2	.182	1	2
Kevin Batiste	6	8	2	.250	0	0
John Olerud	6	8	3	.375	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Jimmy Key	33	216.0	13	14	3.88	118
Dave Stieb	33	206.2	17	8	3.35	101
John Cerutti	33	205.1	11	11	3.07	69
Mike Flanagan	30	171.2	8	10	3.93	47
Todd Stottlemyre	27	127.2	7	7	3.88	63
Al Leiter	1	6.2	0	0	4.05	4

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Frank Wills	24	71.1	1	0	3.66	41
Mauro Gozzo	9	31.2	4	1	4.83	10
Steve Cummings	5	21.0	2	0	3.00	8
Alex Sanchez	4	11.2	0	1	10.03	4
Jeff Musselman	5	11.0	0	1	10.64	3
José Núñez	6	10.2	0	0	2.53	14

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Tom Henke	64	8	3	20	1.92	116
Duane Ward	66	4	10	15	3.77	122
David Wells	54	7	4	2	2.40	78
Tony Castillo	17	1	1	1	6.11	10
Jim Acker	14	2	1	0	1.59	24
Xavier Hernandez	7	1	0	0	4.76	7
DeWayne Buice	7	1	0	0	5.82	10

^[16]

ALCS

Main article: 1989 American League Championship Series

Game 1

October 3, 1989, at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Toronto	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	1
Oakland	0	1	0	0	1	3	0	2	X	7	11	0
W: Dave Stewart (1-0)   L: Dave Stieb (0-1)
HR: TOR – Ernie Whitt (1)  OAK – Dave Henderson (1), Mark McGwire (1)

Game 2

October 4, 1989, at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Toronto	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	3	5	1
Oakland	0	0	0	2	0	3	1	0	X	6	9	1
W: Mike Moore (1-0)   L: Todd Stottlemyre (0-1)   S: Dennis Eckersley (1)
HR: OAK – Dave Parker (1)

Game 3

October 6, 1989, at SkyDome

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Oakland	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	8	1
Toronto	0	0	0	4	0	0	3	0	X	7	8	0
W: Jimmy Key (1-0)   L: Storm Davis (0-1)
HR: OAK – Dave Parker (2)

Game 4

October 7, 1989, at SkyDome

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Oakland	0	0	3	0	2	0	1	0	0	6	11	1
Toronto	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	2	0	5	13	0
W: Bob Welch (1-0)   L: Mike Flanagan (0-1)   S: Dennis Eckersley (2)
HR: OAK – Rickey Henderson 2 (2), José Canseco (1)

Game 5

October 8, 1989, at SkyDome

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Oakland	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	4	4	0
Toronto	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	9	0
W: Dave Stewart (2-0)   L: Dave Stieb (0-2)   S: Dennis Eckersley (3)
HR: TOR – Lloyd Moseby (1), George Bell (1)

Award winners

• George Bell, Player of the Month Award, August
• Tony Fernández, Gold Glove Award
• Fred McGriff, Player of the Month Award, April
• Fred McGriff, American League Leader in Home Runs (36)
• Fred McGriff, Silver Slugger Award

All-Star Game

• Kelly Gruber, third base
• Tony Fernandez, shortstop ^[17]

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Syracuse Chiefs	International League	Bob Bailor
AA	Knoxville Blue Jays	Southern League	Barry Foote
A	Dunedin Blue Jays	Florida State League	Doug Ault
A	Myrtle Beach Blue Jays	South Atlantic League	Mike Fischlin
A-Short Season	St. Catharines Blue Jays	New York–Penn League	Bob Shirley
Rookie	Medicine Hat Blue Jays	Pioneer League	Rocket Wheeler

^[18]

References

1. Complete Book of 1990 Baseball Cards. Publications International, Ltd. 1990. p. 12. ISBN 0-88176-804-9.
2. "Team Batting Event Finder: 1989, All Teams, Home Runs, With Runners on 123". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
3. "1989 Toronto Blue Jays Trades and Transactions". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
4. Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.230, Penguin Books, ISBN 0-14-023978-2
5. Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.231, Penguin Books, ISBN 0-14-023978-2
6. Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.232, Penguin Books, ISBN 0-14-023978-2
7. "Home Run in First At-Bat". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
8. Kelly, Cathal (August 18, 2008). "Red-hot Jays burn hole in Bosox". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
9. "Jays, Down by 10-0, Stun Red Sox, 13-11". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 5, 1989. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
10. "Blue Jays Open the SkyDome but Lose". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 6, 1989. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
11. Martinez, Michael (August 5, 1989). "A Perfect Night for Stieb Is Ruined by Kelly". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
12. Gammons, Peter (October 9, 1989). "Oh, What A Relief It Is". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on December 2, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
13. "1989 Toronto Blue Jays Trades and Transactions". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
14. John Olerud at Baseball Reference
15. "Aaron Small Stats".
16. "1989 Toronto Blue Jays Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com". Archived from the original on April 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
17. Blue Jays All-Stars | bluejays.com: History
18. 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

• 1989 Toronto Blue Jays at Baseball Reference
• 1989 Toronto Blue Jays at Baseball Almanac