TORONTO, CANADA: Toronto Blue Jay Dave Winfield is tagged out at homeplate by Milwaukee Brewer B.J. Surhoff 27 August 1992. The Blue Jays defeated the Brewers 5-4. AFP PHOTO/Carlo ALLEGRI (Photo credit should read CARLO ALLEGRI/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Today marks Dave Winfield’s 75th birthday.
Winfield enjoyed a remarkable 22-year Major League Baseball career, earning a spot in the Hall of Fame and playing a memorable season with the Blue Jays.
In 1992, at age 40, Dave joined the Blue Jays as a free agent. The team was strong but lacked a designated hitter, a role Winfield filled exceptionally well. He hit .290/.377/.491, producing 26 home runs and 108 RBI. Batting cleanup behind Devon White and Roberto Alomar—who frequently reached base—Winfield was in a prime position to drive in runs. Notably, he batted .303/.419/.545 with runners in scoring position.
Winfield emerged as a vocal leader for the team. In 1992, when Jays fans were seen as too quiet and polite, he famously encouraged them to make more noise—a moment later written about by Minor Leaguer.
Winfield, along with Joe Carter, once played a practical joke on rookie Derek Bell by pretending to give away his car as a prize on Fan Appreciation Day.
Winfield developed a reputation for struggling in the playoffs. George Steinbrenner dubbed him ‘Mr. April,’ a play on Reggie Jackson’s ‘Mr. October’ nickname. Winfield notably struggled in the 1981 World Series, going just 1-for-22 during the Yankees’ six-game loss to the Dodgers.
With the Blue Jays, Winfield performed better in the postseason. He hit .250/.357/.542 with 2 home runs in 6 ALCS games against the A’s. In the World Series against the Braves, he hit .227/.292/.273 with 3 RBI, and ultimately earned his only World Series ring.
Over his career, Winfield hit .283/.353/.475 with 465 home runs across 2,973 games. He was an excellent defensive right fielder, possessed good speed (stealing 223 bases), and was always entertaining to watch.
Happy birthday, Dave!
Today is Darrin Fletcher’s 60th birthday.
Darrin spent 14 seasons as a Major League catcher, including five with the Blue Jays and six with the Expos.
Fletcher joined the Blue Jays as a free agent prior to the 1998 season. In 1997, the team’s catcher, Benito Santiago, hit .243/.279/.387, highlighting the need for an upgrade.
The left-handed hitting Fletcher batted .276/.318/.434 with 61 home runs in 540 games as a Blue Jay. His best season came in 2000, when he posted a .320/.355/.514 line with 20 home runs. The following year saw a decline, as he hit .226/.274/.353 with 11 homers. He played 45 games in 2002 before retiring.
Over his career, Fletcher hit .269/.318/.423 with 124 home runs in 1,245 games.
He was regarded as a solid hitter but a below-average defensive catcher, particularly due to his weaker arm. It’s difficult to assess how well he handled his pitchers.
Fletcher also worked as a TV analyst for Jays broadcasts. I thought he did a good job, perhaps in part because he wasn’t on air for 150 games a year—so we never had a chance to tire of him.
Happy birthday, Darrin!
Today is Junior Felix’s 59th birthday.
Well, perhaps he’s turning 59—rumours circulated that Felix was older than he claimed. In those days, fake birth certificates were common in the Dominican Republic. Younger prospects had an advantage: a 17-year-old with the physique and skills of a 22-year-old would be seen as having greater growth potential, whereas at 22, teams expected less development.
Some believe he could have been as much as ten years older than his reported age.
So, today might be his birthday—or it might not.
Regardless…
Junior Felix was an outfield prospect for the Jays. After the team traded Jesse Barfield to the Yankees for Al Leiter in April, opening up a spot in the outfield for Felix.
In 1989, Felix hit .258/.315/.395 with 9 home runs, 8 triples, and 18 stolen bases over 110 games, primarily in right field. The Jays made the playoffs that year, and Felix went 3-for-11 in the three-game series loss to the A’s.
The next season, Felix hit .263/.328/.441 with 15 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 127 games. At just 22 years old—or so it was believed—I thought we had a promising outfielder for the future. It’s funny how quickly a player can become a favorite.
After that season, the Jays traded Felix and Luis Sojo to the Angels for Devon White, Willie Fraser, and Marcus Moore. I recall not being thrilled with the move. At 28, White had hit .247/.295/.389 over six seasons with the Angels, and despite his defense and speed, I didn’t see him as an upgrade. I was mistaken.
Felix played four more MLB seasons, batting .266/.313/.408 with 31 home runs in 348 games. Meanwhile, White won two World Series rings with the Jays. In hindsight, it’s safe to say the trade worked out well.
Happy birthday, Junior!