1987 Toronto Blue Jays season

MLB yearly infobox
name = Toronto Blue Jays
season = 1987
misc =

current league = American League
y1 = 1977
division = Eastern Division
y2 = 1977
Uniform logo =
ballpark = Exhibition Stadium
y4 = 1977
city = Toronto, Ontario
y5 = 1977
owners = Labatt Breweries,
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
genmanagers = Pat Gillick
managers = Jimy Williams
television = CFTO-TV
(Don Chevrier, Tony Kubek, Fergie Olver)
The Sports Network
(Buck Martinez, Fergie Olver)
radio = CJCL (AM)
(Jerry Howarth, Tom Cheek)|The by|1987 Toronto Blue Jays season witnessed the Blue Jays finishing second in the American League East with a record of 96 wins and 66 losses. They had been in first place by 3½ games over the Detroit Tigers with a week left to play. However, they dropped their next seven games in a row, capped off by a sweep at the hands of Detroit at Tiger Stadium on the last weekend of the season, and lost the division by two games.

Offseason

*October 20, 1986: Dennis Lamp was released by the Blue Jays. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lampde01.shtml Dennis Lamp page at Baseball Reference] ]
*February 2, 1987: Luis Leal and Dámaso García were traded by the Blue Jays to the Atlanta Braves for Craig McMurtry. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/leallu01.shtml Luis Leal page at Baseball Reference] ]

Regular season

*Blue Jays left fielder George Bell drove in 134 runs to lead the American League, and was selected the league's Most Valuable Player in a close vote over the Tigers' Alan Trammell.

*Tom Henke established himself as an elite closer as he led the American League in saves with 34. Jimmy Key led the American League with a 2.76 ERA.

*On July 21, 1987, pitcher Jimmy Key threw exactly three pitches and recorded three outs. [ [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/3_pitch_inning.shtml 3 Pitch Inning ] ] This was accomplished in the second inning.

eason standings

Notable transactions

*April 2, 1987: Bill Caudill was released by the Blue Jays. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/caudibi01.shtml Bill Caudill page at Baseball Reference] ]
*June 2, 1987: 1987 Major League Baseball Draft
**Ryan Thompson was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 13th round. Player signed June 4, 1987. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/thompry01.shtml Ryan Thompson page at Baseball Reference] ]
**Darren Lewis was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 45th round, but did not sign. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lewisda01.shtml Darren Lewis page at Baseball Reference] ]
*August 25, 1987: Gary Lavelle was released by the Blue Jays. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lavelga01.shtml Gary Lavelle page at Baseball Reference] ]
*August 31, 1987: Oswaldo Peraza and a player to be named later were traded by the Blue Jays to the Baltimore Orioles for Mike Flanagan. The Blue Jays completed the deal by sending José Mesa to the Orioles on September 4. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/f/flanami01.shtml Mike Flanagan page at Baseball Reference] ]
*September 22, 1987: Mike Sharperson was traded by the Blue Jays to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Juan Guzmán. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sharpmi01.shtml Mike Sharperson page at Baseball Reference] ]

Roster

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Award winners

* Jesse Barfield, Gold Glove Award
* George Bell, American League RBI Champion, 134
* George Bell, American League MVP
* George Bell, Silver Slugger Award
* George Bell, The Sporting News Player of the Year Award
* Jim Clancy, Pitcher of the Month Award, May
* Tom Henke, American League Leader, Saves, 34
* Jimmy Key, American League ERA Champion, 2.76 ERA

All-Star Game
* George Bell, OF, Starter
* Tony Fernandez, Shortstop, Reserve [ [http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/tor/history/all_stars.jsp Blue Jays All-Stars | bluejays.com: History ] ]
* Tom Henke, Pitcher, Reserve

References

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TOR/1987.shtml 1987 Toronto Blue Jays team page at Baseball Reference]
* [http://baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1987&t=TOR 1987 Toronto Blue Jays team page at www.baseball-almanac.com]