Toronto Blue Jays All-Time Team: Part Two – The Infield

In part two of our definitive guide to the Toronto Blue Jays’ all-time team, we turn our attention to the infield.

In part one of the Toronto Blue Jays All-Time Team we laid out the outfield, which included Joe Carter, Devon White and the great George Bell. Things become a little less clear cut as to who would get the start when we examine the infield greats in franchise history.

However, after 3000 plus games of research, here is the Blue Jays‘ All-Time Starting Infield:

1B – Paul Molitor 1993-95

Resume: 1993 World Series, Champion, 1993 World Series MVP, 7 X All-Star (80,85,88,91-94)

The Why?: Most will say that Carlos Delgado should be here. However, Delgado left Toronto to get paid and try to win, Molitor came to Toronto to get paid and win. I look at Delgado in the same vein as Vince Carter – what did we win with them here and in a way we were better off when they both left.

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Molitor is a good a pure hitter as there was in the history of baseball. He torched us for years as member of the Brewers in the days when Milwaukee was an AL East Division rival.

Molitor was the icing on the cake that Toronto needed to help earn them that second title back to back, when he hit .332 with 22 Home Runs with 111 RBI. He followed that up by hitting .341 the following year.

To put it in perspective for younger Jay’s fans, Molitor coming to Toronto in 1993 was comparable to Kevin Durant signing with Golden State. And he lived up to all the hype.

2B – Robbie Alomar 1991-95

Resume: 3 X AL East Division Champion (91,92,93), 2 X World Series Champion (92,93), 12 X All-Star (1990-2001), 10 X Gold Glove Award Winner.

The Why?: He’s the only player in the Hall of Fame as a Blue Jay. I love me some Manny Lee, but this was the easiest of decisions to make. The home run off Dennis Eckersley in the 1992 ALCS changed the face of the franchise and the city of Toronto.

SS – Tony Fernandez 1983-90, 93, 98-99, 2001

Resume: 3 X AL East Division Champion, 1993 World Series Champion, 5 X All-Star (86,87,89,92,99), 4 X Gold Glove Winner.

The Why?: Tony was a switch hitter that was equally as effective from either side of the plate. Tony’s defensive range was as good as anybody in his generation and during his peak years he was as good of a contact hitter as there was in the AL highlighted by his career high .322 average in 1987. For a more in depth breakdown on Tony click here.

3B – Jose Bautista 2008-16

Resume: 2015 AL East Division Champion, 6 X All-Star2010-15, 2 X MLB Home-Run Leader.

The Why?: I know he currently plays in the outfield or is the DH, but Bautista did play a significant amount of third base for Toronto which is equal to the amount of time Josh Donaldson has been in Toronto, so I have to give the edge to Jose.

Although he isn’t as loved by the Toronto fan base as much as Donaldson or Kelly Gruber, he did create the identity for the newer version of Toronto’s Blue Jays with the bat flip. The older Jays fan will tell you exactly where they were when Carter hit his home run in ’93, while today’s fan base will tell you about their bat flip story.

C – Ernie Whitt 1977-78, 80-89

Resume: 2 X AL East Division Champion (85, 89), 1985 All-Star.

The Why?: Whitt gets the nod mostly by default. Pat Borders‘ biceps were a little too suspicious for my taste and a guy like Darrin Fletcher was a part of those “who gives a darn” Blue Jays years. Whitt’s three home-run game against Baltimore in 1987 was as epic as his swing that saw him go to his knees when he connected for a home-run.

Next: Will John Gibbons return in 2017?

Do you agree with our picks for the infield? Or is there anyone else you think is worthy of inclusion, and if so, why? Let us know in the comments section below.