Sometimes I don't know my own strength. The Jays were stinking up the joint when I took matters into my own hands on May 1 by sharing "We Got The Blue Jays (R.B.I. Single Version)". That was five games ago, and we haven't lost since.

Combined, Toronto's starters have given up eight earned runs in their last 66 innings and just a ratio of 0.724 WHIP. We've allowed a mere 12 runs in our last nine games, posting three shutouts over that span.

Stay calm. Carry on.

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I hate it when athletes age and lose their dominance. It happens to everyone, from Michael Jordan to Wayne Gretzky, and it's a cruel reminder that youth is fleeting.

I cringe when I look at New York Mets boxscores because Carlos Delgado is ageing rapidly. He's batting .210 right now, with 3 home runs and 13 RBIs. Those aren't Delgado numbers, and I hear Mets fans boo whenever he makes an out. They sense the end is near and they're looking for blood.

Delgado was an awesome Blue Jay. His 336 homers as a Jay are 133 more than George Bell ever hit for Toronto. His 1058 RBIs are also a club record. In one of his final games as a Jay, I watched him hit one out. It was the first game my son ever attended and I made sure he knew how lucky he was to witness a Carlos Delgado bomb. He wasn't just deadly at the plate, he was also drenched in integrity. Who didn't love Carlos Delgado at first base for the Blue Jays?

Soon, we'll just be left with the memories. Thankfully, Delgado will leave us with a tonne of 'em.

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Dave just left an awesome comment on my Bob McCown vs. Bill Watters entry. It's a list of 8 things you should do if you want to talk baseball with Bob McCown, host of Prime Time Sports of The Fan 590. I like this list because it's both well written and pretty accurate.

Want to talk baseball with Bob--this city's sports demagogue. Do the following:

1: Refer to the thirty-seven, fifty-nine, or eighty-four third basemen brought in by Ricciardi. It doesn't matter if the real number--excluding subs--is something like three or four. The higher the number, the more Bob likes you.

2: Say something like, "This guy hasn't done/brought in anyone." Bob likes that. Don't mention Lind, Hill, Purcey, Snider, Cecil, Marcum, Litsch, Accardo, Tallet, Downs, etc. Bob doesn't know who they are.

3: Say "I mean," and "C'mon." Say them a lot. Here's a template for you to use when you're talking to the screener: "I mean, c'mon, what' this guy doing. I mean, c'mon. Who's he drafting? C'mon, I mean."

4: Tell Bob that this team "has no one" and could never "make a run." Wells, Rios, Hill, and Overbay are .260/10/70 hitters. Not much they can do over a complete season. "How are they gonna compete with Wells and Hill? They got no one there at the corners. They, I mean, they got no one. I mean, they can't make a run."

5: Ignore everything positive about this team. The fact that they're third in the AL (and 6th in MLB) in team ERA? It doesn't matter. "C'mon, I mean, Wells isn't doing anything. C'mon."

6: Banish logic from your argument. The Jays lost two one-run games to Boston, and have already played ten one-run contests. Since they lost said games, they're awful. Had they won said games (by one run) they'd be a great defensive/pitching team.

7: Pretend that slumps never happen: Say something like, "Stairs is on pace to go .300/15/40 this year."

8: Say something that shows your baseball knowledge. Something like, "My buddies and me were talking baseball. Now we know a lot about the game. We follow it. We're experts, you know. But that there Jays third basemen, that...you know...that guy...oh, I can't remember his name. But I know a lot about baseball. Now I don't like him."

Now you're on. OK. Wind him up, and watch him go.

Sometimes comments are too good to keep buried. This one deserved some front page exposure.

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Things are going from bad to worse for our Blue Jays. We lost 6 in a row until I single handedly pulled us out of our funk by sharing Shaker's Rap. We won that day, but we haven't won since, so I'm pulling out the heavy artillery.

Joel sent me this song he recently ripped to MP3 from a single he had in his collection. It's called "We Got The Blue Jays" and this is the R.B.I. Single Version. Yes, there were other versions.

Even if you're not a Jays fan, I highly recommend clicking play below. This is a really catchy, surprisingly decent tune. It's guaranteed win night, Toronto. We Got The Blue Jays!

Other awesome Blue Jays audio:

• OK Blue Jays (Let’s Play Ball!)
• Shaker's Rap
• Help Us Mookie
• The Blue Jays Rap
• The Ballad of Tom Henke
• Sunny Jays
• Jays To The Top
• Tom Cheek's Greatest Hits

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

Damn right Jimmy Key was an all-star back in 1987. He posted an 17-8 record with a league-leading 2.76 ERA for crying out loud. He didn't have a blazing fastball but instead used awesome Maddox-like control to consistently win ball games.

What I liked best about Jimmy Key is how he wrapped up his career with the Jays. He made his final start for the Blue Jays in game 4 of the 1992 World Series, surrendering one run over 7 2/3 innings to earn the win and put the Jays up 3-1. Key would appear once more in the series, as a reliever in the 10th and 11th innings of the 6th and deciding game, earning the win.

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

Damn right Tom Henke was an all-star back in 1987. He led the league in saves that year with 34, one of only two Jays ever to accomplish that feat. He also allowed fewer hits (5.9) and recorded more strikeouts (12.3) per nine innings than any other AL pitcher.

For more about The Terminator, check out my entry about his regular card in this set. And, of course, there's The Ballad of Tom Henke.

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

Of course George Bell was an all-star back in 1987. That was his MVP season, which he finished with a .308 BA, .352 OBP, .608 SLG, 111 R, 47 HR and 134 RBI.

Damn right George Bell was an all-star, punk.

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Things are downright depressing in Jays town. Last in the American League East, we've lost 6 in a row and only 2 of our past 10 games. It's officially code blue, and you know what that means...

It's time for the Shaker Mo. Shaker's Rap, a 12" single from 1986 that Joel graciously ripped for me, will make everything better for us Jays fans. It opens with a great Tom Cheek home run call and stars centre fielder extraordinaire, Lloyd Moseby. This should guarantee the streak stops at 6.

When life gives you lemons, break out some Shaker's Rap.

Other awesome Blue Jays audio:

• Tom Cheek's Greatest Hits
• OK Blue Jays (Let’s Play Ball!)
• Help Us Mookie
• The Blue Jays Rap
• The Ballad of Tom Henke
• Sunny Jays
• Jays To The Top

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The Toronto Blue Jays have released Frank Thomas. The future Hall of Famer was hitless in his last 13 at-bats and only 4-for-34 since homering in three straight games April 5-8.

Buffalo Boy thinks we should sign Barry Bonds to replace The Big Hurt. Last month I wrote that Bonds was done, "blacklisted as a steroid user and perjurer". Even though I'm glad he's out of the game, signing Bonds might be our only chance to make some hay in the AL East.

Bonds can't field or run, but he can still hit and draw walks. It would be a mighty gamble, but if we don't gamble at this point we're looking at another third place finish and being out of the playoffs for the fifteenth consecutive year. The lack of demand for Bonds' services suggest we'll get him fairly cheap, and he'd make a great tandem with Canadian Matt Stairs as our designated hitter. At the very least, it would be good fuel for the Toronto blogging fires.

It might be Barry time, but he doesn't get to bring that special chair of his. No sir, he can park his caboose on the same seat fit for Saint John, New Brunswick's Matthew Wade Stairs.

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One of my favourite memories is of an October 5th Saturday afternoon in 1985. I've written about this day in great detail. The Blue Jays clinched their first divisional pennant when my favourite Jay George Bell caught a Ron Hassey fly ball and immediately dropped to his knees in celebration. I cut out the photo of George Bell celebrating and still have it today.

A comment was just left on that entry from Lisa. Here's what she wrote:

Like you, my brother's all time favourite player is George Bell...for his birthday I'm trying to find the picture of him making the game winning catch in 1985. The closest I've come is your picture of the picture.. do you have any idea where I could find this? For years my brother had the picture from the newspaper on his wall... Thanks for any help you can offer.

That image of Bell on the ground celebrating and Tony Fernandez running up to him means so much to me, I'm amazed by how hard it is to find online. I've done several Google searches and I've come up empty. My Google-fu is rarely so weak, so I'm issuing a challenge.

Find the image below and help Lisa make her brother's day. You might make mine as well. Ladies and gentlemen, start your searching!

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Frank Thomas is on the verge of history. Thomas will become the man with the most plate appearances without having a single stinking sacrifice hit if he gets to the plate four times tonight in Baltimore.

George Bell was another Jay who simply didn't bunt, as was Carlos Delgado. Still, Bell didn't get 9832 plate appearances like Thomas. Take a bow, Franky.

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

If you don't remember Blue Jays righty Joe Johnson, you're forgiven. His MLB career was pretty short. He's awfully lucky he got a 1988 Topps card.

We actually traded Jim Acker to Atlanta to get Johnson. Acker came back to Toronto for a second tour of duty with the club in 1989. All in all, Acker was a Jay for parts of seven seasons and Joe Johnson was a Jay for 30 games over two seasons.

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Former Toronto Blue Jay Ed Sprague, the game-winning home run in game 2 of the 1992 World Series against the Atlanta Braves hitter Ed Sprague, the monster season in 1996 Ed Sprague, has admitted to taking steroids and using a corked bat to help inflate his statistics.

I took Andro [Androstenedione], and they [Major League Baseball] banned that [in June 2004].

So, am I the cleanest guy? No, but I tried to be as strong and as healthy as I could as long as I could for my career.

The sad thing is, this isn't the least bit surprising. I now find myself more shocked by the fact 90s MLB star played clean.

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I wrote earlier in the week about Rick Leach, a Toronto Blue Jay from 1985 to 1988. I had no idea Rick Leach was best known in the USA as the stellar quarterback from the University of Michigan.

I just found a 1978 clip that compares Rick Leach to Joe Montana, and the comparison is pretty favourable to Mr. Leach. Yes folks, he was that good.

From Wikipedia:

Leach was a star quarterback at the University of Michigan from 1975 to 1978 under legendary coach Bo Schembechler. A left-hander, he was given the starting job before his freshman year and held it until he graduated four years later. In his freshman year, with the Big Ten championship and the 1976 Rose Bowl on the line in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, Leach would throw an interception that was run back for a touchdown by Ray Griffin that would be the final score in a 21-14 Buckeye win.[1] However, Leach and the Wolverines would never lose to Ohio State again in his career. One of the finest athletes in Michigan history, Leach was named All-Big Ten as a quarterback three times and also placed in the voting for the Heisman Trophy three times. He was co-most valuable player in the 1979 Rose Bowl.

Leach shattered all Michigan's career passing, total offense and touchdown records. He set an NCAA record for most touchdowns accounted for (82) and broke Big Ten records for total offense (6,460) total plays (1,034) and touchdown passes (48). In 1978, he finished third in balloting for the Heisman Trophy, behind Billy Sims and Chuck Fusina.

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

I remember Rick Leach as the backup outfielder who disappeared. I can't remember the specifics, I just remember it was a big deal at the time. They couldn't find Rick Leach for a few days... does anyone out there remember this?

I did Google it, searching for the details, but most of the Rick Leach info on the web is about his career as a quarterback at the University of Michigan. He had a massive NCAA football career before choosing baseball. And to think I just know him as the utility player who disappeared.

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The Jays look awesome tonight. It's too early to tell if we'll take out the Red Sox in our home opener, but win or lose, we'll look good doing it.

They're donning the old powder blue uniforms and I'm wondering why we ever ditched these beauties. At least somebody at Rogers heard my plea.

That's the way I like it.

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

I never felt comfortable with Jimy Williams at the helm. I liked Bobby Cox and I liked Cito Gaston, but I never believed Jimy Williams had what it took to lead my Jays to the playoffs.

History proved me right. Bobby Cox managed our 1985 pennant winning team in his last Blue Jay season and we didn't win another until 1989, the year Cito replaced Jimy.

Being a mega George Bell fan, Jimy never really had a shot with me. The two hated each other. Jimy Williams wanted Bell to DH, and Bell wasn't ready to give up left field. Jimy may have been right, but I wasn't going to hear it.

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When Alex Rios hit an RBI single in the first inning tonight against the Yankees, his hitting streak against the Yankees was extended to 22 games.

That's the longest such streak since 1956, surpassing 21 game streaks by Nomar Garciaparra, Paul Molitor and Harold Baines.

It's a useless piece of trivia, but I dig it.

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I'm watching the Jays opener against the Yankees. It's the last opening day in Yankee Stadium history. I remember skipping school to attend the last opening day in Exhibition Stadium history.

There were 46,028 of us on hand that April 14th, 1989 afternoon. Jimmy Key pitched a two-hit complete game gem in a 3-0 shutout. Nelson Liriano of all people was the offensive hero with a two run single to left. When Kevin Seitzer flew out to George Bell to end the game, we were on our feet, saluting a masterpiece by Key and our favourite mistake by the lake.

I was in the general admission grandstand, and the regular price for that ticket was $4. I believe I got in for $2 thanks to a promotion by Dominion grocery stores. That was the best deal in the city.

Exhibition Stadium didn't have the history of Yankee Stadium, but try telling 14 year old me that. We won that game, and I'd like to win this one. It's 3-2 Yankees in the 8th. Go Jays Go!

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

I once put Tony Fernandez at #4 on my favourite Blue Jays position players of all time list but he's #2 on my favourite Murray Eldon announcements list (to be read in your best Murray Eldon). Toooo-neeee Fer-NAN-deeeeezzzzzz.... I can hear it now. We need Murray Eldon now more than ever.

I could write pages and pages about the greatest Blue Jays shortstop in the history of the franchise. His 213 hits in 1986 is still the single season hits record for this team. He's fourth on the career stolen base list. He's the only player I know of to serve four different tours of duty with a Toronto based professional team. He enjoyed his first stint from 1983-1990, came back to help us win a World Series in 1993, played his third stint from 1998-1999 and made one last stop in Toronto in 2001 before retiring. He was welcomed back with open arms each and every time.

I could go on about how his injury in 1987 sparked our greatest collapse or how he was the answer I gave to Mike Wilner when I called his Cable 10 show "Let's Talk Sports", but I'm going to close with the enduring image of #1. I wrote all about that October 5, 1985 Saturday we clinched our first divisional pennant. George Bell made the catch, dropped to his knees and was met by Tony Fernandez, hand extended for a well deserved high five. Here's that picture as it appeared on the cover of the special Drive of '85 insert the Toronto Star printed the next day. It's hard to believe that was almost 23 years ago.

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I enjoyed last year's Blue Jays ads. You might remember the controversial spot with Frank Thomas decking that kid with a pillow. Click on over and watch that one again, it's great.

Here are this year's batch of TV commercials promoting Blue Jays baseball. These are pretty good, too.

Roy Halladay

Aaron Hill

Alex Rios

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The Toronto Blue Jays might be the first team in urgent need of a really good manicurist.

A.J. Burnett lost most of the nail on his index finger after closing a car door on it. As a result, he was unable to throw his curveball until a fake nail was attached last week.

Now comes word that third baseman Scott Rolen has lost most of a nail on his right hand when it was struck by a ball during fielding drills. He could be out a month.

This team needs a manicurist!

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

We already covered Rance Mulliniks, so now it's Garth Iorg's turn. You simply can't discuss one without the other. They platooned at third for much of the 80s and with a great deal of success.

What I remember best about Iorg was his unconventional batting stance. I used to mimic it in the backyard with my blue Catelli bat. Wikipedia describes the stance as "on the toes of his front foot and leaning back toward the catcher as the ball was being pitched". I've never seen another player hit that way since.

Another thing I think about when I think of Garth Iorg is his mother. Prior to the ACLS championship series between the Blue Jays and Royals, I saw an interview with Mrs. Iorg as to who she was rooting for. Garth played for the Jays and her son Dane Iorg played for the Royals. I don't remember the exact quote, but there was little doubt she was rooting for the Royals. I always felt bad for Garth after that.

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There are two Mookies of note in this neck of the woods. One, Derrell "Mookie" Mitchell, was released today by the Toronto Argonauts. Hearing that news got me thinking about the other Mookie.

When Mookie Wilson came to town, he was best known as the New York Met who hit the ball that fooled Bill Buckner. The 1989 Toronto Blue Jays season was full of drama. We had our first mid-season managerial change, George Bell said goodbye to Exhibition Stadium with a walkoff homer and Mookie Wilson came to town on July 31.

Mookie provided this intangible spark. You had to be there. He had this big smile, seemed to slap singles in the clutch and he was always hustling. I don't believe we'd have won the pennant in 1989 without him.

This song is "Help Us Mookie" by The Kokomo Beach Band. It's a parody of "Help Me Rhonda" by The Beach Boys if there are any kids in the crowd.

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Vegas Geoff alerted me to this Yahoo! blog entry about some more vintage Blue Jay cheese. On the heels of The Blue Jays Rap, I'm starting to wonder if all my 80s and early 90s Blue Jays memories are pure cheese in retrospect.

This report for City TV was filed by Peter Gross and the theme is Michael Jackson's Thriller. It's neat to watch because I remember that 1984 season well. The Tigers bust out of the gates in unprecedented fashion and, even though we played our tails off, we couldn't catch them.

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It's that wonderful time of year. Baseball's back. It's a clean slate and hopes are high we'll return to the post season for the first time in 15 years. I can't believe it's been that long.

WARNING!!! The Jays song I'm sharing today is awful. It's so bad, it's actually good. In the comments for my "Okay Blue Jays" entry, Kirsten, a Jays fan now living on the west coast, wrote the following.

SWEET Mike, thanks for the quick reply. Now maybe you can help me with my second search... the song that they used to play I think right before games started that included *this is from about a 12 year old memory, sorry*

"Let's go Blue Jays, rock em and a sock em and a bring them all home?"

I'm sure it was on one of those Blue Jays CDs, but I'm having a hard hard time finding it.

The song Kirsten was remembering is "The Blue Jays Rap" by The Variety Club Rap Gang. Here it is, if you dare play it aloud. Go Jays Go!

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My favourite Toronto Blue Jays songs

1. OK Blue Jays
2. Along Came Joe
3. The Ballad of Tom Henke
4. Help Us Mookie
5. Jays to the Top

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

Jeff Musselman was a nice little lefty out of the pen back in 1987. That season he went 12-5, which earned him this lovely Topps All-Star Rookie card. He would play his last MLB game in 1990, a mere three seasons later.

Musselman is likely best known around these parts as part of the package that brought Mookie Wilson over from the Mets in 1989. That was a fun time in Blue Jays history, and Mookie was the spark that propelled us to our 2nd American League Eastern Division pennant.

We started the season 12-24 and that's when Jimy Williams got canned and Cito Gaston took over. Mookie joined the squad on July 31, a great gift for my mother's birthday, and on September 30 Tom Henke struck out Baltimore Orioles pinch-hitter Larry Sheets to clinch the pennant.

And yes, I will be sharing "Help Us, Mookie" soon.

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I wrote about Tom Henke yesterday and Stephanie suggested I insert "The Ballad of Tom Henke". I didn't want to bury such a great song in the comments, so this entry is all about "The Ballad of Tom Henke".

"The Ballad of Tom Henke" appeared on the same Blue Jays compilation that gave us "Jays to the Top", "Sunny Jays" and, of course, "OK Blue Jays (Let’s Play Ball!)".

Term-in-a-tor, Term-in-a-toooor...

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

When B.J. Ryan went down about a year ago, I wrote a little tribute to Tom Henke. He is, after all, my favourite Toronto Blue Jays pitcher of all time.

When I was growing up, the first thing I'd read in the newspaper was the box score from the previous night's Blue Jays game. Baseball is all about stats, so I'd monitor each pitcher's ERA, SOs, BBs and IP. Read this quote from the 88 Topps blog and tell me if you know what an ERA+ is.

Henke was an absolute stud. He had a rough 28 innings in 1984, but otherwise the rest of his career was stellar. After 1984, the lowest ERA+ he posted was 127, and he finished at 156 for his career. Here is the full list of all pitchers in history with at least 700 IP, a WHIP under 1.1, and ERA+ over 150. Just four guys. The other guys are all HOFers, probably.

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

In the years before the trade that brought Roberto Alomar to town, second base was occupied by Neson Liriano and Manny Lee. Liriano and Lee platooned at the position after Damaso Garcia was shipped to the Braves in 1987.

Nelson Liriano actually retired with more triples than home runs. He was a stereotypical light hitting infielder whose claim to fame was a one-out triple in the ninth on April 23, 1989. That triple broke up a Nolan Ryan no-hit bid.

Needless to say, Robbie Alomar was one hell of an upgrade.

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

This is a tough one, because John Cerutti left us far too soon.

As a Jays pitcher, I remember him as a serviceable, steady arm, but nothing spectacular. He's probably best known for recording the first Blue Jays win at SkyDome back on June 7, 1989.

He was to broadcast the last game of the 2004 season when he was found dead in his hotel room. I labelled our 2004 season the season from hell. In fact, it's my least favourite Blue Jays season ever, and Cerutti's death is a big reason why.

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

Rance Mulliniks was one half of our legendary platoon at third base. He shared the duties with Garth Iorg for most of the 80s before Kelly Gruber took over.

Rance was a fan favourite because he didn't look like an athlete. Nobody accused Rance of juicing, unless he was juicing that killer moustache. He was a skinny guy without much power, but he was consistent.

My brother Steve and I were in the stands the day Rance recorded his last major league hit in 1992. We didn't know it at the time, as there was a good chunk of the season remaining, but it ended up being so and now I can drag out this story every time somebody mentions Rance Mulliniks.

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

Jesse Barfield was a key member of our awesome mid-80s outfield. He was a great slugger back in an era when 27 homers meant something. He was also the first Blue Jay to hit 40 dingers which led the league back in 1986.

Jesse hit for power, but my favourite Barfield moments were when he'd gun players down at the plate. Only fools tested his cannon-like arm. On more than one occasion I saw him throw a strike to home plate from his perch in right field.

Barfield was a great Blue Jay who was eventually traded for Al Leiter. Leiter, you will recall, battled blisters for years until he blossomed into an awesome starter, making this a pretty sweet trade for the Jays.

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YouTube user WNED17 recently uploaded some fantastic retro-Toronto-centric gems. These clips have brought back a tonne of memories for me, so I'm going to feature them one by one over the next few weeks.

Every Jays fan from the 80s is going to love this Blue Jays promo from CKCO. That music brings back so many memories and this footage is extraordinary. I'll never forget the fantastic memories I have of Exhibition Stadium. After you watch this, head over to my OK Blue Jays page and listen to that retro gem. When does Spring Training start?

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

Kelly Gruber wasn't just the subject of a hilarious Kids in the Hall skit, he was our starting third baseman in the post-Mulliniks/Iorg era. He was also pretty overrated due to his one stellar season at the plate in 1990.

In 1990, Gruber hit .274 with 31 HRs, 118 RBIs and 14 SBs, winning Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. He ended up fourth in MVP balloting that year.

I'll always remember Gruber for three things:

• In 1989 he became the first Jay to hit for the cycle when he famously stretched a double into a single.
• In 1992 he tied up game three of the World Seres against the Atlanta Braves with a clutch homer. He also had that awesome chin first slide in this series.
• A friend working the counter at the Runnymede and Bloor street McDonalds swears he came in one day and ate four Quarter Pounders with Cheese.

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

Derek Bell is actually the second Blue Jays prospect featured in the O-Pee-Chee set. O-Pee-Chee cards were the ones I collected and they were essentially Topps cards with a Canadian angle and bilingual print on the back. Unlike Alex Sanchez, featured earlier today, Derek Bell actually had some pretty sweet seasons, although they weren't with the Jays.

We traded this prospect to the Padres for Darrin Jackson after our World Series win in 1992. Darrin Jackson only played a couple of months before we traded his ass to New York for Tony Fernandez. I missed Tony Fernandez and was very happy to see him play such a key role in our 1993 World Series victory. His nine World Series RBIs is still a record for a shortstop.

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I'm featuring 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays that are featured on this blog.

Unlike Jim Clancy and Ernie Whitt, I have no memories of Alex Sanchez. He was our #1 pick in the 1987 draft but he didn't pan out. In fact, he only made four major league starts and his first was his best. "Despite giving up 5 hits and 5 walks in 6 innings, he allowed just 1 run and left the game tied. David Wells came in, pitched the last 3 innings, and got the win."

Although I'm pretty sure I was either watching or listening to that game, it's not ringing a bell.

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As I did with Jim Clancy, I'm going to feature 1988 Topps Cards featuring members of my beloved Blue Jays.

Like Jim Clancy, Ernie Whitt was an original Blue Jay. He stuck around through the 1989 season and was extremely popular. In fact, he was my brother Ryan's favourite Blue Jay and when Whitt got a hit, Ryan got a high five as if he was responsible. That's how we rolled in the 80s.

There are still plenty of reason to love Ernie Whitt. For one, he's the Blue Jays' Bench Coach. He's also manager of the Canadian National Team. And finally, there's this story.

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Throughout the 80s, there were two starters we could rely on. Jimmy Key came around in 1984, but before him there was Dave Stieb and Jim Clancy.

Dave Stieb got most of the glory, but Jim Clancy was consistently great. He was a Jay since day one back in 1977 and an all-star in 1982, but today he's known best as the answer to a trivia question.

The next time you're with a group of baseball fans, ask them to name the losingest pitcher of the 1980s. Despite his decent ERA and pile of wins, the answer is our very own Jim Clancy. The fact is, you have to be pretty good to hold a record like that. Weaker pitchers won't get the starts necessary to reach 119 losses.

I'm thinking about Jim Clancy today because a certain blog reached #54.

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Considering how injury-plagued both Troy Glaus and Scott Rolen are, I waited until they had passed their physicals before wading in on the Glaus for Rolen deal between the Jays and Cardinals. Assuming Rolen's shoulder holds up, and that's a big assumption, this is a great deal for our team.

Rolen is better defensively, carries a decent bat, and I never liked Troy Glaus as a Blue Jay. We gave up Orlando Hudson to bring Glaus to town, and O-Dog was the best 2nd baseman to play in this city since Roberto Alomar. I really miss O-Dog, and although he's not coming back, Glaus is leaving town.

This is an upgrade. Now they just have to make it official.

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Don Chevrier was 69. He was a popular sports announcer best known as the original television voice of the Toronto Blue Jays.

I haven't thought about Don Chevrier in a while but hearing this news makes me very sad. He was a fixture on Blue Jays telecasts from 1977 to 1997 and that means I spent many an afternoon and night listening to the man's voice while I watched the birds of summer.

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Overshadowed by yesterday's other baseball news was the fact our Blue Jays signed a new starting shortstop. Free-agent shortstop David Eckstein agreed Thursday to a one-year deal worth $4.5 million US. The move will be finalized once the former St. Louis Cardinal passes a physical.

This makes defensive star John McDonald our backup next season. Ecksein is certainly an upgrade at the plate. He batted .309 for the Cardinals last season with three home runs, 31 runs batted in and 10 stolen bases.

It's also worth noting Eckstein has won a couple of World Series. In 2002 he won it all with the Los Angeles Angels and in 2006 he was the World Series MVP with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Is a third World Series imminent? Don't bet on it...

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I've been thinking a lot about the Mitchell Report this evening. A lot of players were named, including some huge names. I've been wondering how I'd feel if George Bell was named.

George Bell retired after the 1993 season and could never have been named in the Mitchell Report, but he was my favourite player growing up. He was my baseball hero, and had I learnt today he cheated, I'd have been crushed.

For many, their George Bell was named in the report. How many idolize Roger Clemens, for example. It's the details about him that most intrigue me. He was getting roids at Skydome and was cheating during his Cy Young seasons here in Toronto. Statistically speaking, those are the two best Blue Jays seasons ever recorded by a starting pitcher. Now I wonder if they shouldn't be wiped from the record book.

On this very blog I've written extensively about Roger Clemens. In the summer of '04 I called him the best pitcher of his generation. I actually think he might be the best pitcher of all time, and now I'm left shaking my head.

Imagine if he was George Bell.

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You've likely heard the rumour that J.P. Ricciardi is talking trade with the San Francisco Giants. The deal on the table is Alex Rios for Tim Lincecum, and that scares the crap out of me.

I realize the importance of pitching and that Lincecum is a solid prospect, but Alex Rios is young, awesome defensively, hits for power and even steals bases. He's still got great upside and was our only all-star last season. He's the kind of player I want to see patrolling right field at the diamond formerly known as Skydome for the next decade.

I know what Rios is and I know he's only getting better. Lincecum is one big maybe. The good news is this deal likely won't happen if the Giants trade for Hideki Matsui to replace Bonds instead. Let's hope that happens.

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Former Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Tom Cheek is back on the ballot for the 2008 Ford C. Frick Award, given annually by the Baseball Hall of Fame for excellence in baseball broadcasting. Cheek, who died at 66 from brain cancer in 2005, is among the 10 finalists for the honour. He called 4,306 consecutive games from 1977 to 2004.

I first lobbied for Tom to win this award in 2005 and then again in 2006. When he was beat out once more, I suggested it was an anti-Canadian bias at work. If Tom Cheek had called games in the United States of America, he'd have won the Ford C. Frick award long ago.

The winner of the Ford C. Frick award will be announced on February 19, 2008. If the weather outside has you feeling cold, warm up with Tom Cheek's greatest hits.

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I was just watching Sportsnet following a big Raptors win and they showed footage of the old Blue Jays uniforms as they promoted next year's Flashback Fridays. In the past week alone I've shown you a blind arts student sculpting a likeness of George Bell and MSTRKRFT's Jesse F. Keeler going retro, but tonight I'm going to show you the primary reason I'm on this crusade.

This is a picture of young Toronto Mike when he was wide eyed and innocent. His heart was powered by that logo. When that logo returns, young Toronto Mike will follow.

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blogTO has a little write up about local boys MSTRKRFT making good. Their entry about MSTRKRFT features a picture of Jesse F. Keeler sporting my favourite Blue Jays logo on his cap.

Add Jesse to the growing list of people begging for a return to the old school Jays logo.

For more Blue Jays logo rants, check out:

• Vintage Unis on Flashback Fridays
• Bring Back the Old Blue Jays Logo
• 500 Blue Jays

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The other day I wrote about the old Blue Jays logo and posted a picture of my favourite Blue Jay of all time, #11 George Bell. This picture of George Bell reminded me of something, but what?.

The video for Lionel Richie's "Hello" tells the story of a blind arts student sculpting a likeness of Richie's head. Picture that bust of Richie in your head. Is it Lionel Richie, or did that blind arts student sculpt the likeness of George Bell.

You decide.

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My buddy Mike Kic sent me this link with the subject line "You got your wish sir!". You see, I recently begged for a return to the old logo and the Blue Jays have announced they'll wear vintage uniforms as part of their Flashback Fridays promotion.

It's close Kic, but no cigar. I need more than this. I need the old uniforms and logo back full time, not just for some Friday home games.

I know, I know... baby steps.

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Crap, it's been a busy day. I'm just coming up for air now.

The Toronto Marlies have played 12 games thus far this season, winning 10 and losing two in a shootout. That's pretty awesome, and perhaps a little hope on the horizon in Leafsville.

Scott Clemmensen is 7-0 with a 2.29 GAA and he'll be backing up Raycroft tonight. I wonder how long we'll have the three NHL calibre goalies in town?

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Fans of the Jays all share great memories of "OK Blue Jays (Let's Play Ball)". I stream that song on this page and every once in a while someone leaves a comment about the great memories that song conjures up and the chills it induces. Without exception, those comments have come from Blue Jay fans, typically Torontonians, but today I learnt about another team that used that song.

David, from Sydney, Australia, left this comment early this morning.

I remember back in the mid-nineties this song was used for the Sydney Blues Baseball Club in the short-lived Australian Baseball League (especially in 1996 when we were Champions) as Sydney was affiliated with Toronto. Hearing it again gave me great memories. Can you all do us Aussies a favour and make some noise about starting a professional baseball league up in Australia again? I loved it first time I saw it.

According to Wikipedia, the Sydney Storm, originally Sydney Blues were a team in the now defunct Australian Baseball League. The franchise won one ABL championship under the former name, defeating the Melbourne Reds in the 1995 championship, also finishing runner-up twice - once (as the Blues) against the Brisbane Bandits in 1994, and in the final ABL season in 1999, defeated by the Gold Coast Cougars.

I had no idea. I'm fascinated by the fact another professional baseball team on the other side of the world was using our song for their seventh inning stretches. That whole verse about bringing on the White Sox and the BoSox and all lost its meaning, but that's okay... it's a night game. I searched for a Sydney Blues logo but all I could find was this low-res version.

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Players I wish had played for my Jays

1. George Brett
2. Larry Walker
3. Kirby Puckett
4. Wade Boggs
5. Ozzie Smith

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On the fifteenth anniversary of our first World Series title, I'm feeling awfully nostalgic. I just shared the story of how I spent that night, and now it's time to share some audio and video from a historic night in Toronto baseball history.

First, we must never forget the call nobody heard. Here's Tom Cheek calling the Otis Nixon bunt to Mike Timlin, who is actually participating in another World Series as I type. "Pitch on the way ... and it's a bunted ball, first base side, Timlin to Carter ... and the Blue Jays win it! The Blue Jays win it! The Blue Jays are World Series Champions!"

This video montage came from the video cassette we all owned. It's the cheesiest music you'll ever hear, but you see Devo's catch, Robbie's tomahawk chop, Winfield's double and the historic final out.

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I can't believe it's been fifteen years. I also can't believe I've written 6678 entries but I've never written about that October 24, 1992 night... until now.

I prayed at the alter of Blue Jays baseball. I watched or listened to every game, I celebrated the first pennant in 1985 and, in 1992, I followed my team into their first World Series against the Atlanta Braves. This was the pinnacle, and I wanted that title in Toronto. Game six took place at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium with the Jays up three games to two in the series. David Cone started against Steve Avery and we had a 2-1 lead heading into the ninth inning. The Terminator Tom Henke would take the mound to seal the deal, or so I hoped.

In the bottom of that ninth inning, the Braves had a player at second base and Otis Nixon was down to his last strike with two outs. One more strike would secure us our first World Series title. I'll never forget that sinking feeling when Nixon doubled to tie the game. My brothers and I just stared at the television in disbelief.

Believe it or not, I don't remember much of the tenth inning. My cousin came over, and we took to the dark streets for a period of time throwing a ball back and forth to cut the thick tension. I often wonder what would have happened if the game ended in ten innings. I very well could have missed the clinching moment from our first World Series championship.

We were back in front of the television for the eleventh inning when Dave Winfield hit his first extra-base hit in the series to bring home Devon White and Roberto Alomar. Then, in the bottom of the eleventh, with the lead down to 4-3 and John Smoltz on third base, Nixon was at the plate again to face Mike Timlin who came in to relieve Jimmy Key. We all remember what happened next. Nixon bunted the ball, Timlin fielded it and threw it to Joe Carter at first base for the final out. We were World Series champions.

After an emotional pile-on in the family room, I grabbed the large Canadian flag that was hanging on my bedroom wall and we made our way to Bloor Street to join in the celebration. I was 18, waving the flag and cheering like a mofo amongst the masses who had collected. Everyone was ecstatic, and many were a little toasty. One such inebriated fellow approached me in the middle of Bloor Street at Jane and demanded I hand over my Canadian flag. I refused, and he promptly kicked me in the family jewels and tore the flag from my tight grip. I'll never forget that moment. This jerk had my flag, and he delivered the cheapest of shots, right when I least expected it.

A cop was sitting in his cruiser nearby and I remember asking him to scare this asshole a little so he'd give me back my flag. The cop shrugged his shoulders and I decided to let it go and re-join the celebration. I lost my flag and got kicked in the nads, but my Jays were champions after fifteen seasons of existance.

I'll never forget that night Winfield drove in two in the top of the eleventh. The next year we'd win again, but this time I'd leave my paraphernalia at home.

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Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

We did the turkey thing yesterday, so today is all about catching up on some work, enjoying the warm weather and thinking about Roberto Alomar. That's right, every Thanksgiving my mind turns to #12 and how he gave us all the best Thanksgiving Day ever in 1992 by going deep off of Dennis Eckersley.

I've written about this before, so instead of repeating myself, here's Thanksgiving Memories from 2004.

There is one Thanksgiving I will never forget. It was twelve years ago today and my beloved Blue Jays were battling the Oakland Athletics for the American League crown. Toronto was up in the series 2-1 with game four taking place at Oakland Coliseum.

Jack Morris started and stunk up the joint. We were down 6-1 when the turkey was served and we all joined the table in the dining room leaving the television on in the family room just in case. Throughout the meal, I would peak at the set just in case there was any sign of a big comeback. Entering the eighth inning down by five, it didn't look like a Thanksgiving miracle was possible.

A three run eighth gave us hope. Still, down by two in the ninth with Cy Young winner Dennis Eckersley on the mound, we weren't overly optimistic. When Roberto Alomar got to the plate with a runner on, my eyes remained focused on the television. Alomar didn't disappoint. He took Eckersley deep, tied the game and ignited a massive pile on in the family room as we literally lept from the dining room table in pure ecstacy. The come back was complete and we'd end up winning the game in twelve to take a commanding lead in the series we wouldn't give up. Alomar was named ALCS MVP and a couple of weeks later we'd win our first World Series title.

You couldn't have asked for a better Thanksgiving. Today, we pause to give thanks for our two world championships over a decade ago. Oh yeah, we're thankful for our good health, happiness and all that jazz too. Happy Thanksgiving.

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In 1993, fourteen years ago, Joe Carter touched 'em all. It was our second World Series championship in a row and the Philadelphia Phillies were our victims.

For fourteen years neither the Phillies or Blue Jays could get back to the post season. Today, the Philadelphia Phillies completed an historic comeback by beating the Washington Nationals, 6-1. Seven games out with 17 to play, the Phillies went 13-4 down the stretch to clinch the National League East title. They beat us to the punch, and I'm not happy about it.

Adding insult to injury, guess who's the Phillies GM? Pat Gillick, architect of our World Series teams and resident of the T.Dot. At least we'll always have this...

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Yes, I realize this is my third sports-related entry in a row, but whatcha gonna do? It's all about me, remember?

I officially despise the new Blue Jays logo. My brother gave me a gift card for the official Blue Jays store and I've yet to use it because every item has that damn soul-less logo plastered on it except for two styles of retro fitted caps. I don't like fitted caps. Further hunting reveals a Cooperstown jacket with the old beloved logo on it, but it's $110.

What exactly was wrong with that sharp looking double blue blue jay over top the baseball with our red Canadian maple leaf prominently displayed? Was it too Canadian? Too associated with success? Too popular?

The new logo is starting to seriously piss me off as I pang more and more for the old logo. There's power in numbers and it's time we did something about this. It's time we bring back the old Blue Jays logo.

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It's ok Leafs fans. Don't worry about last night. Don't worry about Vesa Toskala or the fact we got blown out by the Sabres. You see, I've been around, and I learnt something from the Grapefruit League that applies to our current Leafs woes. Pre-season doesn't mean a thing.

Back in the early 90s, our Toronto Blue Jays weren't just good, we were great. We won the AL East pennant in '91, '92 and '93, and we won the World Series those last two years. It's hard for you kids to imagine the success we had. We were oh so blessed, but you wouldn't know it if you looked at our spring training record.

In 1991, the Jays went 9-19 in spring training, 2nd worst in the American League. In 1992 we went 13-18, 3rd worst in the league. In 1993, the year Joe touched 'em all, we were 11-19 in Grapefruit League action, 3rd worst in the American League. I watched or listened to every game back then, and I remember being concerned heading into the regular season because our pre-season performance was so weak. Then, months later, I remember being champion and realizing that pre-season doesn't mean a thing.

This is good news Leafs fans. It means our current suckage could lead us to Stanley Cup contention. We're a lot like those Jays teams of the early 90s. We've got everything they had, except for the awesome talent.

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I never liked Troy Glaus as a Blue Jay. It's not that I don't like Troy Glaus, it's that I loved Orlando Hudson at 2nd for the Jays. Orlando Hudson was the best 2nd baseman to play in this city since Roberto Alomar and I hated giving him up for another bat.

It's being reported today that Troy Glaus received both nandrolone and testosterone from a pharmacy in Florida between September 2003 and May 2004. Those are banned substances he allegedly ordered over the internet. We'll see what the fallout of this will be, but something smells rotten.

Not only was the O-Dog selected to this year's All-Star game, but he's batting .294 and still winning Gold Gloves. He'd sure look good in a Blue Jays uniform. Sigh...

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At this time of year I always get nostalgic for the days when Blue Jays baseball in late August actually meant something. There's an entire generation of ball fans growing up in this city who barely recall playoff baseball in Toronto. That's so sad.

When I get nostalgic about pennant races from yesteryear, I start thinking about Tom Cheek. I've written so much about Tom Cheek I've got an entire category in his honour. Tom Cheek and Jerry Howarth were the voices of Blue Jays baseball when I would listen to every game possible on the radio. In honour of Tom Cheek, I'd like to share his greatest hits with you all.

The First Home Run in Blue Jays History
I was two years old when Doug Ault hit the first home run in franchise history on April 7, 1977, so I don't have a memory of the moment. You can relive the Jays debut in the CBC archives and hear Tom Cheek's call of Ault's first dinger below. "A tremendous shot."

Our First AL East Pennant
I've got great memories of this fantastic day and I shared those memories in this entry. You never forget your first, whether it be home run, no-hitter, cycle, World Series or pennant. Here's Tom Cheek's call of that final out on October 5, 1985. "Bell is there... he's got it!"

Dave Stieb's No-Hitter
I was working at the CNE on this day, but that didn't stop me from sharing my memories of Sir David's no-hitter. You don't want to miss Tom Cheek's call of the first no-hitter in Blue Jays history from September 3, 1990. "He's done it! He's done it!"

The First World Series Championship
I don't believe I've ever written about that fantastic night the Blue Jays clinched their first World Series title. It was quite the surreal night that was capped by Dave Winfield's clutch RBI and the sudden disappearance of my Canadian flag. Listen to Tom Cheek's historic call of Otis Nixon's bunt to Mike Timlin. "The Blue Jays win it!"

Joe Carter's 1993 World Series Ending Blast
I've saved the best for last. This is, without a doubt, the best call of Tom Cheek's career. Here's an extensive write up about Joe's three run homer off Mitch Williams. You'll want to play this one over and over and over again. "Touch 'em all, Joe!"

If you want more Blue Jays memories, thoughts, observations and rants, check out my Toronto Blue Jays category page. Enjoy these audio gems I consider to be Tom Cheek's greatest hits.

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All baseball fans are aware by now of what happened last night in Baltimore. The Texas Rangers put 30 runs on the board to win 30-3. It's been 110 years since a team scored 30 runs in a single game.

Blue Jays fans are likely wondering what our team record is for runs in a game. I'm here to provide you with the answer. On June 26, 1978, the Toronto Blue Jays beat up on those same Baltimore Orioles 24-10 at Exhibition Stadium. Tom Underwood got the win and future Jay Mike Flanagan got saddled with the loss. John Mayberry led the way going 3 for 3 with 7 RBIs.

Were you one of the 16,184 at Exhibition Stadium that night?

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About a year ago I asked you good people for an MP3 of the Toronto Blue Jays' official song, "OK Blue Jays (Let's Play Ball!). Hours later I had it, and I meant to share it with everyone but somehow forgot.

Listening to today's Jays game against the Orioles I heard John McDonald put down a perfect bunt with players on the corners. Everyone was safe and I was just happy to hear the suicide squeeze was still a part of the game. That got me singing this song and finally, 15 months after the fact, I'm sharing it with you all.

Sing it loud, sing it proud. The lyrics are below the player, as if you'll need them...

You've got a diamond
You've got nine men
You've got a hat and a bat
And that's not all
You've got the bleachers
Got 'em from spring 'til fall
You got a dog and a drink
And the umpire's call
Waddaya want?
Let's play ball!

Is that a fly ball
Or is it a seagull
Coming in from the lake
Just to catch the game?
It's the last inning
Our guys are winning
Dave's put down a smoker
A strike
And you've got no doubt
(You're out!)
Waddaya want?
Let's play ball!

Okay (okay)
Blue Jays (Blue Jays)
Let's (Let's) Play (Play) Ball!

It's a beautiful evenin', fans
At the ballpark
When the game starts
Warm summer breezes
Sun's goin' down
And it's all dark
At the ballpark
But that's okay…it's a night game

Okay (okay)
Blue Jays (Blue Jays)
Let's (Let's) Play (Play) Ball!

Okay (okay)
Blue Jays (Blue Jays)
Let's (Let's) Play (Play) Ball!

Bring on the White Sox
Bring on the BoSox
Bring on the Brewers
The Rangers and the Yankees too
We'll beat the Indians
We'll beat the Tigers
We'll beat the A's so bad it'll make
Billy blue
Waddaya want?
Let's play ball!

Okay (okay)
Blue Jays (Blue Jays)
Let's (Let's) Play (Play) Ball!

Okay (okay)
Blue Jays (Blue Jays)
Let's (Let's) Play (Play) Ball!

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Off the top of my head, I can name several athletes that have had at least two tours of duty with a Toronto-based sports franchise.

In recent years, Doug Gilmour and Tie Domi came back to play for the Leafs, as did Mike Palmateer, Steve Thomas and Travis Green. Wendel Clark and Yanic Perreault each served three tours of duty with the Leafs.

Pat Borders, Rob Ducey, Alfredo Griffin, Pat Hentgen, Cliff Johnson, Dave Stieb and David Wells returned to Toronto during their careers. Mark Eichhorn even served three tours of duty with the Jays, but to my knowledge, only one player had four tours of duty with a Toronto-based franchise, and that was Tony Fernandez.

I loved Tony Fernandez. He was on the team when I started paying attention back in 1983 and he was a key part of our first pennant winning team in 1985. He was awesome with the glove, but he could hit for average as well. Always a fan favourite, he enjoyed his first stint from 1983-1990, came back to help us win a World Series in 1993, played his third stint from 1998-1999 and made one last stop in Toronto in 2001 before retiring.

Tony Fernandez also had a great name for Murry Eldon speak over the Exhibition Stadium loud speaker. I can hear it now... Toe-neeeeee Fer-NAN-dezzzzzzz.

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I see the San Diego Padres have cut David Wells. That might be the end of the road for Boomer. He's a Blue Jays draft pick from 1982 who had a couple of tours of duty here in Toronto. I was a fan and I'll always remember the night we spent together at the Molson Amphitheatre back in 2000.

I was there to see the Stone Temple Pilots and Red Hot Chili Peppers and we had really good seats. David Wells was sitting very close to us and he was like a rock star. The crowd loved him and he clearly loved these bands. Of course, what'