1987 Toronto Blue Jays season

The 1987 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's 11th season of Major League Baseball. It resulted in 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, but 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.

1987 Toronto Blue Jays
League	American League
Division	East
Ballpark	Exhibition Stadium
City	Toronto
Record	96–66 (.593)
Divisional place	2nd
Owners	Labatt Breweries, Imperial Trust, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
General managers	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)
Seasons

Transactions

Transactions by the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season before the 1987 season.

October 1986

October 8	Released Mickey Mahler.
October 20	Released Dennis Lamp.

November 1986

November 12

Jim Clancy granted free agency. Cliff Johnson granted free agency. Buck Martinez granted free agency. Ernie Whitt granted free agency.

December 1986

December 8	Drafted José Núñez from the Kansas City Royals in the 1986 MLB Rule 5 draft. Stan Clarke drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 1986 MLB Rule 5 draft. Cliff Young drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 1986 MLB Rule 5 draft.
December 9	Gibson Alba selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 1986 Minor League Draft.

January 1987

January 6	Re-signed free agent Jim Clancy to a two-year, $1.75 million contract.
January 8	Re-signed free agent Ernie Whitt to a three-year, $2.3 million contract.
January 12	Signed free agent Steve Fireovid from the Seattle Mariners to a contract.

February 1987

February 2

Acquired Craig McMurtry from the Atlanta Braves for Dámaso García and Luis Leal.

March 1987

March 26

Released Ron Shepherd.

April 1987

April 2	Released Bill Caudill.
April 4	Signed free agent Odell Jones from the Baltimore Orioles to a contract.
April 6	Cliff Young returned from the Oakland Athletics.

Regular season

• Blue Jays left fielder George Bell drove in 134 runs to lead the American League, along with 47 home runs, 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.
• Starting pitcher Jimmy Key led the American League with a 2.76 ERA.
• July 21, 1987: Jimmy Key threw exactly three pitches and recorded three outs. This was accomplished in the second inning.
• September 14, 1987: The Blue Jays set a Major League record by hitting 10 home runs in a game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Season standings

AL East

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Detroit Tigers	98	64	.605	—	54‍–‍27	44‍–‍37
Toronto Blue Jays	96	66	.593	2	52‍–‍29	44‍–‍37
Milwaukee Brewers	91	71	.562	7	48‍–‍33	43‍–‍38
New York Yankees	89	73	.549	9	51‍–‍30	38‍–‍43
Boston Red Sox	78	84	.481	20	50‍–‍30	28‍–‍54
Baltimore Orioles	67	95	.414	31	31‍–‍51	36‍–‍44
Cleveland Indians	61	101	.377	37	35‍–‍46	26‍–‍55

Record vs. opponents

1987 American League record Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Team	BAL	BOS	CAL	CWS	CLE	DET	KC	MIL	MIN	NYY	OAK	SEA	TEX	TOR
Baltimore	—	1–12	9–3	8–4	7–6	4–9	9–3	2–11	5–7	3–10	7–5	4–8	7–5	1–12
Boston	12–1	—	4–8	3–9	7–6	2–11	6–6	6–7	7–5	7–6	4–8	7–5	7–5	6–7
California	3–9	8–4	—	8–5	7–5	3–9	5–8	7–5	8–5	3–9	6–7	7–6	5–8	5–7
Chicago	4–8	9–3	5–8	—	7–5	3–9	6–7	6–6	6–7	5–7	9–4	6–7	7–6	4–8
Cleveland	6–7	6–7	5–7	5–7	—	4–9	6–6	4–9	3–9	6–7	4–8	5–7	2–10	5–8
Detroit	9–4	11–2	9–3	9–3	9–4	—	5–7	6–7	8–4	5–8	5–7	7–5	8–4	7–6
Kansas City	3–9	6–6	8–5	7–6	6–6	7–5	—	4–8	8–5	5–7	5–8	9–4	7–6	8–4
Milwaukee	11–2	7–6	5–7	6–6	9–4	7–6	8–4	—	3–9	7–6	6–6	4–8	9–3	9–4
Minnesota	7–5	5–7	5–8	7–6	9–3	4–8	5–8	9–3	—	6–6	10–3	9–4	6–7	3–9
New York	10–3	6–7	9–3	7–5	7–6	8–5	7–5	6–7	6–6	—	5–7	7–5	5–7	6–7
Oakland	5–7	8–4	7–6	4–9	8–4	7–5	8–5	6–6	3–10	7–5	—	5–8	6–7	7–5
Seattle	8–4	5–7	6–7	7–6	7–5	5–7	4–9	8–4	4–9	5–7	8–5	—	9–4	2–10
Texas	5–7	5–7	8–5	6–7	10–2	4–8	6–7	3–9	7–6	7–5	7–6	4–9	—	3–9
Toronto	12–1	7–6	7–5	8–4	8–5	6–7	4–8	4–9	9–3	7–6	5–7	10–2	9–3	—

Transactions

Transactions for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1987 regular season.

April 1987

April 17

Released Steve Fireovid.

June 1987

June 5

Signed free agent Charlie Moore from the Milwaukee Brewers to a one-year, $256,000 contract.

July 1987

July 14	Acquired Juan Beníquez from the Kansas City Royals for Luis Aquino.
July 30	Signed amateur free agent Nigel Wilson to a contract.

August 1987

August 4	Signed amateur free agent Domingo Cedeño to a contract.
August 9	Acquired Phil Niekro from the Cleveland Indians for Darryl Landrum and a player to be named later (Don Gordon on August 10, 1987).
August 18	Signed amateur free agent Denis Boucher to a contract.
August 25	Released Gary Lavelle.
August 31	Released Phil Niekro. Acquired Mike Flanagan from the Baltimore Orioles for Oswaldo Peraza and a player to be named later (José Mesa on September 4, 1987).

September 1987

September 22

Acquired Juan Guzmán from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Mike Sharperson.

Roster

1987 Toronto Blue Jays roster
Roster
Pitchers 55 John Cerutti 18 Jim Clancy 38 Mark Eichhorn 46 Mike Flanagan 38 Don Gordon 50 Tom Henke 33 Joe Johnson 22 Jimmy Key 46 Gary Lavelle 13 Jeff Musselman 35 Phil Niekro 45 José Núñez 37 Dave Stieb 31 Duane Ward 36 David Wells		Catchers 27 Jeff DeWillis 21 Charlie Moore 52 Greg Myers 47 Matt Stark 12 Ernie Whitt Infielders  1 Tony Fernández 23 Cecil Fielder 17 Kelly Gruber 16 Garth Iorg  2 Nelson Liriano  4 Manuel Lee 19 Fred McGriff  5 Rance Mulliniks 10 Mike Sharperson 26 Willie Upshaw		Outfielders 29 Jesse Barfield 11 George Bell  7 Juan Beníquez 40 Rob Ducey  9 Rick Leach 15 Lloyd Moseby 28 Lou Thornton Other batters 14 Alexis Infante		Manager  3 Jimy Williams Coaches 43 Cito Gaston (Hitting) 24 John McLaren (Third base) 42 Billy Smith (First base)  8 John Sullivan (Bullpen) 41 Al Widmar (Pitching)

Game log

1987 Game Log
April: 12–8 (Home: 7–4; Away: 5–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 6 Indians 7–3 Key (1–0) Candiotti (0–1) 40,404 1–0 2 April 8 Indians 5–1 Clancy (1–0) Swindell (0–1) 20,388 2–0 3 April 9 Indians 14–3 Niekro (1–0) Johnson (0–1) Carlton (1) 21,088 2–1 4 April 10 @ Red Sox 3–0 Hurst (1–0) Stieb (0–1) 33,679 2–2 5 April 11 @ Red Sox 11–1 Key (2–0) Clemens (0–1) 33,365 3–2 6 April 12 @ Red Sox 8–3 Stanley (1–1) Clancy (1–1) 27,521 3–3 7 April 14 White Sox 4–3 (13) Eichhorn (1–0) McKeon (0–1) 17,324 4–3 8 April 15 White Sox 5–0 DeLeón (2–0) Stieb (0–2) 17,285 4–4 9 April 16 Red Sox 4–2 Key (3–0) Clemens (0–2) Henke (1) 22,065 5–4 10 April 17 Red Sox 10–5 Cerutti (1–0) Stanley (1–2) Eichhorn (1) 36,400 6–4 11 April 18 Red Sox 6–4 Sellers (1–0) Clancy (1–2) Schiraldi (2) 39,107 6–5 12 April 19 Red Sox 4–1 Nipper (2–0) Johnson (0–2) Gardner (2) 28,140 6–6 13 April 20 @ Indians 8–7 (10) Musselman (1–0) Jones (0–1) 11,164 7–6 14 April 21 @ Indians 5–0 Candiotti (1–3) Key (3–1) 7,203 7–7 15 April 22 @ Indians 6–3 Eichhorn (2–0) Carlton (1–2) Henke (2) 6,000 8–7 16 April 24 @ White Sox 4–2 (10) Eichhorn (3–0) James (0–1) Henke (3) 10,105 9–7 17 April 25 @ White Sox 5–4 James (1–1) Eichhorn (3–1) 18,644 9–8 18 April 26 @ White Sox 5–2 Key (4–1) DeLeón (2–2) Henke (4) 20,443 10–8 19 April 28 Twins 5–1 Clancy (2–2) Viola (1–3) 21,182 11–8 20 April 29 Twins 8–1 Johnson (1–2) Smithson (3–1) 19,020 12–8
May: 16–11 (Home: 7–3; Away: 9–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 21 May 1 Rangers 3–2 (10) Musselman (2–0) Williams (2–2) 22,154 13–8 22 May 2 Rangers 9–8 Eichhorn (4–1) Harris (1–3) 28,352 14–8 23 May 3 Rangers 3–1 Clancy (3–2) Correa (1–2) Henke (5) 32,325 15–8 -- May 4 @ Royals Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for July 3 24 May 5 @ Royals 6–4 Leibrandt (4–1) Johnson (1–3) Gleaton (1) 19,245 15–9 25 May 6 @ Royals 6–3 Black (1–0) Key (4–2) Gleaton (2) 28,083 15–10 26 May 8 @ Rangers 7–4 Clancy (4–2) Guzmán (1–2) Eichhorn (2) 21,832 16–10 27 May 9 @ Rangers 15–4 Stieb (1–2) Correa (1–3) 28,847 17–10 28 May 10 @ Rangers 9–8 Witt (1–1) Eichhorn (4–2) Mohorcic (3) 17,356 17–11 29 May 11 Royals 4–0 Key (5–2) Leibrandt (4–2) 24,154 18–11 30 May 12 Royals 3–1 Black (2–0) Cerutti (1–1) Quisenberry (3) 30,034 18–12 31 May 13 @ Twins 7–0 Clancy (5–2) Portugal (1–2) 9,158 19–12 32 May 14 @ Twins 16–4 Stieb (2–2) Straker (2–1) 10,053 20–12 33 May 15 @ Athletics 3–2 Johnson (2–3) Plunk (1–2) Henke (6) 13,139 21–12 34 May 16 @ Athletics 10–3 Haas (1–0) Key (5–3) 20,900 21–13 35 May 17 @ Athletics 3–0 Stewart (5–3) Cerutti (1–2) 30,511 21–14 36 May 18 @ Angels 12–0 Clancy (6–2) Cook (1–2) 23,710 22–14 37 May 19 @ Angels 2–1 Buice (2–2) Musselman (2–1) Moore (5) 23,622 22–15 38 May 20 @ Angels 5–4 (10) Lucas (1–1) Henke (0–1) 23,766 22–16 39 May 22 @ Mariners 7–5 Eichhorn (5–2) Bankhead (5–3) Henke (7) 10,012 23–16 40 May 23 @ Mariners 6–2 Clancy (7–2) Moore (2–5) 13,489 21–12 41 May 24 @ Mariners 5–2 Langston (5–4) Stieb (2–3) 12,751 24–17 42 May 25 @ Mariners 6–5 Key (6–3) Morgan (4–5) Musselman (1) 8,499 25–17 43 May 27 Athletics 4–1 Haas (2–1) Johnson (2–4) Ontiveros (1) 25,245 25–18 44 May 28 Athletics 4–3 Stewart (6–4) Clancy (7–3) Leiper (1) 27,017 25–19 45 May 29 Angels 3–1 Stieb (3–3) Sutton (2–5) Henke (8) 33,107 26–19 46 May 30 Angels 4–3 (10) Eichhorn (6–2) Lazorko (0–2) 36,055 27–19 47 May 31 Angels 7–2 Cerutti (2–2) Candelaria (4–2) 40,313 28–19
June: 17–11 (Home: 8–7; Away: 9–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 48 June 1 Mariners 2–0 Bankhead (6–3) Johnson (2–5) Wilkinson (2) 28,294 28–20 49 June 2 Mariners 4–3 Musselman (3–1) Moore (2–7) Henke (9) 31,076 29–20 50 June 3 Mariners 7–2 Stieb (4–3) Langston (6–5) Eichhorn (3) 30,502 30–20 51 June 5 Orioles 6–2 Key (7–3) Bell (5–3) 32,514 31–20 52 June 6 Orioles 8–5 (11) Musselman (4–1) Dixon (3–5) 36,345 32–20 53 June 7 Orioles 3–2 Eichhorn (7–2) Boddicker (5–2) 42,254 33–20 54 June 8 @ Yankees 11–0 Stieb (5–3) Rhoden (6–4) 25,526 34–20 55 June 9 @ Yankees 7–2 Cerutti (3–2) Guidry (0–2) 29,765 35–20 56 June 10 @ Yankees 4–1 Key (8–3) John (6–2) Henke (10) 26,806 36–20 57 June 11 @ Orioles 8–6 Johnson (3–5) Habyan (1–2) Henke (11) 17,409 37–20 58 June 12 @ Orioles 8–5 Eichhorn (8–2) Boddicker (5–3) Musselman (2) 27,521 38–20 59 June 13 @ Orioles 8–2 Cerutti (4–2) McGregor (2–6) 25,359 39–20 60 June 14 @ Orioles 8–5 Schmidt (7–1) Eichhorn (8–3) DeLeón (1) 31,358 39–21 61 June 15 Tigers 2–1 Terrell (5–6) Key (8–4) King (4) 36,225 39–22 62 June 16 Tigers 10–4 Lavelle (1–0) Robinson (4–3) 36,398 40–22 63 June 17 Tigers 3–2 Tanana (6–3) Clancy (7–4) Hernández (2) 46,227 40–23 64 June 18 Brewers 6–3 Nieves (5–4) Stieb (5–4) Plesac (15) 31,353 40–24 65 June 19 Brewers 15–6 Musselman (5–1) Clear (5–2) 31,230 41–24 66 June 20 Brewers 3–2 Wegman (6–6) Key (8–5) Plesac (16) 38,465 41–25 67 June 21 Brewers 7–6 Musselman (6–1) Crim (3–5) Henke (12) 44,444 42–25 68 June 22 @ Tigers 2–0 Tanana (7–3) Clancy (7–5) 28,978 42–26 69 June 23 @ Tigers 8–7 Stieb (6–4) Robinson (4–4) Henke (13) 29,275 43–26 70 June 24 @ Tigers 5–3 Cerutti (5–2) Morris (10–3) Musselman (3) 34,866 44–26 71 June 26 @ Brewers 10–5 Plesac (4–0) Henke (0–2) 29,461 44–27 72 June 27 @ Brewers 8–1 Clancy (8–5) Nieves (5–5) 48,159 45–27 73 June 28 @ Brewers 11–5 Higuera (6–7) Stieb (6–5) 42,389 45–28 74 June 29 Yankees 15–14 Righetti (5–3) Henke (0–3) 42,179 45–29 75 June 30 Yankees 4–0 Guidry (1–3) Wells (0–1) 45,297 45–30
July: 15–12 (Home: 12–4; Away: 3–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 76 July 1 Yankees 6–1 (12) Clements (2–0) Musselman (6–2) 47,828 45–31 77 July 3 @ Royals 6–4 Gubicza (7–8) Clancy (8–6) Gleaton (4) 45–32 78 July 3 @ Royals 5–4 Farr (3–2) Henke (0–4) 40,619 45–33 79 July 4 @ Royals 9–1 Black (4–2) Wells (0–2) Stoddard (1) 40,746 45–34 80 July 5 @ Royals 4–3 (10) Quisenberry (4–0) Eichhorn (8–4) 25,607 45–35 81 July 6 Rangers 6–4 Key (9–5) Hough (9–4) Henke (14) 28,264 46–35 82 July 7 Rangers 6–2 Clancy (9–6) Loynd (1–5) Henke (15) 28,013 47–35 83 July 8 Rangers 5–2 Musselman (7–2) Witt (4–4) Henke (16) 30,341 48–35 84 July 9 Royals 7–1 Núñez (1–0) Black (4–3) 31,290 49–35 85 July 10 Royals 7–0 Stieb (7–5) Leibrandt (8–7) 35,200 50–35 86 July 11 Royals 2–1 Saberhagen (15–3) Key (9–6) 38,289 50–36 87 July 12 Royals 3–2 Clancy (10–6) Black (4–4) Henke (17) 40,268 51–36 88 July 16 @ Twins 5–2 Key (10–6) Blyleven (8–7) Henke (18) 34,334 52–36 89 July 17 @ Twins 3–2 Viola (9–6) Eichhorn (8–5) Reardon (18) 28,234 52–37 90 July 18 @ Twins 7–5 Stieb (8–5) Niekro (5–7) 38,365 53–37 91 July 19 @ Twins 7–6 Schatzeder (1–0) Lavelle (1–1) Reardon (19) 32,095 53–38 92 July 20 @ Rangers 5–3 Cerutti (6–2) Hough (10–6) Henke (19) 27,501 54–38 93 July 21 @ Rangers 6–4 Mohorcic (6–2) Musselman (7–3) 13,791 54–39 94 July 22 @ Rangers 5–3 Russell (3–1) Lavelle (1–2) Mohorcic (13) 16,380 54–40 95 July 23 Twins 4–3 Stieb (9–5) Frazier (5–5) 35,320 55–40 96 July 24 Twins 8–6 Eichhorn (9–5) Reardon (5–5) Henke (20) 30,382 56–40 97 July 25 Twins 13–9 Schatzeder (2–0) Musselman (7–4) 36,395 56–41 98 July 26 Twins 4–2 Key (11–6) Blyleven (9–8) Henke (21) 33,353 57–41 99 July 27 Red Sox 10–8 Musselman (8–4) Schiraldi (5–5) Henke (22) 35,425 58–41 100 July 28 Red Sox 5–4 Musselman (9–4) Sambito (1–3) Henke (23) 36,122 59–41 101 July 29 Red Sox 6–5 Schiraldi (6–5) Lavelle (1–3) 35,052 59–42 102 July 31 Indians 8–3 Key (12–6) Ritter (0–1) 30,256 60–42
August: 17–12 (Home: 12–6; Away: 5–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 103 August 1 Indians 3–0 Bailes (4–4) Clancy (10–7) Stewart (2) 38,435 60–43 104 August 2 Indians 11–5 Stieb (10–5) Akerfelds (0–2) Lavelle (1) 33,351 61–43 105 August 3 @ White Sox 14–5 Musselman (10–4) Bannister (6–9) 12,193 62–43 106 August 4 @ White Sox 4–1 Cerutti (7–2) Allen (0–6) Henke (24) 13,319 63–43 107 August 5 @ White Sox 3–2 Key (13–6) Dotson (8–8) Henke (25) 13,360 64–43 108 August 6 @ Indians 14–5 Bailes (5–4) Clancy (10–8) 7,978 64–44 109 August 7 @ Indians 15–1 Stieb (11–5) Akerfelds (0–3) 24,049 65–44 110 August 8 @ Indians 3–1 Candiotti (5–11) Núñez (1–1) 16,706 65–45 111 August 9 @ Indians 5–1 Cerutti (8–2) Schrom (5–8) 13,890 66–45 112 August 10 @ Red Sox 9–1 Clemens (12–7) Clancy (10–9) 30,606 66–46 113 August 11 @ Red Sox 8–3 Key (14–6) Stanley (3–12) 32,555 67–46 114 August 12 @ Red Sox 10–4 Stieb (12–5) Sellers (4–5) 33,403 68–46 115 August 13 White Sox 10–3 Bannister (8–9) Niekro (7–12) 45,152 68–47 116 August 14 White Sox 3–2 Cerutti (9–2) DeLeón (5–11) Henke (26) 37,236 69–47 117 August 15 White Sox 1–0 Dotson (10–8) Clancy (10–10) 37,155 69–48 118 August 16 White Sox 6–4 Eichhorn (10–5) Searage (2–3) Henke (27) 41,384 70–48 119 August 18 @ Athletics 2–1 Stieb (13–5) Eckersley (6–6) Henke (28) 34,823 71–48 120 August 19 @ Athletics 7–3 Stewart (17–8) Cerutti (9–3) 16,039 71–49 121 August 20 @ Athletics 7–6 Lavelle (2–3) Cadaret (2–1) Henke (29) 12,607 72–49 122 August 21 @ Angels 3–1 Reuss (4–1) Niekro (7–13) Minton (10) 47,925 72–50 123 August 22 @ Angels 2–0 Núñez (2–1) Witt (15–9) Henke (30) 34,209 73–50 124 August 23 @ Angels 5–2 McCaskill (4–5) Stieb (13–6) Buice (14) 42,000 73–51 125 August 24 @ Mariners 7–3 Cerutti (10–3) Morgan (10–14) 11,869 74–51 126 August 25 @ Mariners 6–3 Clancy (11–10) Moore (6–16) Eichhorn (4) 12,367 75–51 127 August 27 Athletics 9–4 Key (15–6) Cadaret (3–2) 38,026 76–51 128 August 28 Athletics 3–2 Stewart (18–9) Stieb (13–7) Eckersley (10) 32,256 76–52 129 August 29 Athletics 6–5 (10) Plunk (2–4) Eichhorn (10–6) Eckersley (11) 42,388 76–53 130 August 30 Athletics 13–3 Clancy (12–10) Rijo (2–7) 38,211 77–53 131 August 31 Angels 8–7 (11) Fraser (9–8) Henke (0–5) Lucas (3) 30,224 77–54
September: 19–9 (Home: 13–5; Away: 6–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 132 September 1 Angels 4–3 (10) Musselman (11–4) Witt (15–10) 31,101 78–54 133 September 2 Angels 7–6 Wells (1–2) Buice (5–6) 33,408 79–54 134 September 4 Mariners 6–5 (10) Núñez (3–1) Powell (0–3) 33,042 80–54 135 September 5 Mariners 3–0 Flanagan (4–6) Campbell (0–3) Henke (31) 38,436 81–54 136 September 6 Mariners 3–2 (11) Núñez (4–1) Núñez (3–3) 44,287 82–54 137 September 7 @ Brewers 5–3 Ward (1–0) Plesac (5–6) Henke (32) 16,935 83–54 138 September 8 @ Brewers 6–4 Bosio (10–5) Stieb (13–8) Crim (9) 8,053 83–55 139 September 9 @ Brewers 6–4 Clear (7–5) Wells (1–3) 10,555 83–56 140 September 11 Yankees 6–5 (10) Wells (2–3) Righetti (7–4) 38,540 84–56 141 September 12 Yankees 13–1 Key (16–6) Rhoden (16–10) 45,648 85–56 142 September 13 Yankees 8–5 Hudson (10–6) Cerutti (10–4) Righetti (27) 45,312 85–57 143 September 14 Orioles 18–3 Clancy (13–10) Dixon (7–10) 27,446 86–57 144 September 15 Orioles 6–2 Flanagan (5–6) Mesa (0–1) 27,192 87–57 145 September 16 Orioles 7–0 Key (17–6) Boddicker (10–9) 29,353 88–57 146 September 17 @ Yankees 6–5 Righetti (8–4) Henke (0–6) 27,032 88–58 147 September 18 @ Yankees 6–3 Clancy (14–10) Allen (0–8) Wells (1) 34,110 89–58 148 September 19 @ Yankees 4–2 Gullickson (3–2) Flanagan (5–7) Righetti (29) 38,239 89–59 149 September 20 @ Yankees 6–2 Wells (3–3) Leiter (1–1) 45,267 90–59 150 September 21 @ Orioles 2–1 Cerutti (11–4) Boddicker (10–10) Henke (33) 13,683 91–59 151 September 22 @ Orioles 8–4 Wells (4–3) Ballard (2–7) 13,923 92–59 152 September 23 @ Orioles 6–1 Clancy (15–10) Habyan (5–6) 22,590 93–59 153 September 24 Tigers 4–3 Flanagan (6–7) Morris (18–10) Henke (34) 42,436 94–59 154 September 25 Tigers 3–2 Musselman (12–4) Hernández (3–4) 46,233 95–59 155 September 26 Tigers 10–9 Núñez (5–1) Henneman (9–3) 46,429 96–59 156 September 27 Tigers 3–2 (13) Henneman (10–3) Núñez (5–2) Noles (2) 46,346 96–60 157 September 28 Brewers 6–4 Wegman (11–11) Flanagan (6–8) Clear (6) 34,113 96–61 158 September 29 Brewers 5–3 Bosio (11–7) Key (17–7) 34,314 96–62 159 September 30 Brewers 5–2 Nieves (14–8) Stieb (13–9) 35,245 96–63
October: 0–3 (Home: 0–0; Away: 0–3) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 160 October 2 @ Tigers 4–3 Alexander (9–0) Clancy (15–11) Henneman (7) 45,167 96–64 161 October 3 @ Tigers 3–2 (12) Henneman (11–3) Musselman (12–5) 45,026 96–65 162 October 4 @ Tigers 1–0 Tanana (15–10) Key (17–8) 51,005 96–66

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	135	446	120	.269	19	75
1B	Willie Upshaw	150	512	125	.244	15	58
2B	Garth Iorg	122	310	65	.210	4	30
3B	Kelly Gruber	138	341	80	.235	12	36
SS	Tony Fernández	146	578	186	.322	5	67
LF	George Bell	156	610	188	.308	47	134
CF	Lloyd Moseby	155	592	167	.282	26	96
RF	Jesse Barfield	159	590	155	.263	28	84
DH	Fred McGriff	107	295	73	.247	20	43

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
Rance Mulliniks	124	332	103	.310	11	44
Rick Leach	98	195	55	.282	3	25
Cecil Fielder	82	175	47	.269	14	32
Nelson Liriano	37	158	38	.241	2	10
Manuel Lee	56	121	31	.256	1	11
Charlie Moore	51	107	23	.215	1	27
Mike Sharperson	32	96	20	.208	0	9
Juan Beníquez	39	81	23	.284	5	21
Rob Ducey	34	48	9	.188	1	6
Jeff DeWillis	13	25	3	.120	1	2
Matt Stark	5	12	1	.083	0	0
Greg Myers	7	9	1	.111	0	0
Lou Thornton	12	2	1	.500	0	0
Alexis Infante	1	0	0	----	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	36	261.0	17	8	2.76	161
Jim Clancy	37	241.1	15	11	3.54	180
Dave Stieb	33	185.0	13	9	4.09	115
Joe Johnson	14	66.2	3	5	5.13	27
Mike Flanagan	7	49.1	3	2	2.37	43
Phil Niekro	3	12.0	0	2	8.25	7

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
John Cerutti	44	151.1	11	4	4.40	92
José Núñez	37	97.0	5	2	5.01	99

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	72	0	6	34	2.49	128
Mark Eichhorn	89	10	6	4	3.17	96
Jeff Musselman	68	12	5	3	4.15	54
Gary Lavelle	23	2	3	1	5.53	17
David Wells	18	4	3	1	3.99	32
Duane Ward	12	1	0	0	6.94	10
Don Gordon	5	0	0	0	4.09	3

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
• Tony Fernández, Gold Glove Award
• Tom Henke, American League Leader, Saves, 34
• Jimmy Key, American League ERA Champion, 2.76 ERA

All-Star Game

• George Bell, OF, starter
• Tony Fernández, shortstop, reserve
• Tom Henke, pitcher, reserve

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Syracuse Chiefs	International League	Doug Ault
AA	Knoxville Blue Jays	Southern League	Glenn Ezell
A	Dunedin Blue Jays	Florida State League	Bob Bailor
A	Myrtle Beach Blue Jays	South Atlantic League	Barry Foote
A-Short Season	St. Catharines Blue Jays	New York–Penn League	Joe Lonnett
Rookie	Medicine Hat Blue Jays	Pioneer League	Eddie Dennis

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Myrtle Beach

External links

• 1987 Toronto Blue Jays at Baseball Reference
• 1987 Toronto Blue Jays at Baseball Almanac
• The Fall of '87 — Sportsnet article by Gare Joyce