Shushkewich: Key joins other Jays' pitching greats in Canadian ball hall
Former Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Jimmy Key was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday. Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
June 15, 2024
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
As Canada’s only remaining Major League Baseball team, it's understandable why there are so many former Toronto Blue Jays in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (CBHFM).
Pitchers like Roy Halladay, Duane Ward, Pat Hentgen, Tom Henke and Dave Stieb have all been inducted for their contributions on and off the field. On Saturday, former Blue Jays left-hander Jimmy Key joined that group of inductees.
Key was inducted alongside former Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin and ex-Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey, as well as national team legends Ashley Stephenson and Rod Heisler and longtime Toronto baseball executive and umpire Howard Birnie.
While Key was unable to attend the induction ceremony in St. Marys, the Blue Jays alum had a few words to share about the honour, which were read by emcee Rod Black at the ceremony.
“When I first learned of this recognition, I was overwhelmed with gratitude,” wrote Key. “To be acknowledged in this way by such a distinguished institution is truly humbling. I want to take a moment to thank the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame committee for selecting me for this honour. Your recognition means the world to me and I am immensely grateful. I also want to express a special thanks to my coaches throughout my career. Their guidance, mentorship, and belief in me have been invaluable. They played a crucial role in shaping me as both a player and a person and I am deeply grateful for their influence.”
So how does someone from Alabama find themselves in the CBHFM?
For starters, Key’s professional career began with the Blue Jays in 1982 when fellow inductee Pat Gillick drafted the left-hander out of Clemson University in the third round. With the Tigers, the left-hander posted a 20-14 record and pitched to a 3.64 ERA across 318 2/3 innings while helping Clemson advance to the College World Series in 1980. A dual threat on the diamond, Key also had 465 at-bats for the Tigers, posting a .325/.367/.467 slash line with 32 doubles, 10 home runs and a .834 OPS.
But Key’s future in the big leagues rested on his arm and once he turned pro, the bat stayed on the bench.
He made his Major League debut on April 6, 1984, entering the game in relief against the California Angels. He pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings and did not allow a hit and picked up his first big league win. His catcher that day? Fellow inductee and manager of the Canadian national team, Ernie Whitt.
Key worked solely out of the bullpen in his first season, mostly in the later innings. His turn in the rotation didn’t come until a year later when the Alabama product made 35 appearances, 32 as a starter. He picked up his first All-Star nod and got his first taste of the postseason, making two starts against the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series.
“Jimmy Key was a special guy,” said Buck Martinez, who caught 146 innings the crafty left-hander threw. “He joined our team in ‘84 with Bobby Cox as the manager. We put Key in the bullpen and he was matched up to succeed and we all knew he was going to be a starter. But to have a positive season on a very good team and that opportunity helped him move to the starter’s role. I think that allowed him to learn how to pitch first in the big leagues.”
One of his best campaigns came in 1987 when Key led the league with his 2.76 ERA. That season, he tossed eight complete games, pitched 261 innings and registered 161 strikeouts. He also led the Major Leagues in ERA+ (164) and WHIP (1.057) and finished second in AL Cy Young voting to Roger Clemens.
Throughout nine seasons with the Blue Jays, Key appeared in 317 games (250 starts) and amassed a 116-81 record through 1695 2/3 innings of work. He authored a 3.42 ERA, 28 complete games and earned a World Series ring in 1992. On the franchise leaderboards, Key’s name is spread throughout the listing ranking:
1st – Championship WPA (24.1)
2nd – Walks and Hits per IP (1.196)
3rd – bWAR (29.7) / ERA (3.42)
4th – Wins (116) / Innings (1695 2/3) / Games Started (250) / Shutouts (10)
5th – BB/9 (2.14) / FIP (3.70)
6th – Strikeouts (944)
“My journey to this moment began when I was drafted out of college by the Toronto Blue Jays,” wrote Key in his acceptance speech that was read on Saturday. “For 11 years, I had the privilege of representing this incredible organization, spending nine of those years in the big leagues. It was a dream come true to wear the Blue Jays uniform and to compete at the highest level of the sport. I am particularly honoured to have been a part of the first Canadian team to win a World Championship in 1992. That moment will forever hold a special place in my heart and I am proud to have contributed to that historic achievement.”
Following the 1992 World Series, Key signed with the New York Yankees and spent four years in the Big Apple before finishing his career with the Baltimore Orioles in 1997 and 1998. Throughout his career, Key earned five All-Star nods and two World Series rings (Yankees, 1996).
On Saturday, however, Key entered the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame for his outstanding tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays.
From Huntsville, Alabama to Toronto to St. Marys, Key has established a connection that will last a lifetime.