Jimmy Key
| Birthdate | 4/22/1961 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1984 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Blue Jays, Orioles, Yankees |
| Position | Pitcher |
The winningest left-hander in Toronto Blue Jays history, Jimmy Key won the World Series clincher for the 1992 Jays and the 1996 New York Yankees.
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Twice TSN's' AL Pitcher of the Year, Jimmy Key finished in the top-4 in Cy Young voting three times
Twice TSN's' AL Pitcher of the Year, Jimmy Key finished in the top-4 in Cy Young voting three times
Since he was 12 years old Jimmy Key seemed destined for baseball stardom. The standout pitcher for the Alabama State Little League Tournament 12-year old champions, Key later starred in baseball, basketball, and golf at Butler High School in Huntsville. His performance earned him a place in the Huntsville-Madison County Athletics Hall of Fame.
Staying in-state for college, Key attended Clemson University. In 1982 he became the first Tigers player named to first-team All-ACC at two positions in the same season. Stellar at both pitcher and designated hitter, Key remains the only Clemson man to accomplish the feat.
His performance convinced the Blue Jays to select him in the third round of the 1982 draft. Two years later Key made his MLB debut and earned the win on April 6, 1984. Used exclusively as a reliever, Key made 63 appearances and tallied ten saves.
In ’85 the Jays made him a starter. Key responded with an All Star campaign, going 14-6 with a 141 ERA+. His performance helped Toronto make their first postseason appearance in franchise history. After repeating a 14-win season in ’86, Key led the major leagues in ERA in 1987. Mixing in 17 wins and league leading numbers in ERA+, WHIP and Hits/9, Key was named the Sporting News AL Pitcher of the Year. He was also runner-up in Cy Young voting.
Key remained with the Blue Jays through 1992. That season he was the winning pitcher in the deciding Game 6 of the World Series, the first Fall Classic triumph in Toronto history.
In December that same year he signed a free-agent deal with the New York Yankees. Key left Toronto as the team’s all-time winningest left-hander, an honor he still holds today.
His first year in the Big Apple Key won a career-high 18 games and pitched to a 139 ERA+. He finished fourth in the Cy Young race and 11th in MVP balloting. The following year in the strike-shortened 1994 campaign Key posted a 140 ERA+ and led all the majors with 17 wins. He finished second for the Cy Young and sixth for the AL MVP.
Injuries limited Key to five appearances in 1995 though he bounced back to a double-digit win total in ’96. His performance helped push the Yankees to their first World Series championship since 1978. He was once again the winner in the Series-clinching Game 6.
In December of ’96, Key moved on to Baltimore and represented the Orioles in the All Star game in ’97. In two seasons with the Orioles Key appeared in 59 games and went 22–13. His final game came on September 22, 1998.
Jimmy Key retired with 186 wins, 10 saves, a 122 ERA+, and a 48.9 career WAR.
In the collection is this Jimmy Key autographed Strat-O-Matic card from 1987. Bucknell University math major Hal Richman originated the Strat-O-Matic game in 1961. Advertised in Sports Illustrated and sold out of Richman’s basement, Strat-O-Matic gave its players the ability to make managerial decisions based on MLB statistics.
Cal Ripken's 3-run homer made Key the winner in the 1991 All Star Game at Toronto
Cal Ripken's 3-run homer made Key the winner in the 1991 All Star Game at Toronto
Jimmy Key’s career highlights are many. The two-time Sporting News Pitcher of the Year finished in the top-4 in Cy Young balloting three times and received MVP votes in two seasons.
One of Key’s most unforgettable moments came in Toronto’s Sky Dome in 1991. The game was MLB’s second Mid-Summer Classic played outside of the United States and it’s first played at the Blue Jays’ home.
Pitching in his second All Star Game in front of the hometown faithful, Key delivered. Coming on in relief of starter Jack Morris, Key retired Hall of Famers Tony Gwynn and Ryne Sandberg before striking out Bobby Bonilla to end the third inning.
In the bottom of the frame, NL hurler Dennis Martinez gave up back-to-back singles to Cooperstown men Rickey Henderson and Wade Boggs. The next batter was the Orioles’ Cal Ripken Junior. After falling behind 0-1, the Iron Man deposited Martinez’ second offering over the wall for a three-run homer. The shot gave the AL a 3-1 lead they never relinquished. It made a winner out of Key and an All Star MVP out of Ripken.
Shown here is Ripken’s Topps contract signed on June 10, 1988. The three-year deal included the 1991 campaign when Ripken hit his All Star homer.
