This is the first article in a series that looks at the five best players at each position for the Toronto Blue Jays. In this installment are catchers and manager. Baseball in Toronto dates back almost as far as it does in the United States. There have been teams in the city since 1876, and the Toronto Maple Leafs played in the International League, a top American minor league, from 1912-67. The Maple Leafs moving to Louisville, coupled with the Expos beginning play in Montreal two years later, led to a bid to bring a major league team to Toronto. The main proponent of bringing baseball back to the city was Paul Godfrey, an alderman who spoke with major league owners, as well as Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, to show his interest. He was told to renovate an existing stadium or build a new one, and soon both were in play. Despite inflation and global energy issues, Godfrey obtained approval from the Metro Toronto council to approve a $15 million renovation project on Exhibition Stadium, which was the home to the Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Talks also began concerning the building of a new, domed stadium, a dream that would not become a reality for more than a decade. While stadium renovations were taking place, the city looked to attract a major league team. The Indians, Padres and Orioles all had talks to move to Toronto, but things soon fell apart. In 1975, the Giants were in financial trouble, and owner Horace Stoneham was looking to sell the team. An ownership group led by the Labatt brewery was approved for a bid of $13 million before San Francisco city officials got a court order preventing the move, then found local funding to keep the team in the Bay Area. Instead, Labatt outlasted bids from other cities, as well as one from rival Carling Brewery, to land an expansion team in 1977 for $7 million. Toronto decided to build mostly from within, pairing draft picks and expansion draft selections with a few players acquired by trade to create a competitive roster. Thanks to inaugural President Peter Bavasi (and later Peter Hardy and Paul Beeston), as well as future Baseball Hall of Fame general manager Pat Gillick, the Blue Jays began a string of 11 straight winning seasons, including their first of five division titles in that stretch in 1985. The period of the greatest on-field success in Blue Jays history came on a new field. The city succeeded in getting a new stadium built known as the SkyDome, which began with a $150 million construction cost, which ballooned to $527 million thanks to having a fully retractable roof as well as the inclusion of a hotel, a health club, restaurants, luxury suites and a Jumbotron scoreboard. The new stadium opened in 1989 and the appeal of the SkyDome helped the Blue Jays become the first team to reach four million in home attendance, and the club set the record three years in a row from 1991-93. Fans came out in droves to see a team that won at least 90 games and won division titles in each of those three years behind the guidance of steady player’s manager, Cito Gaston. After a loss to the Twins in the ALCS in 1991, the Blue Jays won two straight World Series championships in six games, first against the Braves and then the Phillies, thanks to a dramatic title-winning home run by Joe Carter. After the success, the team fell off thanks to the emergence of the Yankees and Red Sox as well as turmoil created by a change in ownership. Labatt was struggling in 1994 and investment company, Brascan, which had been buying up stock in Labatt, sold off its shares suddenly, leaving no majority shareholder. The company survived a hostile takeover attempted when it was bought out by Belgian brewing company Interbrew in June 1995. However, the new company wanted no part of the baseball team and attempted to sell the Blue Jays for nearly six years until Rogers Communications Inc., Canada’s largest cable company, purchased 80 percent interest in the franchise for $165 million in September 2000. Godfrey was named president and CEO of the club, a position he held until 2008. Toronto had a winning record four times in the eight years of his tenure, and the SkyDome had its name changed to Rogers Centre in 2006. In the 24 full seasons since Rogers took control of the team, the Blue Jays have posted a record of .500 or better 13 times. The club has been to the playoffs on five occasions and won a division title in 2015, its first in more than 20 years. Despite rumors that Rogers was considering selling a partial stake in the franchise in 2021, the cable giant has held onto the team for more than a quarter of a century. The Best Catchers and Managers in Toronto Blue Jays History Honorable Mention – Danny Jansen was drafted by the Blue Jays out of a Wisconsin high school in 2013, appeared in the MLB All-Star Futures Game in 2018 and made his major league debut later that season. Despite a low average causing him to be in a platoon for most of his time with Toronto, he showed plenty of power, hitting 71 home runs and driving in 214 runs in 471 games. Jansen hit two homers and drove in six runs during a July 2022 game in which the Blue Jays set a team record for runs in a 28-5 drubbing of the Red Sox. His seven-year tenure with Toronto (2018-24) came to an end when he was traded to Boston, and he signed with the Rays for the 2025 season. 5B Darrin Fletcher – An Illinois product, he was drafted by the Dodgers and played for the Phillies before joining the Expos. Fletcher earned his only All-Star selection in 1994, when he helped Montreal earn the best record in the league before the season was cut short by the player’s strike. He finished second in fielding percentage among catchers three times and had back-to-back career years in Toronto, batting .291 with 18 home runs and a personal-best 80 RBIs in 1999 and following that with career-best totals of a .320 average, 133 hits and 20 homers. Fletcher struggled in his final season in 2001, retired the following year and was a commentator for the Expose and Blue Jays after his playing days. 5A Gregg Zaun – The journeyman catcher was drafted by the Orioles in 1989 and played for nine teams in 16 major league seasons. Zaun had his best years with the Blue Jays, especially 2005, when he set career highs with 133 games, 109 hits, 61 runs scored and 61 RBIs. He won a title with the Marlins in 1997 and led all catchers in double plays the following years. Zaun was named in the Mitchell Report for player steroid use (although he denies the claims), worked as a broadcaster for the Blue Jays for seven years until he was fired for improper conduct against women and has spent the last three years as a coach, including 2025, when he signed to work for the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League. 4. Alejandro Kirk – Born in Tijuana, Mexico, he was signed by the Blue Jays in 2016 and made his major league debut late in the COVID-shortened 2020 seasons. Kirk missed more than two months with a hip flexor injury the following year but returned in 2022, earning his only All-Star selection and silver slugger to date after setting career highs with a .285-15-63 stat line and 134 hits, and he also led all American League catchers in double plays. Despite his offensive numbers falling a bit in recent seasons, “Captain Kirk” has played solid defense and worked well with Blue Jays pitchers, leading to a five-year, $58 million extension before the 2025 season. 3. Russell Martin – The Ontario, Canada, native was successful in each of his major league stops. He began his career with the Dodgers, playing in the MLB All-Star Futures Game, made his debut for Los Angeles in 2006, and was named an All-Star and won a gold glove and a silver slugger the following year. Martin was an All-Star in 2011 with the Yankees and earned two Wilson Defensive Player of the Year awards with the Pirates before signing with the Blue Jays in 2015. He earned his fourth and final All-Star selection in his first season north of the border, hitting a career-best 23 homers and driving in 77 runs. “Muscle” was traded back to the Dodgers for his final season in 2019, finishing his 14-year major league career with 191 home runs and 771 RBIs. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024 but received just 2.3 percent of the vote for the American version a year later. 2. Pat Borders – A sixth round pick of the Blue Jays in 1982, he began his major league career after nearly six years in the minors. Borders was a reserve behind the top catcher on this list for his first two years before taking over the starting spot. He was known for pitch calling, defense and timely hitting, and he was behind the plate for the only no-hitter in Blue Jays history when Dave Stieb shut down the Indians, 3-0 in early September 1990. Borders led all catchers in assists three times and games played twice during his time in Toronto, and he was a key piece on two championship teams. In 30 postseason games with the Blue Jays, Borders amassed 35 hits and 13 RBIs. However, his greatest performance came in 1992 against the Braves, when he was named World Series MVP after batting .450 (9-for-20) with a homer and three RBIs. Borders left Toronto following the 1994 season and played for nine teams in a 10-year span, including a six-game stint with the Blue Jays in 1999, ending his eight-year tenure with the franchise (1988-94 and ’98) with 54 home runs and 272 RBIs in 747 games. He became the first American-born player to win both a World Series ring and an Olympic gold medal when he earned the latter in the 2000 Summer Games. Borders retired in 2006 and spent five years coaching Phillies affiliate Williamsport in the New York-Penn League. 1. Ernie Whitt – The Detroit native began his career with the Red Sox, was selected by the Blue Jays in the expansion draft and was one of the most popular as well as the longest-tenured player from that original Toronto team. Although he played sparingly until his age 28 season, Whitt became one of the most durable players for the fledgling franchise, and he was adept at handling the young pitching staff. He earned his lone All-Star selection in 1985, helping the Blue Jays win their first division title. Two years later, he had his best season, posing career-bests with a .269 average, 19 homers, 75 RBIs, 120 hits and 203 total bases while also leading all American League catchers in putouts. Arguably, Whitt’s best game came in June 1989 during his final season with Toronto. The Blue Jays trailed the Red Sox 10-0 late, when they scored two runs in the seventh inning, four more in the eighth and five in the ninth, highlighted by a Whitt grand slam, and ended up winning 13-11 in 12 innings. The aging backstop was traded to the Braves before the 1990 season, and he finished his career the following year with the Orioles. During his 12-year run in Toronto (1976-78 and 80-89), Whitt batted .253 with 424 runs, 888 hits, 164 doubles, 131 home runs, 518 RBIs and 1,475 total bases in 1,218 games, which ranks sixth in franchise history. He also appeared in 12 postseason contests, amassing two runs, six hits, one homer and five RBIs. Whitt coached Canada since 2004, guiding the team through the Summer Olympics, World Baseball Classics and Pan American Games. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. Honorable Mentions – Jimy Williams enjoyed a nearly 45-year professional baseball career, first being signed by the Red Sox in 1964 and playing in a total of 14 big-league games as a backup infielder with the Cardinals a few years later. After four years as a minor league player, he began managing at the lower levels with California and St. Louis before joining Toronto as third base coach in 1980. Williams became manager of the Blue Jays in 1986 and led the team to three straight winning records, including a 96-66 mark in 1987 that is still tied for second in franchise history in terms of single season wins. He was let go after a slow start in 1989 and replaced with the top manager on this list. Overall, Williams went 281-241 with the Blue Jays, and he also had stints with the Red Sox and Astros. The 1999 Manager of the Year also spent seven seasons as a third base coach with the Braves, two as an instructor with the Devil Rays and two as a bench coach with the Phillies, retiring after the 2008 World Series victory. Williams passed away in 2024 at age 80. Jim Fregosi was a six-time All-Star and gold glove winner with the Angels before he was involved in one of the most infamous trades in baseball history. Following a solid 18-year playing career, he immediately rejoined his old club in California as manager, leading the franchise to its first playoff appearance in 1979. From there, Fregosi managed the White Sox and Phillies, taking Philadelphia to the pennant before losing to the top manager on this list. After two seasons as general manager in San Francisco, he returned to the dugout with Toronto and guided the Blue Jays to 167 wins and two third-place finishes, and he ended his 15-year managerial career with a 1,028-1,094 record. Fregosi’s last major league job was as a special assistant and advance scout with the Braves. He passed away due to complications from multiple strokes in 2014 at age 71. Carlos Tosca was a native of Cuba who began his coaching career in 1978. He managed in farm systems for nearly two decades before being hired as bench coach with the Diamondbacks in 1998. Tosca was hired to be Toronto’s third base coach but after a poor start, he replaced Buck Martinez as manager in June. The Blue Jays played above .500 the rest of the season and won 86 games in 2003 before falling off. Tosca was fired late the following year and returned to Arizona, where he was named the third base coach. He served as bench coach under Fredi Gonzalez, first in Florida and then Atlanta, from 2007-16. His last job was as manager and then assistant coach with the Gulf Coast League Orioles from 2017-19. 5. Charlie Montoyo – Born in Florida, Puerto Rico, he had an extensive minor league career but played just four major league games with the Expos during the 1993 season, going 2-for-5 with a run scored and three RBIs. Montoyo spent three more years in the minors after his brief big-league stint before spending the next 18 years as a minor league manager in the Tampa Bay system, leading his teams to six division titles and the Triple-A championship in 2009. He was named bench coach of the Rayas in 2015 and was hired to be manager of the Blue Jays in 2019. Montoyo led Toronto to a Wild Card berth the following year, won 91 games in 2021 and was fired midway through the subsequent campaign with a 236-236 overall record despite the Blue Jays sitting in a playoff spot at the time. He spent two years as bench coach of the White Sox before being fired late in the 2024 season. 4. John Schneider – As with many managers, the New Jersey native started out as a catcher. Schneider was drafted by the Blue Jays and played six minor league seasons before concussions and back surgery forced him to retire. He served as a catching instructor before becoming a minor league manager in the Toronto system, rising to AA in 2018. Schneider was promoted to the major league club to work with catchers and then serve as bench coach in 2022. When Montoyo was fired in July, he took over and led the team to the playoffs. After the season, he was signed to a three-year contract and led the Blue Jays to 89 wins and another postseason berth the following year. Entering the 2025 season, Schneider has amassed a 209-189 record. 3. Bobby Cox – When the Blue Jays finally started winning in their seventh season, the Oklahoma native was at the helm. Cox began his lengthy career as a minor league player with four clubs, most notably the Dodgers. After three years in the Venezuelan Winter League, he spent three more with the Yankees as a reserve infielder before knee injuries forced him to retire. Cox moved into the dugout for good, managing in the Yankees’ system as well as in Venezuela before he was the first base coach for the championship Bronx Bombers in 1977. From there, he was hired to manage the Braves, a post he held for four seasons. Cox joined the Blue Jays in 1982 and, after 78 wins in his first season, he led Toronto to three straight winning campaigns. His best season with the team was 1985, when the Blue Jays won a team-record 99 games and their first division title, and he was named Manager of the Year. Despite the successful year, Toronto lost in the ALCS after being up three games to one against Kansas City. Cox and his 355-292 record with the Blue Jays returned to the Braves the following year to be their general manager and help set up one of the most dominant runs of success in major league history. He went back to the bench in 1990, and thanks to a talented roster led by the disciplined approach of their manager, the Braves won 14 division titles in 15 seasons (the only one without a crown was the strike-shortened 1994 campaign). Cox led Atlanta to five National League pennants and a World Series championship in 1995. He retired in 2010 with a 2,504-2,001 overall record (ranking fourth on the all-time list in wins) and four Manager of the Year awards, and he is the all-time leader with 158 ejections. Cox was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 2014. 2. John Gibbons – He was drafted by the Mets in 1980, appeared in a total of 18 games in two seasons and batted .474 as New York’s third catcher in the championship season in 1986. Gibbons bounced around the minors for the next five years before he retired and started his coaching career as a roving catching instructor and then manager in the Mets organization. He was hired by the Blue Jays in 2002 and served first as bullpen catcher and later as first base coach. Two years later, Gibbons took over as manager after Tosca was fired. He led Toronto to a pair of winning seasons in the tough American League East but was let go midway through the 2008 season with the team mired in last place. Gibbons was hired as bench coach of the Royals and also spent time as a minor league manager in the Padres system before returning for a second stint as manager of the Blue Jays in 2013. This time, the team was more successful, posting three winning records and two playoff appearances. Toronto’s best season under his watch came in 2014, when the team won 93 games and defeated the Rangers in the Division Series before falling to the Royals in the ALCS. Gibbons had a fiery personality when managing, but he was usually easygoing with his players. However, public incidents involving a pair of players led to his dismissal from the team in his first stint. Gibbons was not brought back for the 2019 season, ending his time in Toronto with a 793-789 record in 11 seasons (2004-08 and 13-18). He was hired as bench coach of the Mets beginning in 2024. 1. Clarence “Cito” Gaston – The Texas-born outfielder was an All-Star in 1970 and enjoyed an 11-year major league playing career, mostly with Atlanta and the expansion club in San Diego. Gaston ended his career with two seasons in Mexico and spent one year as a minor league hitting instructor with the Braves before Cox brought him to the Blue Jays to be the batting coach, a role he held when team went to the ALCS in 1985. When Williams was fired as manager four years later, Gaston was tabbed to replace him. Under his intelligent and dignified leadership, the Blue Jays won four division titles in five years, including 1991, when the skipper missed time after undergoing back surgery. With Gaston at the helm, the team took the next step, bringing home back-to-back championships in 1992-93. Gaston continued to manage until near the end of the 1997 season, but a lack of commitment to spending after the titles caused the Blue Jays to drop in the standings. He returned to the team in 1999 and was hitting coach and later a special assistant. Gaston replaced Gibbons for his second stint as manager during the middle of the 2008 season, and he led the team to a pair of winning campaigns in his three-year second stint. Despite the improvement, the Blue Jays didn’t finish higher than fourth in his second go-round, and Gaston ended his 12-year run as manager of the team (1989-97 and 2008-10) with an 894-837 regular season record as well as an 18-16 mark in the playoffs. The two-time All-Star Game manager was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. Upcoming Stories Toronto Blue Jays Catchers and Managers Toronto Blue Jays First and Third Baseman and Designated Hitters Toronto Blue Jays Second Basemen and Shortstops Toronto Blue Jays Outfielders Toronto Blue Jays Pitchers Previous Series A look back at the Texas Rangers Texas Rangers Catchers and Managers Texas Rangers First and Third Basemen and Designated Hitters Texas Rangers Second Basemen and Shortstops Texas Rangers Outfielders Texas Rangers Pitchers Previous Series A look back at the Tampa Bay Rays Tampa Bay Rays Catchers and Managers Tampa Bay Rays First and Third Basemen and Designated Hitters Tampa Bay Rays Second Basemen and Shortstops Tampa Bay Rays Outfielders Tampa Bay Rays Pitchers A look back at the Seattle Mariners Seattle Mariners Catchers and Managers Seattle Mariners First and Third Basemen and Designated Hitters Seattle Mariners Second Basemen and Shortstops Seattle Mariners Outfielders Seattle Mariners Pitchers A look back at the San Francisco Giants San 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Minnesota Twins Outfielders Minnesota Twins Pitchers A look back at the Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee Brewers Catchers and Managers Milwaukee Brewers First and Third Basemen and Designated Hitters Milwaukee Brewers Second Basemen and Shortstops Milwaukee Brewers Outfielders Milwaukee Brewers Pitchers A look back at the Miami Marlins Miami Marlins Catchers and Managers Miami Marlins First and Third Basemen Miami Marlins Second Basemen and Shortstops Miami Marlins Outfielders Miami Marlins Pitchers A look back at the Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers Catchers and Managers Los Angeles Dodgers First and Third Basemen Los Angeles Dodgers Second Basemen and Shortstops Los Angeles Dodgers Outfielders Los Angeles Dodgers Pitchers A look back at the Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Angels Catchers and Managers Los Angeles Angels First and Third Basemen and Designated Hitters Los Angeles Angels Second Basemen and Shortstops Los Angeles Angels Outfielders Los Angeles Angels Pitchers A look back at the Kansas City Royals Kansas City Royals Catchers and Managers Kansas City Royals First and Third Basemen and Designated Hitters Kansas City Royals Second Basemen and Shortstops Kansas City Royals Outfielders Kansas City Royals Pitchers A look back at the Houston Astros Houston Astros Catchers and Managers Houston Astros First and Third Basemen and Designated Hitters Houston Astros Second Basemen and Shortstops Houston Astros Outfielders Houston Astros Pitchers A look back at the Detroit Tigers Detroit Tigers Catchers and Managers Detroit Tigers First and Third Basemen and Designated Hitters Detroit Tigers Second Basemen and Shortstops Detroit Tigers Outfielders Detroit Tigers Pitchers A look back at the Colorado Rockies Colorado Rockies Catchers and Managers Colorado Rockies First and Third Basemen Colorado Rockies Second Basemen and Shortstops Colorado Rockies Outfielders Colorado Rockies Pitchers A look back at the Cleveland Guardians Cleveland Guardians Catchers and Managers Cleveland Guardians First and Third Basemen and Designated Hitters Cleveland Guardians Second Basemen and Shortstops Cleveland Guardians Outfielders Cleveland Guardians Pitchers A look back at the Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati Reds Catchers and Managers Cincinnati Reds First and Third Basemen Cincinnati Reds Second Basemen and Shortstops Cincinnati Reds Outfielders Cincinnati Reds Pitchers A look back at the Chicago White Sox Chicago White Sox Catchers and Managers Chicago White Sox First and Third Basemen and Designated Hitters Chicago White Sox Second Basemen and Shortstops Chicago White Sox Outfielders Chicago White Sox Pitchers A look back at the Chicago Cubs Chicago Cubs Catchers and Managers Chicago Cubs First and Third Basemen Chicago Cubs Second Basemen and Shortstops Chicago Cubs Outfielders Chicago Cubs Pitchers A look back at the Boston Red Sox Boston Red Sox Catchers and Managers Boston Red Sox First and Third Basemen Boston Red Sox Second Basemen and Shortstops Boston Red Sox Outfielders and Designated Hitters Boston Red Sox Pitchers A look back at the Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Orioles Catchers and Managers Baltimore Orioles First and Third Basemen Baltimore Orioles Second Basemen and Shortstops Baltimore Orioles Outfielders and Designated Hitters Baltimore Orioles Pitchers A look back at the Atlanta Braves Atlanta Braves Catchers and Managers Atlanta Braves First and Third Basemen Atlanta Braves Second Basemen and Shortstops Atlanta Braves Outfielders Atlanta Braves Pitchers A look back at the Arizona Diamondbacks Arizona Diamondbacks Catchers and Managers Arizona Diamondbacks First and Third Basemen Arizona Diamondbacks Second Basemen and Shortstops Arizona Diamondbacks Outfielders Arizona Diamondbacks Pitchers