Jimmy Key

James Edward Key (born April 22, 1961) is an American former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Toronto Blue Jays (1984–1992), New York Yankees (1993–1996), and Baltimore Orioles (1997–1998). His best personal years were in 1987, when he posted a 17–8 record with a league-leading 2.76 ERA, and in 1993, when he went 18–6 with a 3.00 ERA and 173 strikeouts. With the Blue Jays, he won the 1992 World Series and with the Yankees, he won the 1996 World Series, both over the Atlanta Braves.

Basics

• Positions
  • Pitcher
• Major League Debut
  • April 6, 1984
  • Key entered the game with 2 outs in the California Angels 6th inning pitching for the visiting Toronto Blue Jays at Anaheim Stadium. In 3.1 innings of work, he faced 10 batters, and struck out 1, earning the victory.¹
• Last MLB Appearance
  • September 20, 1998
  • He entered in the 9th inning for the Baltimore Orioles against the visiting New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yard. He faced 5 batters, striking out 1, and allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits. ²

Teams Played for

• Clemson Tigers – Atlantic Coast Conference (NCAA Power 5)
• Florence Blue Jays – South Atlantic League (A)
• Medicine Hat Blue Jays – Pioneer League (Rookie)
• Syracuse Chiefs – International League (AAA)
• Knoxville Blue Jays – Southern League (AA)
• Toronto Blue Jays – American League
• Dunedin Blue Jays – Florida State League (A)
• New York Yankees – American League
• GCL Yankees – Gulf Coast League (Rookie)
• Tampa Yankees – Florida State League (A)
• Frederick Keys – Carolina League (A+)
• Baltimore Orioles – American League³

Career Stat Line

• ERA: 3.51
• WHIP: 1.23
• Wins: 186
• Losses: 117
• Games: 470
• Starts: 389
• Saves: 10
• Strike Outs: 1,538

Transfers

• June 4, 1979
  • Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 10th round of the draft, but did not sign.
• June 12, 1982
  • Signed by the Toronto Blue Jays out of the Draft in the 3rd Round
• December 10, 1992
  • Signed a $17m 4-year free agency contract with New York Yankees
• December 10, 1996
  • Signed a $7.8m 2-year free agency contract with Baltimore Orioles

Injured List

• April 15 – June 20, 1988
  • Bone chips in left elbow
• August 4 – 19, 1989
  • Left rotator cuff inflammation
• May 23 – June 22, 1990
  • Unknown injury
• May 17 – October 8, 1995
  • Left Rotator cuff inflammatoin
• May 16 – 31, 1996
  • Left shoulder stiffness
• June 11 – 26, 1996
  • Strained left calf
• May 21 – July 28, 1998
  • Left shoulder inflammation⁴

Awards and Honors

• Sporting News AL Pitcher of the Year
  • 1987
  • 1994
• Sporting News All-Star Team (Left Handed Pitcher)⁵
  • 1987
  • 1993
  • 1994
• Atlantic Coast Conference All-Conference
  • 1982 – Designated Hitter
  • 1982 – Pitcher
• American League Pitcher of the Month
  • April 1993
• American League Players Choice Outstanding Pitcher
  • 1994
• Clemson University Athletics Hall of Fame⁶
  • 1999

1. https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1984/B04060CAL1984.htm ↩︎
2. https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1998/B09200BAL1998.htm ↩︎
3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=key—001jam#all_standard_roster ↩︎
4. https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/13715/tranx/#google_vignette ↩︎
5. https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/K/Pkey-j001.htm ↩︎
6. https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/13715/awards/ ↩︎