Shushkewich: HOFer Key departed the Blue Jays as a winner in 1992
Canadian Hall of Fame newcomer LHP Jimmy Key leaves the mound in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the 1992 World Series, his final time on the SkyDome mound.
February 13, 2024
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
The goal as teams gather for spring training in both Florida and Arizona is to win the final game of the season.
In Jimmy Key’s final game at SkyDome, he left to applause from 52,090 in Game 4 of the 1992 World Series. The moment was touching as most figured Key, an impending free agent, would not be back. And as Key tipped his cap to the cheering fans there were tears in his eyes.
And Key won his final game in Toronto, as the Jays edged the Atlanta Braves 2-1 for a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame decided to add another southpaw into its hallowed halls last week. Key, a left-handed pitcher hailing from Huntsville, Ala., was one of the six new inductees.
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Key took a 2-0 lead into the eighth thanks to Pat Borders’ solo homer off future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine in the third and Devon White’s two-out single in the seventh.
Key allowed a lead-off double in the eighth to Ron Gant and a bunt single to Brian Hunter. After a failed bunt attempt, Key retired Mark Lemke on a grounder as Gant scored, bringing up Otis Nixon. Duane Ward escaped the eighth and Tom Henke needed only 11 pitches for a 1-2-3 inning and the 2-1 victory.
In Game 6, Key came out of the bullpen with one out in the 10th, put up a zero, allowed an unearned run in the 11th after Dave Winfield’s two-run hit and there he was facing Nixon again. He told manager Cito Gaston, “I’ve never had much luck with this guy.” Gaston went to reliever Mike Timlin, who fielded Nixon’s bunt and fired to jumpin’ Joe Carter at first. Cue the dog pile. So, Key, nicknamed ‘Peewee’ won his final game in a Toronto uniform.
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Growing up in Huntsville, Key was selected by the Chicago White Sox out of high school in the 1979 draft, but he decided to take his talents to the Clemson Tigers instead. From 1980 to 1982, Key was a prominent member of the Tigers, compiling a 20-14 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference and saw action on the mound and as a DH. He is the only Tiger to be named first-team All-ACC in two different positions. He collected 10 home runs while hitting .325 through three campaigns at the South Carolina program.
Key was drafted by the Blue Jays in the third round in 1982 and spent the next two seasons climbing up the minor league ladder, including stops in rookie-class Medicine Hat, class-A Florence, double-A Knoxville and triple-A Syracuse before making manager Bobby Cox’s staff in 1984.
The left-hander would make his big league debut on April 6, 1984, a relief appearance on the road while the Jays faced the California Angels in Anaheim. It was a lengthy outing, with the 23-year-old going 3 1/3 innings to close out the contest. He allowed zero hits while striking out one (Fred Lynn) across the minimum 10 batters. The first batter Key faced was the future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, who grounded to shortstop. His last batter that game? Rod Carew, who flew out to left field.
Key made 63 appearances while racking up 10 saves en route to a 4.65 ERA through 62 innings. The next season, Key moved into the rotation alongside Dave Stieb, Doyle Alexander, Jim Clancy, and Luis Leal, making 35 starts. His first season as a starter was successful, as the southpaw had a 3.00 ERA while eclipsing the 200 innings pitched mark (212 2/3). He pitched three complete games, authored a 1.110 WHIP (lowest amongst Jays starters that year) and led the rotation in BB/9 with a 2.1 mark.
Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Rogers Centre.
Key made the all-star game in his sophomore campaign and got his first taste of the postseason later that year, making two starts against the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series.
His best single-season campaign came in 1987, as Key posted a league-leading 2.76 ERA, a 164 ERA+, and a 1.057 WHIP while leading the American League in H/9 (7.2). He finished second in Cy Young Award voting that year, right behind Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox.
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Overall, the Alabama product spent nine seasons with the Blue Jays, compiling a 116-81 record with a 3.42 ERA across 1,695 2/3 innings. He made 250 starts during his time in Toronto and posted a 1.196 WHIP and a 3.70 FIP while collecting 28 complete games, including 10 shutouts.
With the Blue Jays, Key pitched 200 innings or more on six separate occasions and held opponents in the walk category, boasting a 2.1 BB/9 (ranking fifth in Blue Jays history). Key secured a World Series championship ring in 1992 and made two all-star appearances, with his second appearance coming in 1991.
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“I would like to thank the Canadian Hall of Fame and its executive committee for this great honour,” read a statement from Key on election day. “This recognition caps off nine great years that I played in Toronto for the Blue Jay organization. To be a part of the first pro World Championship team in Canada is the highlight of my career.”
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On the Blue Jays franchise leaderboards, Key finds himself scattered across the top of various pitching categories, including:
- Second: Walks and hits per IP (WHIP) (1.196).
- Third: bWAR (29.7) and ERA (3.42).
- Fourth: Wins (116), innings pitched (1695 2/3), starts (250) and shutouts (10).
- Fifth: BB/9 (2.144), complete games (28) and FIP (3.70).
- Sixth: Strikeouts (944).
In 2017, Sportsnet voters ranked the Greatest Blue Jays in a 40 in 40 series and Key ranked ninth, the third highest pitcher on the rankings behind only Dave Stieb (second) and Roy Halladay (third). Key also holds the franchise record for most wins by a left-handed pitcher.
A member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (2009), Key left the Blue Jays via free agency following the 1992 season and joined the New York Yankees on a four-year deal where he continued to excel on the mound. The Jays preferred a two-year deal for free-agent Dave Stewart to the four years Key was seeking. Key posted a 3.68 ERA through 94 starts and led the league in wins with 17 during the 1994 campaign. A two-time all-star with New York, Key won another championship when the Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves in the 1996 World Series, with Key making four starts during the postseason.
After winning his second ring, Key signed with the Baltimore Orioles on a two-year deal and made 59 appearances for the club (45 starts). Adding another all-star accolade during the 1997 season. He retired following the 1998 campaign. Key was also featured on the 2004 National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot but was a one-and-done candidate on a stacked ballot, collecting three votes (0.6%).
Looking back on his career, Key was a dominant starter within the AL and through his nine seasons with the Blue Jays. He is a worthy and deserving member of the Canadian Baseball of Fame in St. Marys, Ont.