1993 Profile: Jimmy Key

1993 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR

"The Yankees put the lock on the Blue Jay free agent, signing him to a four-year contract in December. He and Frank Viola are the only two major league pitchers to post 12 or more victories in each of the last eight seasons. In 1992 he surpassed 200 innings for the sixth time.

Key ranks third on the Blue Jay's all-time victory list with 116. He was selected for the All-Star staff in 1985 and 1991. He won the ERA title in 1987 and finished second to Roger Clemens in the Cy Young voting.

Key was dropped from the rotation for the playoffs but capitalized on his start in World Series Game 4 by holding Atlanta to one run and five hits in 7 2/3 innings. He's a poised veteran who responds well to challenges.

Born April 22, 1961, in Huntsville, Alabama, he was Toronto's third-round choice in the 1982 draft."

-Tony DeMarco (Ft. Worth Star-Telegram) and Tom Pedulla (Gannett Newspapers), The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1993 Edition

"It's going to take some getting used to for Yankee fans to see Jimmy Key in the uniform of the home team. For nine years, he was a guy they loved to hate when he came to Yankee Stadium as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Now, all is forgiven. Key is a Yankee for the next four years and Yankees fans know that they don't hate to love him.

The guy knows how to pitch. Better, he knows how to win. How does 116 wins in nine seasons sound? The free-agent signee is one of only two pitchers (Frank Viola is the other) to have won at least 12 games in each of the last eight seasons.

For the Blue Jays, Key was a big-game pitcher. They called on him twice in last year's World Series and he won both times, once as a starter, then in relief in the clinching Game Six.

He is known in the trade as a 'crafty left-hander,' meaning he doesn't blow people away. Instead, he frustrates hitters with his guile, intelligence and control- a Yankee Stadium-type pitcher.

Yankee fans are going to love the guy they used to hate."

-The New York Yankees Official 1993 Yearbook

"Key posted a 13-13 record in 1992 with four complete games, two shutouts and a 3.53 ERA in 33 starts for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was one of four Blue Jay starters to post double figures in wins. He ranked second on the staff in innings and third in shutouts.

Opponents hit .248 against Jimmy, including a .176 batting average (23-for-131) by left-handed batters and .261 by right-handed batters. Only two of the 24 home runs he allowed were to left-handed hitters, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Harold Baines.

He posted a 5-1 record with a 2.22 ERA during the September stretch run. He pitched three scoreless relief innings in the playoffs against Oakland. Key pitched twice (one start) in the World Series against Atlanta and was 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA, including a win in relief in the sixth and deciding game in Atlanta.

Key and Frank Viola are the only two pitchers in the majors with 12-plus wins in each of the last eight seasons. His 13 wins tied for third most in the American League among left-handed pitchers (tied with Mark Langston, Frank Tanana and Viola) behind Dave Fleming (17) and John Smiley (16).

He ranks tied for 29th among active pitchers in wins and ninth among active left-handed pitchers in wins behind Tanana, John Candelaria, Mike Flanagan, Viola, Bruce Hurst, Floyd Bannister, Charlie Liebrandt and Langston. His 67 wins over the last five years (1988-92) ranks 18th best in the majors.

Key ranks third all-time among Blue Jays pitchers in wins (116) and is the winningest left-hander in Blue Jays history. He ranks third in innings pitched (1695.2), strikeouts (944), games started (250), shutouts (8) and ERA (3.42). In his career he has allowed 18 home runs in 1,154 at-bats against left-handed hitters.

He signed a four-year free agent contract in December 1992. The contract extends through the 1996 season.

Jimmy was selected by the Blue Jays in the third round of the 1982 June free agent draft. He was scouted by Tim Wilkin. In his first year of professional baseball, he made his debut at Medicine Hat. Promoted to Florence on July 15, he was a combined 7-3 with a 3.24 ERA in 1982.

He started the 1983 season at AA Knoxville and was 2-1 with a 0.70 ERA in April, earning organizational Pitcher of the Month honors. Jimmy threw a 2-hitter on April 14 at Savannah. He was promoted to AAA Syracuse where he went 5-8, making his first professional relief appearance.

Key was invited to spring training in 1984 as a non-roster invitee. He was the only Blue Jays rookie to remain on the 25-man roster the entire season. He made his major league debut on April 6 at California, earning the win in an 11-5 victory. His first big league save came on April 13 at Texas in a 3-2 win.

His first major league season was spent in the bullpen. Key set the club rookie mark for saves (10) and the team record for games (63), ninth best in the American League.

1985 was his first year in the starting rotation. Jimmy went 14-6 with a 3.00 ERA. He ranked among AL leaders in ERA (4th), winning percentage (.700, 5th) and fewest walks per nine innings (2.1, 10th). He did not lose consecutive starts all season.

Jimmy made his starting debut on April 12, losing at Baltimore, 7-2. On May 1, he beat the Angels, 6-3, becoming the first Blue Jays left-handed starter to win since Paul Mirabella on October 4, 1980, at Boston, a span of 614 games. On May 20 Key tossed his first complete game against Chicago in a 6-1 win. On June 6 against Detroit he carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning and left after the tenth inning pitching a 2-hit shutout. 

From May 1 to June 27 he won six straight decisions. From June 1 to 16 he pitched 18 consecutive scoreless innings. Key pitched in the All-Star Game, retiring the only batter he faced.

After starting 1986 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA, Jimmy was 14-8 with a 2.70 ERA the rest of the way. He finished tied for fifth in the AL in starts (35) and 11th in ERA (3.57). He was 9-4 against clubs with a better than .500 record. The only home run he allowed by a left-handed batter was hit by Rich Gedman.

Jimmy threw his first career shutout against Chicago on May 22, tossing a 1-hitter. He allowed only a 5th inning single to Ozzie Guillen. He was 3-2 with a 2.09 ERA in June earning Labatt's Blue Pitcher of the Month honors. On July 10 against Seattle, he fanned a career best-tying 10 batters.

In 1987 Key was 17-8 with a league leading 2.76 ERA, finishing second in the AL Cy Young voting to Roger Clemens, and was named to Baseball America's AL all-star team. He was the Labatt's Blue Pitcher of the Year and earned three monthly Labatt's honors. He was named Alabama's Pro Athlete of the Year.

Key posted a career best six-game winning streak from July 16-September 25. He allowed three runs or less in 30 of 36 starts. He posted career bests in wins, innings (261.0), ERA and strikeouts (161) and averaged a team leading 7.1 innings per outing.

He pitched the 1988 season opener at Kansas City, earning the win in a 5-3 victory and becoming the first Blue Jay pitcher to win consecutive Opening Day starts. After an April 13 loss to the Yankees, Jimmy experienced soreness in his left elbow.

He was on the disabled list from April 15- June 29, undergoing arthroscopic surgery on May 4. The surgery, performed by Dr. James Andrews, removed two bone chips. He was on a medical rehabilitation stint at Dunedin from June 10-27.

Upon activation Jimmy won his first four starts. He was 3-1 with a 2.24 ERA in July, earning Labatt's Player of the Month honors. Jimmy finished fourth in the league in winning percentage (.706) and tied for eighth in shutouts (2). He participated in the Major League tour of Japan after the season.

In his third consecutive Opening Day assignment in 1989, Key won in Kansas City, 4-3, on April 3. He also beat KC in Toronto's final home opener at Exhibition Stadium, winning 3-0 on April 14. On April 24 at Oakland, he fanned a career best tying 10 batters. He pitched back-to-back complete games on May 10 and 15 against Seattle and Cleveland. Key won a season best four straight games from May 10-26 and held opponents to three earned runs or less in nine of his first 12 starts.

The Blue Jays starter in their SkyDome opener on June 5 against Milwaukee, he took the loss in a Toronto defeat. From May 31-August 3, Jimmy had a tough stretch, going 1-11 with a 5.74 ERA in 13 starts. Included was a career worst seven-game losing skid from June 25-August 3. From August 4-19 he was on the 15-day DL with mild inflammation of the left shoulder.

Upon his return Jimmy went 4-0 in his first four starts and won his first five decisions. He was 6-1 with a 3.40 ERA in his first nine starts after being reactivated.

Jimmy was the winning pitcher in the club's only victory in the ALCS (Game 3), a 7-3 win on October 6 against Oakland.  For the regular season, he ranked first in the American League in fewest walks per nine innings (1.1) and 10th in starts (33).

He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder on October 24. Performed by Dr. Andrews, the surgery was to repair a partial tear of the left rotator cuff.

Key went 4-1 in his first six starts of 1990. On May 22 at Oakland, he pulled a muscle in his right hamstring and was on the disabled list from May 23-June 22. Included was a three-start rehabilitation stint at Dunedin.

He posted a 2.12 ERA in July, followed by a 3-1 August that earned him Labatt's Blue Pitcher of the Month honors. On August 7 against Detroit, Key pitched a season high 8.1 innings. On September 14 against Baltimore, he pitched five innings of no-hit ball before leaving with a slight twinge in his right hamstring.

Jimmy won four of his last five decisions and was 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA in 17 starts upon activation from the DL. He had a 4:1 strikeout to walk ratio, tops among Blue Jay starters. He allowed just 22 walks in 154.2 innings, best on the club, and left-handed hitters batted hit just .182 against him.

In 1991 Jimmy was 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA in April. His highlights included a 2-hit shutout of the Brewers on April 14. From May 12-June 13 he won six consecutive decisions.

On June 13 against Cleveland he pitched a 2-hit shutout. Key made his 200th career start on June 29 against Seattle. He left in the 5th inning leading 2-0 when he was hit on the index finger by an Omar Vizquel line drive. From June 13-30, he had a string of 33.1 walkless innings.

Key was 3-1 with a 1.65 ERA in June, earning Labatt's Blue Pitcher of the Month honors. He was 10-4 with a 2.23 ERA at the break and made his second All-Star Game appearance, on July 9 at SkyDome, earning the win. On August 26 at Baltimore, he earned career win No. 100.

He was 13-6 while not allowing a home run and 11-6 on four days rest. His road earned run average of 2.64 was second best in the American League.

Jimmy attended Clemson University where he met his wife Cindy (also his agent). Both were at Clemson on athletic scholarships, Jimmy on baseball and Cindy on swimming. He was majoring in parks and recreation administration.

He was an All-Conference player in 1982 as a pitcher/designated hitter, leading the club in innings (116.0) and ERA (2.79) while compiling a 9-3 record. He was team MVP, named first-team Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher and designated hitter and was selected to the All-Regional team.

Jimmy had a career .300 batting average while hitting a school best 21 doubles. He pitched in the College World Series as a freshman and in the Regionals on two occasions.

He and Cindy made a substantial donation to H.E.L.P., an organization aiding New York City's homeless. The donation was matched by the Yankees.

Jimmy enjoys hunting and fishing.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide

Named American League Pitcher of the Year by the Sporting News, 1987.

Named left-handed pitcher on the Sporting News American League All-Star Team, 1987.

Led American League pitchers in earned run average (2.76), 1987.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide

James Edward Key "Jimmy" (P)     #22

Born April 22, 1961, in Huntsville, Alabama, resides in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Height: 6-1, Weight: 185. Bats right, throws left. Attended Clemson University. 

Married, Cindy (9/24/83), and father of Jordan (4). 

Major league service: 9 years, 0 days. Opening Day age: 31.

-1993 New York Yankees Information Guide