Toronto Blue Jays Poll: Best Hitter of All Time, Round 1

Joe Carter Level of Excellence- S Doyle

Matchup 3: Lloyd Moseby vs Joe Carter

The Shaker leads the Toronto Blue Jays with 255 stolen bases in 10 seasons with the club. He stole 30+ 5 times in a row from ’84-’89. He also stole 24+ 2 other times. He’d go on to play two more seasons in Detroit and add 25 more over those final years. His speed was his calling card. He also tallied 15 triples in 1984. He won a Silver Slugger in 1983, hitting 18 HR, 81 RBI and 31 doubles.

In 1978, the Blue Jays drafted Moseby 2nd overall. The Braves selected Bob Horner ahead of him. For his career, Moseby is a 26 WAR player who put up his best offensive season in 1983 with a wRC+ of 135, hitting .315. As a center fielder, his ZR sits at 12 for his career, but was as high as 20 in 1984.

Carter came to the Blue Jays from the San Diego Padres in what many call the franchise altering deal heading into the 1991 season. After coming over to Toronto, he appeared in 1039 games over 7+ seasons. At the time of the trade he’d put up two straight seasons of playing in 162 games with the Indians and Padres. He’d repeat that in 1991, his first season with the club and first as an All Star. He’s a 5 time All Star and 2 time Silver Slugger winner who finished as high as 3rd in MVP voting in 1992.

Joltin’ Joe was not known for his glove. At all. He was a big bat the Blue Jays enjoyed in the prime of its career. He’s 4th on the all time HR list with 203. But, none of that really matters because he will never have to buy dinner in Toronto again after hitting the walk off World Series blast against the Phillies in 1993. That laser to LF gave the Blue Jays their 2nd championship in a row and Canada its first MLB championship won on home soil. It was the setting for arguably the greatest call in Blue Jays history: “Touch ’em all, Joe. You’ll never hit a bigger home run in your life.”

Next: Matchup 4: Stewart vs Upshaw