The top 10 Toronto Blue Jays Players of the 2010’s

8. John Gibbons: 2013-2018

Yes, I realize I’m cheating. John Gibbons is not a player, but it’s my list and I can do what I want with it. Gibbons was an integral part of this decade and has been a big part of the organization as a whole. This was his second stint as the boss, as he also managed the Blue Jays from 2004-2008 before being fired by general manager J.P. Ricciardi.

Gibbons was known for being a players manager, although he certainly wasn’t one to shy away from confrontation or let the guys know when they weren’t meeting expectations. Paired with his fiery Texas personality, Gibbons was thrown out of 53 ballgames in his managerial career, which lands him 20th all-time. It’s said that players like when their manager comes to bat for them, and Gibbons certainly did that. In 2015, he finished fourth in Manager of the Year voting after steering the Blue Jays to a 93-69 record and its first postseason berth since 1993.

With his slow drawl, slouching on the dugout bench, and click-worthy postgame comments such as the one below, #Gibbythebest became beloved in his second tenure with the Blue Jays. Overall, Gibby amassed a 488-484 record and two postseason appearances in the 2010’s before departing the team as a mutual decision after the 2018 season. In total, Gibbons managed more than 1,500 games for this organization.