Blue Jays: Who had the best offensive three-year stretch?

Toronto Blue Jays’ first baseman Carlos Delgado(L) talks with first base coach Garth Iorg during the last inning of the game vs. Seattle Mariners in Toronto, Canada, 11 May, 2001. Seattle won the game 7:2. AFP PHOTO/ ZORAN BOZICEVIC (Photo by ZORAN BOZICEVIC / AFP) (Photo by ZORAN BOZICEVIC/AFP via Getty Images)

1. Carlos Delgado – 1998-2000 and 2001-2003

Young Blue Jay fans have probably heard of Carlos Delgado and know he was great, but I don’t think a lot of them know how truly amazing he was. Delgado is the only player in franchise history to post an OPS above 1.000 over a three-year span, which was between 1998-2000 when it was listed at 1.022, along with a slash line of .303/.413/.609. He recorded more doubles (139) and RBI (386) than any other player while collecting 123 home runs, which fell just one shy of Jose Bautista’s run from 2010-2012.

During the seasons from 1998 to 2000, Delgado won two Silver Slugger Awards and finished fourth in AL-MVP voting in 2000 in a season where he hit 57 doubles and 41 home runs. During that span, he averaged 46 doubles, 41 home runs and 129 RBI per season.

Unlike almost every other player on this list, Delgado was able to have a nearly identical three-year span after 2000. From 2001 until 2003, he had an OPS of .974, which trailed only his own previous record and Jose Bautista’s time from 2010-2012 for the highest in franchise history over three consecutive seasons. While his numbers were slightly down from his previous mark, he still recorded 103 doubles and 114 home runs while posting a slash line of .286/.413/.561. He would also claim his third Silver Slugger award in 2003 while also finishing second in AL-MVP voting in a season where he led the American League in RBI (145).

The Blue Jays now have a group of players that could find themselves competing with some of these greats. Who had the best three years from your memory?

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