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

By David Corcoran

TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 8: A new banner is unveiled above the jumbotron marking the Toronto Blue Jays division championship after winning the American League East title before the start of action against the Texas Rangers in Game One of the American League Division Series during the 2015 MLB Playoffs at Rogers Centre on October 8, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 8: A new banner is unveiled above the jumbotron marking the Toronto Blue Jays division championship after winning the American League East title before the start of action against the Texas Rangers in Game One of the American League Division Series during the 2015 MLB Playoffs at Rogers Centre on October 8, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 23: Paul Molitor of the Toronto Blue Jays, World Series MVP, celebrates the Blue Jays victory during World Series game six between the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays on October 23, 1993 at the Skydome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays defeated the Phillies 8-6. (Photo by Rich Pilling/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 23: Paul Molitor of the Toronto Blue Jays, World Series MVP, celebrates the Blue Jays victory during World Series game six between the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays on October 23, 1993 at the Skydome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays defeated the Phillies 8-6. (Photo by Rich Pilling/Getty Images) /

2. Paul Molitor (1993-1995)

During the 1992 World Series victory, the Blue Jays had veteran Dave Winfield on the team but he left in free agency at the conclusion of the Victory Parade.  This led to an open spot for the Blue Jays to bring in a veteran player at DH, which led to them signing 36-year old Paul Molitor to a three-year deal.  To be honest, I knew at the time Molitor was a great player, but I also thought he was on his last legs; to be clear, he did not play like his career was winding down at all, he was one of the best players in the league over that time frame.

In his first season with the Blue Jays, Molitor finished second in AL MVP voting, won a Silver Slugger, led the league in hits and trailed only teammate John Olerud in batting average.  In the regular season, Molitor posted a slash line of .332/.402/.509 and believe it or not that was nothing compared to what he did in the postseason.  During the American League Championship, Molitor went 9 for 23 (.391) with four extra-base hits, but again that wasn’t the best part of his season.  In the World Series, Molitor went 11 for 24 (.458) with seven extra-base hits over six games, while registering three walks to no strikeouts on his way to World Series MVP and his first championship ring.

Some may have wondered if Molitor would regress as he was getting older in 1994, but he was just as good.  The strike caused the 1994 season to end early, but through 115 games that season, Molitor was on pace for another 20-home run and 100 RBI season, while posting a slash line slightly higher than the season before.  Molitor would regress in the 1995 campaign which was caused more due to injury but still posted elite-level numbers.  Molitor would leave Toronto after his three seasons, but if you incorporate what he did in the 1993 playoffs, Molitor may have had the greatest three seasons in franchise history.  Over his three years in a Blue Jays uniform, Molitor posted a slash line of .315/.387/.484, while averaging 20 home runs, 97 RBI and 18 stolen bases per season.

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