Blue Jays: Best players in franchise history to wear jersey numbers 0-10

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The Toronto Blue Jays have had many exciting players in their organization over the years.

Some were here for a good time, others for a long time, but they all represented the logo on the front of the jersey.

On the back, where the name and number go, is a different story. Here are the best players in franchise history wearing numbers 0-10.

#0 – Al Oliver

No, Oliver didn’t have a long stretch with the Jays, he finished his career with a 61-game stint with the team back in 1985, but he was the only player to have worn 0, so he gets the nod.

Again, not a lot of choice here. Just two players, Walker and Cliff Johnson (in his second go-round with the Jays) wore double-zero. Walker gets the slight edge, after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners he went 2-1 with a 1.37 ERA and helped the club make the playoffs in the bizarre 2020 season.

#1 - Tony Fernández

Plenty of notable names have worn number one, and Whit Merrifield will wear it in 2023 but the best to wear the numero uno must be Tony Fernández, who won four Gold Gloves, made four All-Star teams, and amassed 37.5 WAR over three stretches with Toronto, spanning 12 seasons.

#2 - Aaron Hill

Aaron Hill was solid as a rock for the franchise for six-plus seasons from 2005-2011. He had one spectacular season in 2009 when his bat went crazy to the tune of 36 home runs, 108 RBI and 4.5 WAR. Although he wouldn’t approach those numbers again, Hill will be remembered fondly by Jays fans.

#3 - Reed Johnson

Reed Johnson had a good run as a member of the Blue Jays in the mid-2000s but his career really took off when he swapped out jersey number 37. Johnson wore three from 2005-2007 and had his best season in 2006 with a .319/.479/.869 slash line with 12 homers, 34 doubles, and 5.1 WAR.

#4 - George Springer

This was a tough one for me. Alfredo Griffin was one of the Jays' early stars, the 1979 AL Rookie of the Year, and named an All-Star in 1984. Manuel Lee was a key role player and gave Griffin his old number four back for the World Series run in 1992. George Springer has the unique distinction of being a key figure in team history and a current player, thanks in large part to the franchise-record six-year, $150M contract prior to the 2021 season.

#5 - Rance Mulliniks

Mulliniks was traded to the Blue Jays just before the 1982 season and immediately became an impact player. His best years were from 1983-1988 when Mulliniks had a collective OPS of .832 (OPS+ 124), averaging nearly 30 doubles and 10 home runs a season despite never coming close to 400 at-bats. He was part of a memorable and productive platoon at third base with Garth Iorg and later, Kelly Gruber.

#6 - Marcus Stroman

Marcus Stroman was an electrifying presence on the mound for the Jays from 2014-2019. After an impressive rookie season, Stroman suffered a torn ACL injury in spring Training the following year but rallied to recover in time for that season’s playoff run. He eclipsed the 200-inning mark in 2016 and 2017 and was named an All-Star in 2019.

#7 - Tony Batista

Batista joined the Blue Jays in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, with reliever Dan Plesac going the other way. Known for his unique batting stance which saw Batista facing the pitcher before turning his hips towards the plate with his back foot stretched away. As interesting as it was to watch Tony before pitches, he had plenty of fun once the ball was in motion too. He launched 41 homers in 2000 and a total of 80 for his Jays career.

#8 - Álex González

Alex Gonzalez was an integral member of the post-World Series teams that had plenty of character but not quite enough wins. He was more known for his defence at shortstop than his batting abilities. Gonzalez’s best season was in 2000 when he hit .253 with 15 homers, 31 doubles, and 69 RBI. He was also immortalized in those iconic, very 90s milk moustache commercials.

#9 - John Olerud

Another number with plenty of worthy candidates, especially catchers. J.P. Arencibia, Gregg Zaun, Darrin Fletcher, and, currently, Danny Jansen all wore or wear number nine, but the top spot goes to the man with perhaps the sweetest swing in team history. He had the otherworldly 1993 season, leading the American League in batting average, doubles, OPS, leading to a top-three MVP finish and a World Series title.

#10 - Vernon Wells/Edwin Encarnación

Just couldn’t pick one here. Vernon Wells broke in with Toronto in 1999 but didn’t get much playing time until 2002 when he busted out with 23 homers and 100 RBI. He’d go on to win three Gold Glove awards, make two All-Star appearances, and go deep 223 times, fourth-most in franchise history.

When Edwin Encarnación was acquired in a trade midway through the 2009 season, he was something of an unknown. Sure, he had a 26-homer season under his belt, but he was also primarily a third baseman at that time. While he was unable to stay at third base, Encarnacion became one of the most adored sluggers around. Five straight season of 30-plus bombs, including 42 in 2012 and 2017 will put “Edwing” in Jays' lore for good.

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