Top 5 first basemen in Blue Jays franchise history by WAR

3. Fred McGriff (19.4 bWAR)

The Crime Dog made Blue Jays baseball cool. In a completely lop-sided trade between the Yankees and Blue Jays, McGriff would end up becoming a staple in 1980's Jays history. He spent just 4 seasons with the club, but made his mark very well known, as he hit .278/,389/.530 with a 153 OPS+. McGriff finished top 10 in MVP voting 3 consecutive years for the Jays, even taking home a Silver Slugger award in one year. He was one of the underrated players of his era, and one of the most fun guys to watch during his Jays tenure.

McGriff was then moved along with beloved shortstop Tony Fernandez in a trade for 2B Roberto Alomar and OF Joe Carter. Needless to say, it worked out well but McGriff's importance to the Jays cannot be understated. He took the mantle from Willie Upshaw, who had also had a solid tenure with the Jays, and elevated their status to another level in his short stint in Toronto.

McGriff has recently been inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the veterans, which had been long overdue for a player of his caliber. He opted not to go in wearing a cap as he felt he should represent each of the teams he's played for equally. He played his best years in Toronto, won a World Series in Atlanta, and was one of the earliest starts in the Tampa Bay franchise, so it's reasonable to hear, and at the end of it all, Jays fans are simply happy to see the Crime Dog finally make the hall after a great career.