Who are the last 5 Blue Jays to have 200 hits in a single season?

4) Shannon Stewart - 202

You can make the argument that Shannon Stewart is not always appreciated for what he achieved during his time in Toronto. He was never named an All-Star in 10 seasons with the Blue Jays and the one time he led the league in anything, it was being caught stealing 14 times in 1999.

However, this cannot take away from the reality Stewart is one of the most accomplished bats in Blue Jays history. He is ranked fifth all-time in batting average, sixth in doubles, seventh in hits, triples and runs scored, as well as tied-ninth in on-base percentage. (You get the idea.)

Stewart arrived in Southern Ontario with high expectations, after being selected 19th overall in the 1992 draft. He didn't make his Major League debut until 1995, meaning he missed out on the chance at World Series glory.

The Cincinnati, Ohio native had his breakout year in 1998, during his first season as a regular starter. He hit 12 home runs, 55 RBI and a career-high 67 walks, on the way to a .279/.377/.417 slash line. (He also had a career-high 51 stolen bases.)

Stewart continued to grow in confidence at the plate, hitting .300 in each of the next two years. In 2000 specifically, he set career-highs for batting average, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage and OPS.

This all set the stage for the 2001 campaign, as the right-handed bat would begin his quest for 200 hits. The foundation was set early, helped by hitting at a near .400 pace during April and finishing with a 2001 single-month high of 39 hits.

Stewart looked well on course to reach 200 hits for the majority of the 2001 campaign. It was only towards the end when any doubt crept in, after recording 21 hits in September.

The left fielder entered October sitting on 193 hits, and with six games remaining. He kept Blue Jays fans on the edge of their seats with anticipation, before recording his 200th hit in the second-to-last game of the season.

Stewart would go on to be traded to Minnesota two seasons later, but was able to finish his Major League career with the Blue Jays in 2008. Whether appreciated or not, it cannot be denied he is one of a small group of Blue Jays to reach 200 hits in a season.

3) Paul Molitor - 211

Paul Molitor only played three season in Toronto, but Blue Jays fans still have a special place in their hearts for the man. Certainly he achieved a lot during his relatively short tenure in Southern Ontario.

Molitor's list of accomplishments included two All-Star selections and a Silver Slugger Award. Most importantly of course, was helping the Blue Jays win a second straight World Series.

Underlying the Hall of Famer's importance to the team, he was named MVP of the 1993 World Series. He hit two home runs and eight RBI during the six games versus the Phillies, on his way to a ridiculous .500/.571/1.000 slash line.

This topped off what was a remarkable season for Molitor and the Blue Jays. He was part of a lineup which struck fear into the opposition, featuring the likes of Olerud, Roberto Alomar and Joe Cater.

In respect of Molitor and Olerud, each brought out the best in the other during the 1993 season. As the year progressed, they were both in with a shot at 200 hits and their respective success pushed them both to achieve more.

For Molitor specifically, he started off the season slowly with 'only' 26 hits during April. However, he countered this with a 1993 single-month high of 43 in May, and he was off and running.

Helping the four-time Silver Slugger on his quest, was that he had already reached 200 hits twice in his magnificant 21-year Major League career. He would also go on to again achieve the feat in 1996 with a career-high 225 hits for the Twins.

Returning to 1993 though, Molitor reached the 200 plateau on September 22 in style, with three hits versus the Red Sox. He would go on to lead the Majors with 211 hits, and finish second in AL MVP voting behind Thomas.

2) Tony Fernández - 213

Tony Fernández passed away too soon, at the age of 57 in 2020. However, he left an indelible mark on the Blue Jays as the best shortstop in team history.

Fernández had a love affair with the city of Toronto, which saw him spend four spells with the Blue Jays. This included a second spell during the 1993 season, when he reached his much-deserved pinnacle as a World Series champion.

From an individual perspective, the five-time All-Star had several pinnacles. These include being inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and added to the Blue Jays Level of Excellence.

In terms of during his playing career, a lot of people would point to Fernández reaching 200 hits in 1986. He became the first Blue Jays to achieve this feat, with the 213 hits at the time setting a Major League record for a shortstop.

The switch-hitter had set himself up for a big season a year earlier, his first as a regular starter. He helped the Blue Jays qualify for their first-ever postseason with a team-record 99 wins, and to this day many fans believe they should have won the 1985 World Series.

Regardless, Fernández was geared up for a big season in 1986, although there was little indication early on of what was to come. With 23 hits during April, no one could have predicted he was going to have a record-breaking season with the bat.

After then however, the Dominican Republic-born player started to hit with more frequency. Adding more interest to the story, fellow countryman and teammate George Bell was making his own push for 200 hits. (The Hall of Famer would finish just short, at 198 hits.)

Fernández would finally reach the 200-mark on September 22 in Detroit, in a season where he earned his first All-Star selection and received some votes for AL MVP. He became the first Blue Jay to record 200 hits, and his mark of 2013 would stand for 17 years before being surpassed by number one on our list.

1) Vernon Wells - 215

Finally we come to Vernon Wells, who as well as holding the number one spot for most hits in a season, is the most recent to do it. Although we appreciate 20 years ago isn't that recent.

Wells sometimes gets a bad rap, due to the seven-year, $126 million USD contract extension he signed following the 2006 season. At the time it was the richest deal in Blue Jays history, and has since gone on to arguably become one of their worst due to how it played out.

However, if you are able to put the contract to one side, we are looking at a player who was one of the most productive in team history. In this respect, the three-time All-Star is near the top in a number of important categories.

More specifically, Wells is second in hits, RBI, doubles and total bases, third in runs and fourth in home runs. He's also fifth all-time among Blue Jays position players with a 28.7 WAR and fourth with a 30.3 offensive WAR.

Turning to individual campaigns, 2003 was the peak for the three-time Gold Glove Award winner. He set single-season career-highs for home runs, RBI, doubles, runs, total bases, slash line, OPS and OPS+.

It was a phenomenal season for Wells, who earned his first All-Star selection and one career Silver Slugger Award, while also receiving some AL MVP consideration. Among all this however, his number of hits might well have been the crowning achievement.

As was the case with a number of other players on this list, the centre fielder didn't begin the season as if he was going to achieve something extra special. Not that 28 hits during April (plus one in March) was anything shabby!

Wells caught fire the following two months, with 39 and 41 hits in May and June respectively. A combined 71 hits in the next couple of months, put him at 180 hits with still one month to go in the season.

The 1997 fifth overall draft pick reached the 200-mark on September 16, in Detroit. With that out of the way and still 12 games remaining, he could now take aim at Fernández's all-time record.

Wells was able to equal Fernández's 213 hits with three games to go, surpassing it a day later to set the new standard of 215. Whether anyone ever beats this remains to be seen, although it could be worth putting some money on Bichette, especially if he sticks around for the long-term.