When it comes to No. 1, the Blue Jays have never exactly treated it like a superstar’s calling card. The number has long gravitated toward contact hitters and steady, defense-first infielders, and Toronto’s history fits that mold almost perfectly.
That pattern goes back to the beginning of jersey numbers in the majors. When the Yankees and Indians first added them in 1929, they assigned them by batting order, which meant Indians shortstop Jackie Tavener and Yankees center fielder Earl Combs - each club’s leadoff man - got No.
- From there, the number settled into a lane of its own, usually worn by players valued more for glove work and table-setting than for raw power.
The Hall of Fame group to wear it backs that up. Richie Ashburn, Bobby Doerr, Pee Wee Reese and Ozzie Smith all wore No. 1, with three infielders and a center fielder among them, all known for their defense.
Toronto’s first player to wear the number was Bob Bailor, who also happened to be the franchise’s first pick in the 1976 Expansion Draft. Claimed from Baltimore, Bailor was mostly an outfielder, but he also saw time at shortstop and third base over his four seasons with the Jays.
The real answer, though, is Tony Fernandez.
Fernandez wore No. 1 across multiple stretches with Toronto - 1983 to 1990, then again in 1993, 1998-1999 and 2001 - and piled up 37.5 bWAR in a Jays uniform. Signed in 1979 by legendary scout Epy Guerrero, he reached the majors as a September callup in 1983 and had locked down the starting shortstop job by 1985.
From there, he became one of the defining infielders in team history. Fernandez won four Gold Gloves, earned five All-Star selections, and built his reputation on elite range, sure hands and those quick, rainbow throws to first that seemed to beat runners by a split second. He was also a patient hitter who walked nearly as often as he struck out, and his speed added another layer, whether he was taking the extra base or stealing one.
His offensive peak with Toronto came late in his first run back with the club. In 1998 and 1999, Fernandez posted the two best offensive seasons of his career, reached base at the highest clip he ever managed, and hit 15 of his 94 career home runs.
He was also part of the Blue Jays’ 1993 World Series title team, going 7-21 in the series and driving in 9 runs as a key piece of the lineup. Toronto had earlier sent Fernandez and Fred McGriff to the Padres in the blockbuster deal that brought Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter north.
Fernandez’s life off the field was shaped by his deep religious faith, so much so that the Blue Jays front office sometimes wondered if he might step away after a season to begin ministry while he was still in his prime. He received only 4 votes for Cooperstown and dropped off the ballot in 2008, but he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. Fernandez died in 2020 after complications from polycystic kidney disease.
After Fernandez, the other Blue Jays to wear No. 1 were Orlando Hudson from 2002 to 2005, Bob Bailor from 1977 to 1980, Joe Inglett from 2007 to 2009 and Aledmys Díaz in 2018.
In Other News...
Toronto Just Gave Bo Bichette A Tribute Jays Fans Will Feel
For a few days while the Mets are in Toronto, Bo Bichettes name is getting a very different kind of tribute than a standing ovation at Rogers Centre. Animl Steakhouse has rolled out The Bo Dog, a $126 hot dog built around a wagyu wiener and dressed up with truffle corn relish, butter-poached lobster and seared foie gras, turning a ballpark staple into a high-end nod to a former Blue Jays fan favorite.
The limited-run item is available from June 29 to July 1, which gives Toronto fans a short window to take part in the tribute while Bichette is back in town with his new club. There is also a charitable angle attached to the novelty: all proceeds from sales of The Bo Dog will be donated to Bichettes charity that supports children with disabilities, giving the stunt a little more purpose than just a headline-grabbing menu item. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays May Be Headed For A Deadline Call Fans Dread
Torontos front office is in the kind of midseason spot no contender wants to occupy, with the standings leaving the Blue Jays weighing whether to stay the course or start thinking ahead. Kevin Gausman sits at the center of that conversation. He is the sort of veteran starter who usually draws attention in July because of his track record and his expiring contract, making him the kind of arm rival clubs check on fast if they believe he might become available.
Nothing has been decided yet, and that matters because Toronto still has time to change the equation. If the Blue Jays can steady themselves and push back into the playoff picture, Gausman would be much easier to keep in place. If the slide continues, though, the deadline could force a choice the organization would rather avoid, with one of its most trusted starters suddenly becoming part of a much bigger long-term discussion. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Keep Falling Into A Hole They Can't Afford
The Blue Jays keep digging early holes, and it has become one of the most costly habits in a stretch that already feels too familiar. Toronto has allowed a run in the first inning in seven straight games and has been outscored 14-1 in those frames, a jarring trend for a team that has spent much of the year trying to survive long enough to let its lineup and bullpen settle things down later.
There is still a counterargument for the Jays, because they have found ways to rally often enough to stay afloat, with 20 come-from-behind wins tied for ninth in the majors. But recent series results have put more pressure on every sluggish start, and with another tough test ahead, Toronto cannot keep leaning on recovery mode forever if it wants to stop turning routine nights into uphill climbs. [Read more 🡒]