Former Blue Jays Pitcher Jim Clancy Passes Away at 69
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By Harry Kettle
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Summary:
- Jim Clancy, one of the initial Toronto Blue Jays and a fan favorite during the team’s early years, has died at age 69.
- Career highlights include 12 seasons with Toronto, where he made the All-Star team in and brought the club its first AL East crown.
- Clancy later wrapped up his activity with stints in Houston (Astros) and Atlanta (Braves).
Jim Clancy, one of the original Toronto Blue Jays and a steady presence on the baseball mound through the team’s formative years, has passed away at the age of 69.
The Blue Jays shared the news Monday on social media but didn’t say what caused his death.
12 Seasons with the Blue Jays
Clancy spent 12 full seasons in Toronto, turning into one of the club’s most reliable starters as a familiar name to fans as the young franchise found its footing.
His long journey with the Jays began in 1976 when the team selected him sixth overall in the expansion draft. Next came his major league debut the next summer at Exhibition Stadium.
While his night didn’t go all that well, as he gave up five runs in two innings during a lopsided loss to Texas, it did mark the start of a long and respectable career.
Clancy went 4–9 during that inaugural 1977 season, then came back the following year to notch 10 wins, even though the Blue Jays still finished in last place.
As the team began to turn things around in the early ’80s, Clancy and Dave Stieb became the anchors of Toronto’s rotation. He was so trusted by the organization that he got the nod as Opening Day starter not once, but twice, first in 1981 and again in 1984.
All-Star Appearance
In 1982, Clancy had the best year of his career, as he became an All-Star and went 16–14 while maintaining his Earned Run Average (ERA) at around 3.71, and striking out no less than 139 batters.
His performance assisted the Blue Jays in rising up from the pit of the AL East standings.
Just three years later, in 1985, he made it into the franchise’s first division-winning team and went 9–6 with a 3.78 ERA. Sadly, Toronto came up just inches away from making it into the playoffs after losing a tough seven-game series to the Royals in the American League Championship Series.
At the end of 12 fun and lucrative seasons spent in Toronto, Clancy finally left for Houston following a rough 1988 campaign. He spent two seasons with the Astros before finishing his career in Atlanta in 1991, pitching out of the Braves’ bullpen.
That year, he picked up his only postseason win in memorable fashion, throwing in extra innings of Game 3 of the World Series as Atlanta edged Minnesota, 5–4.
His team may not have won the series, but Jim Clancy’s performance has remained one for the books.
During his big league career that extended over more than 15 years, the right-hander managed to rack up a whopping 140 wins and 1,422 strikeouts.
However, for Blue Jays fans, his legacy goes beyond the numbers, as he will always be remembered as a steady, reliable presence and one of the key players who helped lay the foundation for the franchise in its early years.
His impact on our organization will be remembered forever. Our hearts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time
