The Toronto Blue Jays' Top 10 Individual Pitching Seasons in Franchise History

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TORONTO - APRIL 6:A view of the Blue Jays banners taken during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre April 6, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

The Toronto Blue Jays have had a storied history since the franchise's inception in 1977. The Jays were MLB's best franchise from 1983-1993, and the rosters included numerous star pitchers.

These players ranged from Dave Stieb to Jack Morris, Jimmy Key to Tom Henke, and many more.

The Jays brought life to baseball fans in Toronto with their amazing play during the early 1990s, a period that saw them win two consecutive World Series championships in 1992 and 1993.

In this list, I count down the top 10 best individual pitching seasons in the history of the Toronto Blue Jays.

10. Juan Guzman (1992)

27 Feb 1998: Pitcher Juan Guzman of the Toranto Blue Jays delivers a pitch during a spring traing match against the Philadelphia Phillies at Grant Field in Dunedin, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Craig Melvin /Allsport

Stats: 16-5, 2.64 ERA, 28 GS, 180.2 IP, 165 K, 1.146 WHIP

Guzman was an integral part of the World Series-winning rotations, as proven by his season in 1992 at just 25 years of age. Guzman had electric stuff but was somewhat an enigma with the Jays, as he was very inconsistent.

Guzman also struggled to stay healthy, but his 5-1 postseason record with the Jays is what matters the most.

9. Tom Henke (1987)

1990: Pitcher Tom Henke of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during a game. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport

Stats: 34 Saves, 2.49 ERA, 72 Games, 92 IP, 128 K, 0.926 WHIP

The best closer in Toronto Blue Jays history, Henke had many magnificent seasons with the Jays before leaving the team for Texas after winning the 1992 World Series.

Tom Henke carried his excellent play into the postseason, racking up a career 1.83 ERA in 19.2 innings of work.

8. Dave Stieb (1985)

1990: Pitcher Dave Stieb of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during a game. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport

Stats: 14-13, 2.48 ERA, 36 GS, 265 IP, 167 K, 1.140 WHIP

Originally an outfielder, the Jays told Stieb that they would draft him if he converted into a pitcher, and that could not have turned out much better than it did.

Stieb was the Jays' first true star and came within one out of a no-hitter three times before he accomplished the feat against the Cleveland Indians.

Fortunately, Stieb was able to hang around long enough to win the 1992 World Series with the team, although he did not pitch in the postseason.

7. Duane Ward (1993)

Duane Ward of the Toronto Blue Jays. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule Jr./ALLSPORT

Stats: 45 Saves, 2.13 ERA, 71 G, 71.2 IP, 97 K, 1.033 WHIP

Duane Ward really took advantage of his opportunity to be closer once Tom Henke left after the 1992 season.

Always the setup man before the 1993 season, Ward dominated hitters and ended up leading the league in saves.

Before the 1993 season, you had better hope you were winning after six innings when playing the Jays, because the one-two combo of Henke and Ward was the best in the league and could shut any team down.

6. Roy Halladay (2003)

ANAHEIM, CA - JULY 05: Roy Halladay #32 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angels Stadium on July 5, 2008 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

Stats: 22-7, 3.25 ERA, 36 GS, 266 IP, 204 K, 1.071 WHIP

The best pitcher in franchise history, Halladay had an amazing 2003 season and won the American League Cy Young Award in a landslide over Esteban Loaiza for his efforts.

In 2003, Halladay led the league in wins, starts, innings pitched, complete games, shutouts, and strikeout/walk ratio, proving that Halladay was way ahead of the rest of the pitchers.

5. Pat Hentgen (1996)

26 Feb 1998: Pitcher Pat Hentgen of the Toronto Blue Jays in action during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at the McKechnie Field in Dunedin, Florida. The Twins defeated the Blue Jays 3-1. Mandatory Credit: David Seelig /Allsport

Stats: 20-10, 3.22 ERA, 35 GS, 265.2 IP, 177 K, 1.250 WHIP

Pat Hentgen became the first Toronto Blue Jay to win the Cy Young Award with his 1996 season. This was the first of three straight years that a Toronto pitcher would win the award.

Hentgen led the league in complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, and home runs per nine innings. He just barely beat out Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees for the Cy Young.

4. Roy Halladay (2008)

TORONTO - JULY 20: Roy Halladay #32 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the 2nd inning against the New York Yankees on July 20, 2006 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Stats: 20-11, 2.78 ERA, 33 GS, 246 IP, 206 K, 1.053 WHIP

Roy Halladay was a complete pitcher in 2008, striking out hitters with more regularity to go with the amazing number of groundball outs his sinking fastball induced.

Halladay would have won his second Cy Young if not for a pitcher named Cliff Lee pitching way over his head.

Halladay led the league in complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, WHIP, and strikeouts per walk.

3. Jimmy Key (1987)

4 Oct 1997: Pitcher Jimmy Key of the Baltimore Orioles throws the ball during a game against the Seattle Mariners at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. The Mariners won the game, 4-2.

Stats: 17-8, 2.76 ERA, 36 GS, 261 IP, 161 SO, 1.057 WHIP

Easily Jimmy Key's best season as a Toronto Blue Jay, the left-hander was the ace for the Jays in 1987, and he just missed out on becoming the first Jay to win the Cy Young award, losing it to Roger Clemens.

Key led the league in ERA, ERA-plus, WHIP, and hits per nine innings.

2. Roger Clemens (1998)

5 Jul 1998: Pitcher Roger Clemens #21 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action during a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the Sky Dome in Toronto, Canada. The Blue Jays defeated the Devil Rays 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport

Stats: 20-6, 2.65 ERA, 33 GS, 234.2 IP, 271 SO, 1.095 WHIP

Roger Clemens was a man on a mission during his short tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays were able to sign Clemens because the Red Sox thought he was getting too old to be an effective pitcher.

In his second and final season with the Jays, Clemens led the league in wins, ERA, strikeouts, ERA-plus, hits per nine innings, home runs per nine innings, and strikeouts per nine innings.

1. Roger Clemens (1997)

5 Jul 1998: Pitcher Roger Clemens #21 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates during a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the Sky Dome in Toronto, Canada. The Blue Jays defeated the Devil Rays 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport

Stats: 21-7, 2.05 ERA, 34 GS, 264 IP, 292 SO, 1.030 WHIP

Throughout the entire history of the Toronto Blue Jays, no pitching season comes close to the one Roger Clemens had in his first year as a Jay during the 1997 season.

Clemens led the league in wins, ERA, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, strikeouts, ERA plus, WHIP, and strikeouts per nine innings.

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