Jesse Barfield   |   Major Leaguer   1981-1992

[1982] - AL Rookie of the Year (Voting Rank: #8)  [1985] - AL MVP (Voting Rank: #7)  [1986] - AL Silver Slugger Award (OF), AL Gold Glove Award (OF), AL MVP (Voting Rank: #5), Played in MLB All-Star Game  [1987] - AL Gold Glove Award (OF)

All conversations about Jesse Barfield begin and end with his powerful right arm. Considered to have the best outfield arm of the 1980s and one of the best all times, Barfield threw out 22 runner in 1985, 20 in 1986 and more than 15 at least 5 other times during his career despite the fact that his reputation dissuaded runners from testing or daring him to throw them out. Barfield led the league in throwing out runners for 7 of his 9 full major league seasons.

Barfield wasn't only about throwing runners out. He was part of one of the best all-around outfields of the 1980s with Lloyd Moseby and George Bell. He was drafted in the 9th round out of high school by the Blue Jays in 1977 and put up some decent numbers in the minor leagues, his power numbers growing from year to year. He started out as a platoon player with the Blue Jays, playing against lefties and some righties and in 1985, he earned the opportunity to play every day and he didn't disappoint.

Barfield opened up some eyes in 1983 when he hit 27 home runs in only 388 at bats. He repeated the feat again in 1985 and broke through towards superstar status at the age of 26 in 1986 when he hit 40 home runs, drove in 108 and hit .289, all career hights. Barfield batted 5th or 6th in the lineup for the Blue Jays and had ample opportunity to drive in some runs on some good Blue Jay teams. After a good year in 1987, the batting average began to drop and in 1989, Barfield was traded to the New York Yankees for youngster Al Leiter.

His stint with the Yankees lasted for 3.5 seasons and he never regained the form he had in Toronto and he was out of baseball after 1992 after hitting only .137.

He was the first Blue Jays player ever to steal more than 20 bases in the same year when he hit more than 20 home runs when he accomplished the feat in 1985 but he never stole more than 8 bases in any other year.

According to "Where Have All Our Yankees Gone?: Past The Pinstripes", by Brian Jensen, Jesse Barfield is a professional draftsman and furniture designer who holds 28 U.S. patents. Barfield's career went into severe decline following a hamate bone (wrist) injury received when slipping in a hot tub. Barfield has also served as a coach at the Major League level for his hometown Houston Astros.

Notes: Played in 1 all-star game during his career (1986) ...Gold glove winner in 1986 and 1987...Silver slugger in 1986...5th in AL MVP voting in 1986 and 7th in 1985...Led AL in home runs in 1986 with 40...Father of Josh Barfield...Finished in 4th place in the Home Run Derby at the 1986 all-star game.

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