Lloyd Moseby Inducted Into Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
It was recently announced that Lloyd Moseby has been inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. This makes it the perfect time to look back at the Blue Jays career of the one they called Shaker.
Moseby was taken with the second overall pick in the 1978 draft. He needed only 233 games in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut in 1980. It's easy to see why he made quick work of the minors, he hit .322/.417/.521 with speed and impressive defence.
The quick ascent to the majors wasn't without growing pains. As a 20 year old rookie he hit just .229/.281/.365 with below average defence. It all added up to -0.9 fWAR. The next 2 seasons weren't much better with a .235/.287/.364 batting line, but much improved defence.
In 1983 it all clicked for Moseby. He hit .315/.376/.499 good for a 135 wrc+, the best of his career. He became the first Blue Jay to score 100 runs in a season, finishing with 104. At the end of the year he was awarded the Silver Slugger as the league's best hitting center fielder. He went 27 of 35 on the basepaths and was once again solid with the glove. This began a half decade where Moseby was one of the best center fielders in baseball. Between 1983 and 1987 Moseby's 22.0 fWAR ranked 4th among all center fielders. Future Cooperstown Hall of Famers Robin Yount, Andre Dawson and Kirby Puckett all ranked just below Moseby during this time period.
1984 ranks as Moseby's best season and it remains one of the best all around seasons in Blue Jays history. He smashed 18 home runs with 92 RBI and 97 runs scored. He stole a career high 39 bases and led the league with 15 triples. His 6.9 fWAR led all outfielders that year. 1984 was also his best defensive season and he was most likely robbed of a gold glove. Dave Winfield and Dwight Evans took home two of the AL outfield gold glove despite having some of the worst defensive numbers in the entire league. Moseby's 20.0 Def was the second most among all outfielders in baseball.
Moseby is famous for being a part of probably the best outfield in Blue Jays history. George Bell and Jesse Barfield flanked Moseby to form one of the most fearsome outfields of the mid-80s. Between 1983 and 1987 the trio combined for 62 fWAR.
During his 10 years in Toronto he hit .257/.333/.415 with 149 home runs and 255 stolen bases. Moseby ranks tied for 5th with Vernon Wells on the Blue Jays all-time fWAR list with 24.6. His 255 stolen bases are the most in club history. He left the Jays as the team's all-time runs leader and currently sits in 4th place. He also ranks 8th in home runs, 7th in RBI, 4th in doubles, 2nd in triples, 3rd in walks and 4th in hits. His 3348 putouts are tops among Blue Jays outfielders.
Since retiring, Moseby has been very active in Blue Jays baseball camps. I had the pleasure of volunteering at a baseball camp where he was a coach and he was just wonderful with the children. He was always smiling and joking around and provided great instruction to the kids.
He is also responsible for one of the best base running blunders in baseball history. He shows off his great personality in the way he laughs off the mistake. Lloyd Moseby, a true Blue Jays legend.
