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James Edward "Jimmy" Key (born April 22, 1961 in Huntsville, Alabama) was a left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Over the span of his 15 major league seasons, Key has had 12 seasons where he has won 12 or more games. The bulk of his career was with the Toronto Blue Jays. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... mcv ... April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) East Division (1977–present) Current uniform Name Toronto Blue Jays (1977–present) Ballpark Rogers Centre (f. ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 4,5,8,20,22,33,42 Name Baltimore Orioles (1954–present) St. ... In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. ... Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn strikes out swinging to Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz (not pictured). ... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) East Division (1977–present) Current uniform Name Toronto Blue Jays (1977–present) Ballpark Rogers Centre (f. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 4,5,8,20,22,33,42 Name Baltimore Orioles (1954–present) St. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... James Key is the technical director of Spyker F1. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... Nickname: Rocket City Watercress Capital of the World Coordinates: Country United States State Alabama County Madison, Limestone Government  - Mayor Loretta Spencer Area  - City 174. ... mcv ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) East Division (1977–present) Current uniform Name Toronto Blue Jays (1977–present) Ballpark Rogers Centre (f. ...

Retired from baseball, Key is married wife Karin and lives in North Salem, New York. The Balanced Rock, a North Salem landmark North Salem is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. ...

Career

Butler High School

Jimmy Key's baseball career began in high school in Huntsville, Alabama. Key was a lefthander with a 10-0 record. He had nine shutouts and a 0.30 ERA his senior season. Key also batted .410 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs in his high school career.

Clemson University Tigers (1980-1982)

Key posted a 9-3 record at Clemson and 2.79 ERA on the mound. As a hitter Key batted at .300 with 21 doubles. Key is the only Clemson player to be a member of the first-team All-ACC in two positions (pitcher and DH) in 1982. Key pitched the opening game of the 1980 College World Series. 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Toronto Blue Jays (1984-1992)

Key was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 3rd round of the 1982 amateur draft. His minor league season began in 1982 when he played for Florence Blue Jays (5-2 with 3.72 ERA) of the South Atlantic League and the Medicine Hat Blue Jays (2-1 with 2.30 ERA) of the Pioneer League. Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) East Division (1977–present) Current uniform Name Toronto Blue Jays (1977–present) Ballpark Rogers Centre (f. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Florence Blue Jays of Florence, South Carolina began play in the South Atlantic League in 1981. ... The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league which operates mostly in the southeastern United States, although it now has teams in New Jersey and Ohio. ... The Medicine Hat Blue Jays was a rookie-level Pioneer League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays from 1977 to 2003. ...

In 1983 Key split his time with the Knoxville Blue Jays (6-5 - 2.85 ERA) and Syracuse Chiefs (4-8 - 4.13 ERA) before heading to Toronto. The Knoxville Smokies were a minor league baseball team based in Knoxville, Tennessee. ... The Syracuse SkyChiefs are a minor league baseball team based in Syracuse, New York, once known as simply the Syracuse Chiefs. ...

Key made his Major League debut on April 6, 1984 and was utilized in relief situations through his inaugural year, notching 10 saves and a 4.65 ERA. He wore number 27 in his first season and 22 for the duration of his Blue Jays career. April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... To save in a sport means to stop a goal or to maintain the lead. ... In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. ...

He had two rehab stints with the Dunedin Blue Jays in 1988 and 1990. He had a 4-0 record with and ERA of 2.50 over The Dunedin Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team based in Dunedin, Florida. ...

Key moved into the starting rotation in 1985 and quickly became a cornerstone in the rotation, leading the Blue Jays to their first ever postseason appearance that year. More postseason appearances would follow, culminating in a World Series championship in 1992. 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

New York Yankees (1993-1996)

Key was one of the most popular Blue Jays until his departure in 1993 to play for the rival New York Yankees (signed as a free agent on December 10, 1992) and was paid US$16.8 million over four years. He posted a 49-23 record in 94 games over three seasons with the Yankees. He had his career high of 173 strikeouts in the first year with the Yankees in 1993. He continued to wear his number 22 with the Yankees. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as...

He spent time with the Gulf Coast Yankees (1-0 and 0.00 ERA) and Tampa (0-0 and 2.77 ERA) of the Florida State League during rehab assignments during his last season with New York in 1996. New York Yankees American League AAA Columbus Clippers AA Trenton Thunder A Charleston RiverDogs Tampa Yankees Staten Island Yankees R Gulf Coast Yankees The Gulf Coast Yankees are the R minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees. ...

Baltimore Orioles (1997-1998)

Key was signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles on December 10, 1996 and posted a 22-13 record in 59 appearances over two seasons. A free agent in his final season, Key retired from the game in after the 1998 season largely due to injuries. He made US$7.73 million with the Orioles over 2 seasons. He wore the number 21 with the Orioles. Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 4,5,8,20,22,33,42 Name Baltimore Orioles (1954–present) St. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ...

Notes: He was assigned to Fredrick of the Carolina League in 1998 (1-0 3.00 ERA) during his final rehab stint. Key was granted free agency for the last time on October 27, 1998 by Orioles GM Pat Gillick, the same GM who granted him the same conditions in Toronto in 1992. Pat Gillick (born August 22, 1937) is the current general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

His best personal years were in 1987, when he posted an 17-8 record with a league-leading 2.76 ERA, and in 1993, when he went 18-6 with a 3.00 ERA and 173 strikeouts. 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn strikes out swinging to Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz (not pictured). ...

Strengths and weaknesses

Key was one of the premiere 'control' pitchers in the game with a good strikeout-to-walk ratio over most of his career. His fastball was not particularly speedy, but was often effective as he could spot it on both corners of the plate -- although when his throw went high, opponents fared well. He also possessed a fine slider which would start out away from a right-handed hitter but would then break over the outside corner of the plate for a strike. He had a very good pickoff move to first base, which he notably demonstrated in Game 4 of the 1992 World Series by picking off Otis Nixon, one of the game's premiere base stealers at the time. In baseball statistics, strikeout-to-walk ratio (SO/BB) is a measure of a pitchers ability to control pitches; calculated as: strikeouts / bases on balls. ... The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. ... In baseball, a slider, or nickel curve, is a pitch halfway between a curveball and a fastball, with less break but more speed than the curve. ... Pickoff attempt on runner (in red) at first base A pickoff is an act by a pitcher, throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder would tag out a baserunner who is either leading off or about to begin stealing the next base. ... Dates October 17, 1992–October 24, 1992 MVP Pat Borders (Toronto) Television network CBS & Simulcast in Canada on CTV Announcers Sean McDonough, Tim McCarver Umpires Jerry Crawford (NL), Mike Reilly (AL), Joe West (NL), John Shulock (AL), Bob Davidson (NL), Dan Morrison (AL) The 1992 World Series was the first... Otis Nixon Otis Junior Nixon (born January 9, 1959 in Evergreen, North Carolina) is a former center fielder and switch-hitter who played in Major League Baseball between 1983 and 1999. ...

Key tended to give up more than his share of home runs even while holding his opponents' on-base percentage to a low level. He was injury-prone with significant down time in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996 and 1998. Key has had Tommy John surgery to repair his injured arm. Mark McGwire swinging for the fences. ... In baseball statistics, on base percentage (OBP) (sometimes referred to as on base average (OBA)) is a measure of how often a batter gets to first base for any reason other than a fielding error or a fielders choice. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... Tommy John surgery, known by doctors as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (or UCL), is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body (often from the forearm, hamstring, or foot of the patient). ...

Honors and Awards

• All-star for Toronto (1985, 1991) and New York (1993, 1994)
• Finished 6th in American League MVP voting (New York - 1994)
• Finished 2nd in American League Cy Young voting - Toronto (1987) and New York (1994)
• Finished 4th in American League Cy Young voting (New York - 1993)
• Won American League ERA title (Toronto - 1987, 2.76 ERA)
• The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year in 1987 (Toronto) and 1994 (New York)
• Clemson University Hall of Fame 1999
• 1982 Atlantic Coast Conference All-Star - Pitcher and DH (Clemson Tigers)

External links

• Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis
• Jimmy Key
• Jimmy Key
• Nine Former Greats To Be Inducted Into Clemson Hall Of Fame
• Jimmy Key - Statistics