The 1996 Toronto Blue Jays season was the 20th season in franchise history. The season involved the Blue Jays finishing fourth in the American League East with a record of 74 wins and 88 losses. The Blue Jays had a losing record for the third consecutive season.
Transactions Transactions by the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season before the 1996 season.
October 1995 Brent Bowers granted free agency (signed with Baltimore Orioles to a contract on November 30, 1995). Darren Hall granted free agency (signed with Los Angeles Dodgers to a one-year, $175,000 contract on November 1, 1995). Wally Whitehurst granted free agency (signed with Montreal Expos to a one-year, $125,000 contract on December 1, 1995). Mike Huff granted free agency (signed with Toronto Blue Jays to a one-year contract on December 20, 1995). Roberto Alomar granted free agency (signed with Baltimore Orioles to a three-year, $18 million contract on December 21, 1995).
November 1995 Danny Cox granted free agency (signed with Toronto Blue Jays to a contract on December 6, 1995). Devon White granted free agency (signed with Florida Marlins to a three-year, $9.9 million contract on November 21, 1995). Lance Parrish granted free agency (signed with Pittsburgh Pirates to a contract on January 4, 1996). Duane Ward granted free agency. Paul Molitor granted free agency (signed with Minnesota Twins to a two-year, $5.5 million contract on December 5, 1995). Al Leiter granted free agency (signed with Florida Marlins to a three-year, $8.6 million contract on December 14, 1995).
December 1995 Mike Coolbaugh drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 1995 MLB Rule 5 draft. Re-signed free agent Danny Cox to a one-year contract. Signed Rich Rowland from the Boston Red Sox to a contract. Acquired Paul Quantrill from the Philadelphia Phillies for Howard Battle and Ricardo Jordan. Signed free agent Otis Nixon from the Texas Rangers to a two-year, $4.4 million contract. Signed free agent Charlie O'Brien from the Atlanta Braves to a two-year, $1.25 million contract. Acquired Miguel Cairo and Bill Risley from the Seattle Mariners for Edwin Hurtado and Paul Menhart. Re-signed free agent Mike Huff to a one-year contract. Re-signed Juan Guzmán to a one-year, $2.24 million contract. Re-signed Randy Knorr to a one-year, $280,000 contract. Signed free agent Erik Hanson from the Boston Red Sox to a three-year, $9.4 million contract.
January 1996 Signed free agent Juan Samuel from the Kansas City Royals to a one-year, $325,000 contract. Signed free agent Rubén Amaro Jr. from the Cleveland Indians to a one-year, $109,000 contract.
February 1996 Signed free agent Dane Johnson from the Chicago White Sox to a one-year, $125,000 contract. Signed free agent Brian Bohanon from the Detroit Tigers to a one-year, $185,000 contract. Signed free agent Frank Viola from the Cincinnati Reds to a one-year contract.
March 1996 Signed free agent Wes Chamberlain from the Kansas City Royals to a contract. Acquired Scott Pose from the Cleveland Indians for Joe Lis. Selected Roberto Durán off of waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Released Ben Weber. Ken Robinson selected off of waivers by the Kansas City Royals.
Regular season A new tradition would start in 1996 as the Blue Jays donned red uniforms for the first time. These uniforms would be worn only on Canada Day and would feature "Canada" on the back of their jerseys rather than a player's name. Eventual Cy Young Award winner Pat Hentgen would start the Canada Day match against the Baltimore Orioles.
The final series of the season would be embroiled in controversy. Against the American League East champion Baltimore Orioles, two events would define the Orioles season. The game on Friday, September 27, 1996, would go down as one of the most infamous events in baseball history, as former Blue Jay Roberto Alomar would spit at umpire John Hirschbeck. The Sunday game would be a coming-out party for Brady Anderson, as he would hit his 50th home run of the regular season off Pat Hentgen. The total would break Frank Robinson's team record for most home runs in a season.
1996 also marked the end of an era for the Blue Jays, as they would redesign their logo and uniforms in the following year and also radically shake up their roster.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 1 || @ Athletics || 9–6 || Hanson (1–0) || Reyes || Timlin (1) || 7,294 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 3 || @ Athletics || 10–4 || Hentgen (1–0) || Prieto || — || 8,050 || 2–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 5 || @ Indians || 7–1 || Guzman (1–0) || Hershiser || — || 41,782 || 3–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 6 || @ Indians || 3–5 || Nagy || Hanson (1–1) || Mesa || 41,852 || 3–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 7 || @ Indians || 3–8 || Martinez || Quantrill (0–1) || — || 41,689 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 9 || Angels || 5–0 || Hentgen (2–0) || Langston || — || 36,616 || 4–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 10 || Angels || 1–2 || Holzemer || Guzman (1–1) || Percival || 25,446 || 4–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 11 || Angels || 7–4 || Hanson (2–1) || Abbott || Timlin (2) || 25,512 || 5–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 12 || Mariners || 6–9 || Hitchcock || Quantrill (0–2) || — || 31,293 || 5–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 13 || Mariners || 3–14 || Bosio || Ware (0–1) || — || 33,645 || 5–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 14 || Mariners || 4–9 || Wolcott || Hentgen (2–1) || — || 29,301 || 5–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 15 || Tigers || 8–2 || Guzman (2–1) || Olivares || — || 26,127 || 6–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 16 || Tigers || 8–13 || Gohr || Hanson (2–2) || Lewis || 25,503 || 6–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 17 || @ Angels || 1–5 || Finley || Quantrill (0–3) || — || 15,361 || 6–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 18 || @ Angels || 6–9 || James || Ware (0–2) || Percival || 25,083 || 6–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 19 || @ Mariners || 10–4 || Hentgen (3–1) || Wolcott || Bohanon (1) || 32,189 || 7–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || April 20 || @ Mariners || 3–1 || Guzman (3–1) || Menhart || Timlin (3) || 47,487 || 8–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 21 || @ Mariners || 5–9 || Johnson || Hanson (2–3) || — || 34,915 || 8–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || April 22 || @ Mariners || 16–7 || Castillo (1–0) || Hurtado || — || 18,467 || 9–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 24 || Athletics || 6–7 || Prieto || Hentgen (3–2) || Corsi || 28,029 || 9–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 25 || Athletics || 3–4 (11) || Mohler || Crabtree (0–1) || — || 26,163 || 9–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || April 26 || Indians || 3–6 || Hershiser || Hanson (2–4) || Mesa || 30,227 || 9–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || April 27 || Indians || 11–6 || Castillo (2–0) || Nagy || — || 40,140 || 10–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || April 28 || Indians || 3–17 || Lopez || Viola (0–1) || — || 31,143 || 10–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || April 30 || Brewers || 9–8 || Crabtree (1–1) || Boze || — || 25,467 || 11–14
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || May 1 || Brewers || 9–3 || Guzman (4–1) || Miranda || — || 25,684 || 12–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 2 || Brewers || 7–5 || Hanson (3–4) || Karl || Timlin (4) || 31,299 || 13–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 3 || @ Red Sox || 7–8 || Moyer || Quantrill (0–4) || Slocumb || 25,570 || 13–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 4 || @ Red Sox || 4–8 || Gordon || Viola (0–2) || Slocumb || 29,785 || 13–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 5 || @ Red Sox || 11–4 || Hentgen (4–2) || Wakefield || — || 29,866 || 14–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 7 || @ Rangers || 1–5 || Oliver || Guzman (4–2) || — || 23,005 || 14–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 8 || @ Rangers || 2–4 || Witt || Hanson (3–5) || Henneman || 20,694 || 14–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 9 || @ Rangers || 5–2 || Quantrill (1–4) || Hill || Timlin (5) || 34,451 || 15–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 10 || Red Sox || 5–6 (11) || Slocumb || Carrara (0–1) || — || 31,159 || 15–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 11 || Red Sox || 9–8 (11) || Quantrill (2–4) || Knackert || — || 33,163 || 16–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 12 || Red Sox || 8–7 (10) || Janzen (1–0) || Slocumb || — || 31,188 || 17–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 14 || @ Twins || 4–2 || Hanson (4–5) || Robertson || Timlin (6) || 13,483 || 18–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 15 || @ Twins || 1–2 || Rodriguez || Hentgen (4–3) || — || 11,793 || 18–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 16 || @ Twins || 1–4 || Radke || Quantrill (2–5) || Stevens || 13,538 || 18–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 17 || @ Royals || 2–4 || Belcher || Guzman (4–3) || Montgomery || 20,079 || 18–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 18 || @ Royals || 6–2 || Viola (1–2) || Appier || — || 18,116 || 19–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 19 || @ Royals || 3–2 || Hanson (5–5) || Gubicza || Timlin (7) || 15,039 || 20–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 20 || @ Royals || 4–5 || Haney || Hentgen (4–4) || Montgomery || 14,303 || 20–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 21 || @ White Sox || 1–2 || Tapani || Ware (0–3) || Hernandez || 17,483 || 20–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 22 || @ White Sox || 1–2 (11) || McCaskill || Timlin (0–1) || — || 17,882 || 20–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || May 23 || Twins || 5–4 (10) || Janzen (2–0) || Milchin || — || 31,163 || 21–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || May 24 || Twins || 0–4 || Robertson || Hanson (5–6) || — || 33,141 || 21–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || May 25 || Twins || 4–6 (10) || Guardado || Castillo (2–1) || Stevens || 34,118 || 21–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 26 || Twins || 3–9 || Naulty || Bohanon (0–1) || — || 30,170 || 21–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || May 27 || White Sox || 5–4 || Janzen (3–0) || Fernandez || Timlin (8) || 30,013 || 22–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || May 28 || White Sox || 5–8 || Baldwin || Viola (1–3) || Hernandez || 30,104 || 22–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || May 29 || White Sox || 6–5 || Hanson (6–6) || Magrane || Timlin (9) || 31,074 || 23–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || May 31 || Royals || 4–2 || Hentgen (5–4) || Gubicza || Timlin (10) || 33,194 || 24–29
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || June 1 || Royals || 5–3 (10) || Crabtree (2–1) || Montgomery || — || 31,107 || 25–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 2 || Royals || 5–7 || Belcher || Janzen (3–1) || Montgomery || 32,253 || 25–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 4 || @ Yankees || 4–5 || Gooden || Hanson (6–7) || Wetteland || 17,368 || 25–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 57 || June 5 || @ Yankees || 12–7 || Hentgen (6–4) || Key || — || 17,142 || 26–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 6 || @ Yankees || 1–8 || Pettitte || Quantrill (2–6) || — || 18,475 || 26–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 7 || @ Rangers || 7–10 || Pavlik || Janzen (3–2) || Henneman || 40,046 || 26–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 8 || @ Rangers || 0–2 || Oliver || Guzman (4–4) || — || 43,439 || 26–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 9 || @ Rangers || 6–8 || Witt || Hanson (6–8) || Henneman || 41,605 || 26–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 10 || Yankees || 3–5 || Key || Hentgen (6–5) || Wetteland || 37,332 || 26–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 11 || Yankees || 4–6 || Pettitte || Quantrill (2–7) || Wetteland || 32,114 || 26–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 12 || Yankees || 7–4 || Janzen (4–2) || Mendoza || — || 44,238 || 27–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 13 || @ Angels || 4–6 || Finley || Guzman (4–5) || James || 20,528 || 27–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 14 || @ Angels || 4–7 || Grimsley || Hanson (6–9) || Percival || 18,503 || 27–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 15 || @ Angels || 5–7 || Langston || Crabtree (2–2) || Percival || 40,352 || 27–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 16 || @ Angels || 6–4 || Quantrill (3–7) || Abbott || Timlin (11) || 22,979 || 28–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 69 || June 18 || @ Mariners || 11–3 || Guzman (5–5) || Wolcott || — || 25,912 || 29–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc"