Top 50 All-Time Jays: #1 Carlos Delgado
by Tom Dakers on Aug 31, 2010 1:31 PM EDT
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Carlos Juan Delgado | 1B | 1993-2004
Notable Accomplishments: All-Star 2000, 2003 Silver Slugger 1999, 2000, 2003.
Finally getting to the last one.....
Carlos Delgado was born June 25, 1972 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The Jays signed him as an amateur free agent in 1988, when he was just 16. He went through the Jay's minor league system as a catcher. He quickly became our top prospect; he hit 30 home runs in Dunedin in 1992 at 20 years old and then hit 25 the next season at Double-A Knoxville.
Carlos got called up to Toronto at the end of the 1993 season, our second World Series winner, but only got into a couple of games. The Jays gave him a ring anyway. The next season he started the year with the Jays. He played most of the games for the first couple of months, playing left field. Things started well, he had a 1.028 OPS on April 24th with 8 home runs, but it went downhill from there. He was sent back down to the minors in early June. He was hitting .215/.352/.438 when he was sent down. Cito never has had any patience with young players, it would have been nice if some patience was shown here. Bill James said that he would be an MVP candidate by 2000, turned out he was right.
In 1995 the Jays brought Delgado up at the end of April but Cito used him mostly as a pinch hitter and he didn't hit much in the 25 at bats he was given that month (it was more important to keep Joe Carter's .300 OBP in the lineup) and was sent back down. They brought him back up in September and he did play more but still didn't hit much.
Finally in 1996 Carlos got to stay up with the Jays for the full season, DHing most of the time, he hit .270/.353/.490 with 25 homers and 82 RBI. After the season the Jays traded John Olerud to make room at first base for Carlos. I still wonder why they decided to keep Joe Carter and let go of Olerud.
Over the first couple of months of the 1997 season Joe Carter played first base and Carlos DHed but by late May Delgado took over at first and played there for the next 8 years. He had a great year hitting .262/.350/.528 with 30 homers and 91 RBI.
In 1998 Carlos played first base full time and his numbers took another big jump. He hit .292/.385/.592 with 38 homers and 115 RBI. He got MVP votes for the first time in his career and finished 5th in the league in slugging average.
He had another great season in 1999, hitting .272/.377/.571, setting a new career high in homers with 44, RBI with 134, runs with 113 and walks with 86. He won his first Silver Slugger award and finished 12 in MVP voting. He tied George Bells single season team record for RBI. He would have set a new record but he missed the final 10 games of the season, breaking his tibia fouling a ball off his leg.
In 2000 Carlos played in all 162 games, led the league with 57 doubles. He hit .344/.470/.664, had 41 homers and set a new team record with 137 RBI. He also took 123 walks and led the league being hit by pitch 15 times. He made the All-Star team for the first time, came in 4th in MVP voting, won the AL Hank Aaron Award (for best hitter) and was the Sporting New Player of the Year. He also got his second Silver Slugger award. Carlos finished 4th in the league in batting average, 2nd in on base average, 2nd in walks, 2nd in slugging and first in total bases.
His .664 slugging average is the Jays single season record .344 BA and .470 OBP are both the second best in Jay history. That season is also the Jay season high in total bases, doubles, walks, extra base hits and runs created. He was AL Player of the Week twice and had a 22 game hit streak. He was one of 7 Jays to hit 20 homers and one of 3 with 30.
Delgado played in all 162 games again in 2001. His numbers dropped off some from the year before, hitting .279/.408/.540 with 39 homers, 102 RBI and 111 walks. Pretty decent for a down season. It was his 4th consecutive season with over 35 HR and 100 RBI. He also stole a base for the first time in his MLB career.
His numbers fell off a bit more in 2002. He hit .277/.406/.549 with 33 homers, 108 RBI and 102 walks. He finished 4th in the league in OBP, 8th in slugging and 4th in walks. Carlos was the first Jay to hit 30 homers in 6 consecutive seasons and 100 RBI in 5. He missed a game August 4th to snap a streak of 432 consecutive games played. Then went on the DL for just the second time in his career, later in the August, with a stiff back.
Carlos had a bounce back season in 2003, hitting .302/.426/.593 with 42 home runs and a new career and franchise high in RBI with 145 which also led the league. He made the All-Star team, got the Silver Slugger award and came in second in the MVP voting. He finished 2nd in slugging, on base, home runs and walks.
It was his 7th straight year with 30 home runs, 6th 100 RBI and 5th with 100 runs. Among other achievements, he had 97 RBI at the All-Star break and 4 home runs in a game on Sept. 25th. HE reached base 334 times, setting another team record.
2004 was Delgado's last season with the team, he missed about a month of the season with a strained rib cage and missed getting to 100 RBI for the first time since 1997. He still had 32 home runs and hit .269/.372/.545.
After the season Carlos was a free agent and the team decided not to try to sign him. JP was trying to cut salary and Carlos made $19.7 million in 2004. He signed a 4 year contract with the Florida Marlins. After one season there the Marlins decided to cut payroll and traded Delgado to the Mets for Mike Jacobs, Yusmeiro Petit and Grant Psomas. Carlos played for the Met for 4 seasons, making the playoffs for the first time in 2006, losing out to the Cardinals in the NLCS in 2007.
Hip problems cost him the most of the 2009 season. He recently signed with the Red Sox but last I heard he was on the DL in the minors. He is just 27 home runs short of 500. I'd think he has a very good shot at the Hall of Fame, but I try not to out guess the voters. In his 17 year career he has hit .280/.383/.546 with 483 473 home runs, 1512 RBI and 1109 walks.
Rob Neyers ‘Big Book of Baseball Lineups' lists him as the best Jay first baseman. It also calls him the worst defensive first baseman in Jay history too. Considering John Mayberry played first for us too, that's saying something. He's right, Delgado was never much with the glove.
Carlos was awarded the Roberto Clemente Award in 2006 for ‘good play and strong work in the community'. He does work for many charities in Puerto Rico.
He has had his moments of controversy. He protested the war in Iraq by not standing during ‘God Bless Ameraca'. He said "I just feel so sad for the families that lost relatives and loved ones in the war. But I think it's the stupidest war ever."
He is married and has a son (Carlos Antonio and a daughter (Betzaida Garcia).
Carlos Delgado's place among Jay Hitting leaders:
WAR 1st 33.8
Batting Average 11th .282.
OBP 2nd .392
Slugging 1st .556
OPS 1st .949
Games played 2nd 1450
Plate Appearances 1st 6018
Runs Scored 1st 889
Hits 3rd 1413
Total Bases 1st 2786
Doubles 1st 343
Home runs 1st 336
RBI 1st 1058
Walks 1st 827
Strikeouts 1st 1242
Runs Created 1st 1151
Extra Base Hits 1st 690
Hit by Pitch 1st 122
Sac Flies 2nd 61
Intentional walks 1st 128
At Bats per HR 1st 14.9
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I was wondering when this was going to happen
I mean everyone knew it was inevitable, it was a known thing. Just look at those stats, I mean that’s not all he was but they speak for themselves.
My favourite Delgado story
Was a write-up on him in ESPN’s magazine, where I learned that he would bicycle to the Dome from wherever he was living
-- Gravity is not just the law, it's also a good idea
Yah, my brother and I saw him.
My brother shouted out “You’re Carlos Delgado!!”, he just smiled and kept on riding. It was cool.
It takes neither courage nor intelligence to cheer for a team only when that team wins. The true test of a fan's mettle is the same as it is for a player: Were you there when you were needed?
aka Solace
Reminds me of the Simpsons-Strawberry conversation
You’re Carlos Delgado
Yes
You play first base
Yes
Are you better than me?
Well I’ve never met you, but yes
I'll one up you on that one
I did a shot with Shaun Marcum and Brett Cecil this weekend. Casey Janssen declined, unfortunately.
This is WAR
Wow! a WAR of 33.8 is absolutely ridiculous. His presence on the team directly resulted in them winning an extra 33 games per season? Weren’t most of those seasons losing seasons to begin with? For his career that stat must be among the highest of all time.
Coach Admiral Ackbar Lemaire: It's a trap!
by Spaz_attack5000 on Aug 31, 2010 2:32 PM EDT reply actions
not even close, sorry
A-Rod’s over the same period was more than double – 70 WAR.
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oh jeez i missed the main thing
that’s career WAR, not single-season. he won 33 more games than a replacement level first basemen over his 12 seasons in Toronto
Prehistoric Hoops - We're back! And we have a real domain!
Links
As a newcomer to this blog, is there a link to the other 49 best Jays of all time. I guess Bell, Stieb, Doc, etc, must be on the list, but I am interested to see how you rank them.
On the left side of the main page
The list is there with each name linked, very well done by all involved, IMO.
Oh and Welcome too
If I haven’t said it before.
Cito never has had any patience with young players, it would have been nice if some patience was shown here.
After that fantastic April, pitchers figured Carlos out and he couldn’t hit a breaking pitch to save his life. Everybody was just throwing him junk and he was getting himself out.
I don’t think he had played any AAA ball at that point and I think that was the best decision for his development at the time. As for ’95, it would have been nice to see him playing everyday on the Jays by then.
I remember that 2000 year quite well
.344
41 HRS
137 RBI’s
…and if I remember correctly he did most of it in about 5 months. For some reason I remember him having a terrible September. I still would have liked to bring him back last year or this for a “final horrah”, alas we got a year of Kevin Millar instead.
by craig in calgary on Aug 31, 2010 4:33 PM EDT reply actions
maybe its not too late?
We need a 1st baseball for next year when overbay leaves…I don’t mind have him on our bench
by Schenn4captain on Aug 31, 2010 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
time to turn the page
The Bluejays need to find the next Delgado. I don’t know where they are going to find him but to seriously contend they need to find someone who puts up monster numbers year after year. Toronto problem is their player are so wildly inconsistant you don’t know from year to year what your going to get
You realize that Delgado is one of 9 players in MLB history to have at least nine consecutive 30 home run campaigns
That is not the kind of player you plan to find. AA’s plan is to have many elite class players on this team because he knows that kind of consistency is extremely rare.
I agree, but disagree. I agree that long term the Jays need to find the next Delgado(s)
For now though, we’re talking about a no risk 1 year deal here. If Lind slides over to 1B, that leaves an opening at DH/1B. There’s nobody in the system that is ready to go into that role (unless you want Lewis there). And I doubt the Jays are willing to offer a multiyear deal to any of the top free agents, or aging DH-types this offseason. That leaves 1B/DH free agent that are left over when the game of musical chairs ends. I think Delgado, assuming he doesn’t retire, has a good chance to be one of those leftovers given his recent health problems.
I think it wouldn’t hurt to sign him to a one year deal, if, and it’s a big if, he shows he’s healthy. If the Jays want any chance to contend next season, they’re going to have to take chances, and in Delgado’s last healthy season in 2008, he hit 38 HR’s. If he doesn’t work out, or can’t stay healthy, then Lewis or whoever is signed as the 4th outfielder gets the job. If he works out, then the sky’s the limit.
Jason Kubel is only 29 this year. Perfect for DH
Come on, Rook. Show us that million-dollar arm, 'cause I got a good idea about that five-cent head of yours.
I'd take him back
Remember back in 98 when we brough back Tony Fernandez for his 4th go around for Jays. He played 3rd base I think. Most people thought it would be his career swan song, yet in 99 he made the All-Star team and was in contention for the batting title all year. As long as they can get him on the cheap, I would have no problem taking a flyer on him to play DH with Lind at first.
There She Gooooooes!
Agreed. You don’t sign him expecting to hit 38HRs or anything, but as a DH/PH option on the bench, and if he heats up and still has it, you give him more playing time. He won’t cost much, and really, I think that Toronto fans would love to watch the countdown to 500 HRs. It was fun to watch Thomas do it, but then again, Thomas is always going to be a White Sox in everyone’s mind, where as Delgado is a Blue Jay.
You don’t build around Delgado or risk anything to get him, but if he can come back, I think the Jays could get value out of him and being able to retire as a Jay would be a nice moment for the organization.
Delgado and Doc got me through 10 years of "next year we will compete|"
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by syc on Aug 31, 2010 5:59 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Hey Tom
That is supposed to be 473 career home runs.
One of my favorite three players of all time
I love Carlos.
He should have been MVP in 2000 and 2003 but got jipped because he was a Jay.
My list by the way is Carlos Delgado, Kirby Puckett, Lou Gehrig.
You're Kidding right???
Delgado the #1 Bluejays of all time? Not a chance. Get your head out of the numbers and look at some things that can’t be measured by Sabremetrics.
Was he talented on both sides of the ball? – NO!
Did he make the players around him better? – NO!
Was he Team player offensively/defensively? – No
Was he committed to his profession? – No!
Anyone with some age on him can recall his disinterest during Buck’s tenure as coach when he loafed around the bases in Tampa and should have scored from 1st with the winning run and was lucky no to be thrown out at 3rd. It’s interesting you show a Baseball card with Carlos sporting a catchers glove. I well recall seeing a series in Syracuse against Norfolk when 2 players went 1st to 3rd on pastballs after Delgado took time out glare at his pitchers before reacting to the balls.
He is/was a liability at 1st and would never have thought that coming off the bag to block an errant throw was more intelligent than letting it pass him and provide extra bases to the opposition (he lacked/lack baseball intelligence).
Sadly, people only see Delgado’s gaudy home-run numbers and his smile and are then only tooo happy to say what a great baseball player he was. Well in my time watching the game those 2 things put together have won exactly zero championships. Hell, a case can be made that John Olerud was a 1st baseman of more quality than Delgado.
A good offensive force on Jays teams past…I’ll give you that. The #1 Jay of all time? Not even close.
I suspect one should take into account that next year Robbie Alomar will go into Cooperstown and it should likely have happened with year but one can never account for the Jay Marriotti’s of this world. The only way Delgado ever gets a sniff at the Hall is if he attends the induction ceremony for Alomar and Tom Cheek. – DRK
by Design8tedrallykiller on Sep 1, 2010 4:39 PM EDT reply actions
Always good
I guess it is always good to see the opposing sides of everything. I can not dispute that Carlos was not the greatest defensive first baseman and that coupled with the fact that first base is the least demanding defensive position, except for DH, tend to reduce his stature somewhat.
That said, I question your other 3 points. I feel he did make other players around him better. In particular I recall both Shawn Green and Vernon Wells, when hitting in front of Delgado, decribing how Delgado would help them prepare for at bats, telling them what to look for, etc. This spring, Cito mentioned how he would like to have Delgado on the team because he was like another hitting coach and could help the other players. I do not know what you mean by not a Team player offensively/defensively but I have never heard he was not a team player and I have never heard he was not committed to his profession. Maybe you could provide evidence why you would say this?
That Carlos holds the greatest batting stats for any Blue Jay of all time is difficult to dispute. Speaking from the heart and not the head, I too would like to see him back at DH for a season or 2 and hit number 500 as a BlueJay.
by leonard euler on Sep 2, 2010 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions
This is sad
A rant from a guy that just simply doesn’t like him because he wasn’t a stellar fielder.
That’s bullshit. So what he wasn’t great in the field. He very rarely cost the Jays a game on defense and even if he did he won way more with his bat. (The best defensive players in the game have made game ending errors)
As for not being a team player that is complete bullshit and borderline heresy. His fellow players loved and praised his work ethic and willingness to help anyone that needed it.
Delgado will be in the Hall.
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