The Toronto Blue Jays shared the sad news that former MLB pitcher Jim Clancy, who spent 12 of his 15 big league seasons north of the border, passed away today at the age of 69.
Born in Chicago, Clancy was drafted out of high school by the Texas Rangers in the fourth round of the 1974 MLB Draft. Clancy's relationship with the Blue Jays began when he was the third player selected by the club in the 1976 Expansion Draft. His MLB debut with the Jays came following the All-Star Break during the expansion season of 1977.
Despite some lean years, Clancy would become a mainstay of the starting rotation along with Dave Stieb. In 1978, Clancy led the team in wins with 10. He would lead the club in wins again in 1980 with 13 despite walking a league leading 128 batters. Clancy would be selected to his only AL All-Star Team in 1982 when he won a career high 16 games while leading the Junior Circuit with 40 starts. The only other pitcher who has started 40 games in a season since Clancy was knuckleballer Charlie Hough with the Texas Rangers in 1987. Clancy would lead the AL in starts with 36 in 1984 although he would lead the league in surrendering 125 earned runs.
Although on the disabled list twice during the 1985 season with an appendectomy and tendonitis, Clancy finally got the chance to pitch in October when the Blue Jays won their first AL East title. Unfortunately, Clancy was the losing pitcher in Game 3 of the ALCS when he gave up a go-ahead single to Steve Balboni while pitching out of the bullpen. The Royals would win the ALCS and go on to win the World Series.
On a personal note, I saw Clancy pitch at Exhibition Stadium against the California Angels on July 4, 1988 - a couple of days before I flew to Israel for the summer. Unfortunately, Clancy did not have good outing giving up five earned runs in only two innings pitched and taking the loss in an 11-6 game.
After 12 seasons in a Blue Jays uniform, Clancy signed a 3-year contract with the Houston Astros worth $3.45 million following the 1988 season. Alas, Clancy was ineffective in an Astros uniform and would eventually be sent to the bullpen. Late in the 1991 season, the Astros traded Clancy to the Atlanta Braves. Clancy continued to struggle but would pitch in his only World Series earning a win in relief against the Minnesota Twins in Game 3. It would prove to be his final win in a big-league uniform. He tried to hook on his hometown Chicago Cubs in 1992 but ended up retiring during spring training.
In 15 MLB seasons, Clancy made 472 appearances (381 starts) finishing with a record of 140-167 with an ERA of 4.23 striking out 1422 batters in 2517.1 innings pitched. Clancy's pitching totals with the Blue Jays remain among the best in franchise history. During his tenure in Toronto, Clancy went 128-140 with a 4.10 ERA striking out 1237 batters in 2204.2 innings pitched. Those 2200 plus innings remain the second most in franchise history along with 345 career starts and 73 complete games with only Dave Stieb posting better numbers. Clancy's 128 wins are third most in franchise history behind Stieb and the late Roy Halladay. It is a shame that Clancy was never honored by the Blue Jays in the team's Level of Excellence.
Clancy was certainly among the most durable pitchers of the 1980s. His 317 starts during the decade were third only to Stieb (331 starts) and Jack Morris (332 starts). Clancy's 2017.2 innings pitched were the 8th most during the decade. Yes, it is true that Clancy lost more games than any other pitcher in the 1980s with 126. But it is also true that Clancy more often than not went deep into games completing 61 games which was 7th most in the 1980s. Jim Clancy might not have always prevailed, but he was a competitor who kept his team in the game. He left it all out on the pitcher's mound. R.I.P.
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