Jesse Barfield
Outfielder · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1981-1992)
Jesse Barfield was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1981 to 1992 for the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees, a span of 12 seasons. In 1,428 career games, he hit .256 with 1,219 hits, 241 home runs, and 716 RBI. Jesse Barfield was an All-Star, a 2-time Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 11,817.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Outfielder
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'1" / 200 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1981-09-03
- Last Game
- 1992-06-17
- Awards
- All-Star · 2× Gold Glove · Silver Slugger
Full name: Jesse Lee Barfield
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,428 | 4,759 | 715 | 1,219 | 216 | 30 | 241 | 716 | 66 | 551 | 1,234 | .256 | .335 | .466 | .802 | 11,817 |
Career AVG .256 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .335 vs. league average .323 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career SLG .466 vs. league average .387 across their career seasons — +20.5% above league average.
Career OPS .802 vs. league average .710 across their career seasons — +12.9% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | TOR | AL | 25 | 95 | 7 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 19 | .232 | .255 (-9%) | .320 (-16%) | .368 (avg) | .688 (-7%) | -132.6 |
| 1982 | TOR | AL | 139 | 394 | 54 | 97 | 13 | 2 | 18 | 58 | 1 | 42 | 79 | .246 | .261 (-6%) | .324 (avg) | .388 (+10%) | .712 (+5%) | 419.9 |
| 1983 | TOR | AL | 128 | 388 | 58 | 98 | 13 | 3 | 27 | 68 | 2 | 22 | 110 | .253 | .260 (-3%) | .324 (-9%) | .389 (+31%) | .714 (+13%) | 757.9 |
| 1984 | TOR | AL | 110 | 320 | 51 | 91 | 14 | 1 | 14 | 49 | 8 | 35 | 81 | .284 | .259 (+9%) | .322 (+10%) | .384 (+21%) | .707 (+16%) | 1008.8 |
| 1985 | TOR | AL | 155 | 539 | 94 | 156 | 34 | 9 | 27 | 84 | 22 | 66 | 143 | .289 | .257 (+13%) | .323 (+14%) | .390 (+37%) | .714 (+27%) | 2885.6 |
| 1986 | TOR | AL | 158 | 589 | 107 | 170 | 35 | 2 | 40 | 108 | 8 | 69 | 146 | .289 | .257 (+12%) | .325 (+13%) | .395 (+41%) | .720 (+29%) | 3415.4 |
| 1987 | TOR | AL | 159 | 590 | 89 | 155 | 25 | 3 | 28 | 84 | 3 | 58 | 141 | .263 | .262 (avg) | .331 (avg) | .415 (+10%) | .746 (+6%) | 673.5 |
| 1988 | TOR | AL | 137 | 468 | 62 | 114 | 21 | 5 | 18 | 56 | 7 | 41 | 108 | .244 | .254 (-4%) | .317 (-5%) | .377 (+13%) | .695 (+5%) | 263.9 |
| 1989 | TOR | AL | 21 | 80 | 8 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 28 | .200 | .254 (-21%) | .319 (-20%) | .375 (+17%) | .694 (avg) | -29.7 |
| 1989 | NYA | AL | 129 | 441 | 71 | 106 | 19 | 1 | 18 | 56 | 5 | 82 | 122 | .240 | .254 (-5%) | .319 (+13%) | .375 (+9%) | .694 (+11%) | -29.7 |
| 1990 | NYA | AL | 153 | 476 | 69 | 117 | 21 | 2 | 25 | 78 | 4 | 82 | 150 | .246 | .257 (-5%) | .324 (+11%) | .385 (+18%) | .710 (+15%) | 1601.7 |
| 1991 | NYA | AL | 84 | 284 | 37 | 64 | 12 | 0 | 17 | 48 | 1 | 36 | 80 | .225 | .255 (-12%) | .323 (-4%) | .384 (+16%) | .708 (+7%) | 349.9 |
| 1992 | NYA | AL | 30 | 95 | 8 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 27 | .137 | .255 (-46%) | .322 (-35%) | .377 (-41%) | .699 (-38%) | -577.2 |
| Career · 13 seasons | 1,428 | 4,759 | 715 | 1,219 | 216 | 30 | 241 | 716 | 66 | 551 | 1,234 | .256 | — | — | — | — | 10,607 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1428 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 711 | 2360 | 385 | 624 | 130 | 389 | .264 |
| Away | 717 | 2399 | 330 | 595 | 111 | 327 | .248 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-06-17 | NYY | BOS | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1992-05-20 | NYY | LAA | W | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992-05-18 | NYY | LAA | W | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992-05-09 | NYY | OAK | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1992-05-08 | NYY | OAK | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992-05-06 | NYY | LAA | L | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992-05-05 | NYY | SEA | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992-05-04 | NYY | SEA | W | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 1992-05-03 | NYY | MIN | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992-05-02 | NYY | MIN | L | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1387 | 1263 | 2951 | 162 | 62 | 48 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | TOR | OF | 25 | 25 | 71 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1982 | TOR | OF | 137 | 104 | 217 | 15 | 9 | 4 |
| 1983 | TOR | OF | 120 | 95 | 213 | 16 | 8 | 4 |
| 1984 | TOR | OF | 88 | 76 | 190 | 9 | 10 | 5 |
| 1985 | TOR | OF | 154 | 152 | 349 | 22 | 4 | 8 |
| 1986 | TOR | OF | 157 | 156 | 368 | 20 | 3 | 8 |
| 1987 | TOR | OF | 158 | 146 | 341 | 17 | 3 | 4 |
| 1988 | TOR | OF | 136 | 126 | 325 | 12 | 4 | 4 |
| 1989 | TOR | OF | 21 | 20 | 43 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1989 | NYA | OF | 129 | 125 | 297 | 16 | 9 | 3 |
| 1990 | NYA | OF | 151 | 136 | 305 | 16 | 9 | 3 |
| 1991 | NYA | OF | 81 | 76 | 178 | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| 1992 | NYA | OF | 30 | 26 | 54 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 3 |
| Center Field | 87 |
| Right Field | 1339 |
| Designated Hitter | 17 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 1986 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 1986 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 1983 | Player of the Week | Week of 1983-09-02 |
Salary History
Jesse Barfield's recorded salaries total $10,008,333 over 8 seasons, 1985 to 1992. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Barfield's career ran from 1981 to 1992. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | NYA | AL | $2,166,667 |
| 1991 | NYA | AL | $1,333,333 |
| 1990 | NYA | AL | $1,233,333 |
| 1989 | TOR | AL | $1,300,000 |
| 1988 | TOR | AL | $1,400,000 |
| 1987 | TOR | AL | $1,525,000 |
| 1986 | TOR | AL | $725,000 |
| 1985 | TOR | AL | $325,000 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $10,008,333 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 5th | 107.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1985 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 7th | 88.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1982 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 8th | 1.0 | 140 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Jesse Barfield (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Jesse Barfield: the record in brief
Between the debut on September 3, 1981 and the final game on June 17, 1992, Jesse Barfield built the record summarized on this page. Club by club, the record runs the Toronto Blue Jays (1981 through 1989) and the New York Yankees (1989 through 1992). Barfield is listed as an outfielder at 200 pounds on a 6-foot-1 frame. The bio says Barfield batted and threw right-handed. Barfield was born on October 29, 1959, in Joliet, IL, USA. Barfield's full given name, per the bio, is Jesse Lee Barfield.
Barfield's career batting table shows 1,428 games, 4,759 at bats and 1,219 hits, a .256 average, along with 241 homers, 716 RBI, and 66 stolen bases. The on-base percentage is .335 and the slugging percentage .466, for an OPS of .802. Against a .258 league average for those years, Barfield's .256 average was near the norm. Barfield's most home runs in a season came in 1986, when the total reached 40 for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Frequently Asked Questions about Jesse Barfield
- What years did Jesse Barfield play?
- Jesse Barfield played in Major League Baseball from 1981 to 1992.
- Was Jesse Barfield a pitcher?
- No. Jesse Barfield was a position player (Outfielder).
- How many home runs did Jesse Barfield hit?
- Jesse Barfield hit 241 career home runs with 1,219 hits.
- What teams did Jesse Barfield play for?
- Jesse Barfield played for 2 teams: the Toronto Blue Jays (1981–1989) and the New York Yankees (1989–1992).
- Did Jesse Barfield win an MVP award?
- No. Jesse Barfield did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Jesse Barfield win?
- Jesse Barfield won 2 Gold Gloves (1986 and 1987) and the Silver Slugger award (1986). He was selected to 1 All-Star Game.
- What were Jesse Barfield's career stats?
- In 1,428 games, Jesse Barfield had 1,219 hits, 241 home runs, 716 RBI, 715 runs, and 66 stolen bases, with a .256 batting average.
- How much did Jesse Barfield earn in his career?
- Jesse Barfield's recorded salaries total $10,008,333 over 8 seasons, 1985 to 1992. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Barfield's career ran from 1981 to 1992. His seasons before 1985 are not included.
- What was Jesse Barfield's salary?
- Jesse Barfield's last recorded salary was $2,166,667, in 1992. His highest recorded salary was $2,166,667, in 1992, and his lowest was $325,000, in 1985. The Salary History table lists each season from 1985 to 1992.
- What position did Jesse Barfield play?
- Jesse Barfield played primarily as an outfielder, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Jesse Barfield and how much did he weigh?
- Jesse Barfield was listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 200 pounds.
- How many home runs did Jesse Barfield hit each season?
- Jesse Barfield's home runs by season: 2 in 1981, 18 in 1982, 27 in 1983, 14 in 1984, 27 in 1985, 40 in 1986, 28 in 1987, 18 in 1988, 23 in 1989, 25 in 1990, 17 in 1991, and 2 in 1992. His most in one season was 40, in 1986.
- What was Jesse Barfield's career batting average?
- Jesse Barfield batted .256 over his career, with 1,219 hits in 4,759 at bats.
- How many RBI did Jesse Barfield have?
- Jesse Barfield drove in 716 runs in his career.