Jesse Barfield
Born: 10/29/1959 in Joliet, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 1981-09-03 | Final Game: 1992-06-17
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 200 lbs
Full name: Jesse Lee Barfield
Biography
Jesse Barfield was a professional baseball player who made his mark as a powerful outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1981 until his retirement in 1992. Born in 1959, Barfield played primarily with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he became known for his impressive offensive capabilities and strong defensive skills. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,428 games, amassing 1,219 hits, 241 home runs, and 716 RBIs. His batting average stood at .256, complemented by 66 stolen bases, showcasing his blend of power and speed on the bases.
Barfield was selected as an All-Star once, a testament to his talent during a competitive era of baseball that saw the emergence of numerous power hitters. He was particularly noted for his ability to change the game with a single swing, contributing significantly to the Blue Jays' rise in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His legacy includes being one of the first players to utilize advanced metrics for evaluating performance, which would later become a staple in the game. Jesse Barfield's contributions to baseball continue to be remembered, as he represented the evolving nature of the sport during a transformative period.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1428 | 4759 | 715 | 1219 | 216 | 30 | 241 | 716 | 66 | 551 | 1234 | 0.256 | 0.335 | 0.466 | 0.802 | 11777.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | TOR | AL | 25 | 95 | 7 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 0.232 | -138.8 |
| 1982 | TOR | AL | 139 | 394 | 54 | 97 | 13 | 2 | 18 | 58 | 1 | 42 | 79 | 0.246 | 419.9 |
| 1983 | TOR | AL | 128 | 388 | 58 | 98 | 13 | 3 | 27 | 68 | 2 | 22 | 110 | 0.253 | 757.9 |
| 1984 | TOR | AL | 110 | 320 | 51 | 91 | 14 | 1 | 14 | 49 | 8 | 35 | 81 | 0.284 | 1008.8 |
| 1985 | TOR | AL | 155 | 539 | 94 | 156 | 34 | 9 | 27 | 84 | 22 | 66 | 143 | 0.289 | 2885.6 |
| 1986 | TOR | AL | 158 | 589 | 107 | 170 | 35 | 2 | 40 | 108 | 8 | 69 | 146 | 0.289 | 3415.4 |
| 1987 | TOR | AL | 159 | 590 | 89 | 155 | 25 | 3 | 28 | 84 | 3 | 58 | 141 | 0.263 | 673.5 |
| 1988 | TOR | AL | 137 | 468 | 62 | 114 | 21 | 5 | 18 | 56 | 7 | 41 | 108 | 0.244 | 263.9 |
| 1989 | NYY | AL | 129 | 441 | 71 | 106 | 19 | 1 | 18 | 56 | 5 | 82 | 122 | 0.240 | 1179.8 |
| 1989 | TOR | AL | 21 | 80 | 8 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 28 | 0.200 | 1179.8 |
| 1990 | NYY | AL | 153 | 476 | 69 | 117 | 21 | 2 | 25 | 78 | 4 | 82 | 150 | 0.246 | 1601.7 |
| 1991 | NYY | AL | 84 | 284 | 37 | 64 | 12 | 0 | 17 | 48 | 1 | 36 | 80 | 0.225 | 349.9 |
| 1992 | NYY | AL | 30 | 95 | 8 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 27 | 0.137 | -609.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0.280 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | ALCS | TOR | 7 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0.280 |
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 | NYA | OF | 129 | 125 | 297 | 16 | 9 | 3 |
| 1989 | TOR | OF | 21 | 20 | 43 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 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
| 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
| 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 Career Earnings | $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 |