Jesse Barfield facts for kids
Jesse Lee Barfield (born October 29, 1959) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played as a right fielder in Major League Baseball from 1981 to 1992 for the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees.
Barfield was known for his amazing defense and a super strong throwing arm. He won the Gold Glove Award twice. His arm helped him lead the American League (AL) five times in assists from the outfield. He was also a great hitter, winning a Silver Slugger Award and leading the American League in home runs in 1986. That same year, he was chosen to play in the All-Star game.
Injuries caused Barfield's major league career to end after 11 seasons. He played his last professional season in 1993 in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants. After playing, Barfield became a coach for teams like the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners.
Quick facts for kids Jesse Barfield |
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Barfield in 2009
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| Right fielder | |||
| Born: October 29, 1959 Joliet, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: September 3, 1981, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| NPB: April 10, 1993, for the Yomiuri Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: June 17, 1992, for the New York Yankees | |||
| NPB: October 21, 1993, for the Yomiuri Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .256 | ||
| Home runs | 241 | ||
| Runs batted in | 716 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .215 | ||
| Home runs | 26 | ||
| Runs batted in | 53 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2023 | ||
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting with the Blue Jays (1981–1989)
The Blue Jays picked Jesse Barfield in the 1977 amateur draft. He made his big league debut in 1981, playing in 25 games. The next year, he became a regular player. He hit 18 home runs and had 58 runs batted in (RBI). He even hit the first pinch-hit grand slam in Blue Jays history! He quickly became an important part of the team.
In 1983, Barfield hit 27 home runs. The next year, his batting average went up to .284. Barfield, along with George Bell and Lloyd Moseby, formed one of the best outfields in baseball during the 1980s. They were known for their strong defense and hitting.
In 1985, Barfield had a great season. He batted .289, which was his career high. He hit 27 home runs and stole 22 bases. This made him the first Blue Jays player to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases in the same season. That year, the Blue Jays made it to the playoffs for the first time ever. In the playoffs, Barfield batted .280 with one home run.
Barfield's Best Season (1986)
Even though the Blue Jays didn't win their division in 1986, Barfield had his best personal season. He tied his career-high batting average of .289. He also hit 40 home runs, which led all of Major League Baseball! He had 108 RBI and 107 runs scored. His 40 home runs set a new team record.
In 1986, Barfield won two big awards: a Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense and a Silver Slugger Award for his powerful hitting. He was also chosen to play in the American League All-Star team.
In 1987, Barfield played in 159 games, which was the most in his career. He hit 28 home runs and won his second Gold Glove Award. In 1989, after playing 28 games, he was traded to the New York Yankees.
Time with the New York Yankees (1989–1992)
Barfield finished the 1989 season with the Yankees. He hit 18 home runs and had 56 RBI. In 1990, he hit 25 home runs. However, he didn't quite play as well as the Yankees had hoped. In 1991, he hit 17 home runs for a Yankees team that was struggling.
By 1992, injuries and not playing as effectively led to his retirement from Major League Baseball at age 32. He played his last game in June 1992.
Playing in Japan (1993)
In 1993, Barfield played baseball in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants. He reunited with his former Blue Jays teammate, Lloyd Moseby. He played in 104 games, hitting 26 home runs.
Career Overview
Jesse Barfield was known for swinging hard at pitches. Throughout his career, he hit 241 home runs and had 716 RBI in 1,428 games. He was inducted into the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990. In 2023, Barfield was also elected into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Life After Baseball
Jesse Barfield has two sons who also played baseball. His older son, Josh, played as an infielder for the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians. His other son, Jeremy, was drafted by the New York Mets in 2006. Jeremy played in the minor league systems for several teams.
After his playing career, Jesse Barfield worked as a color commentator for Blue Jays games on CBC in 2007 and 2008. He currently works at Competitive Edge Sports in The Woodlands, Texas.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
