The 1978 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's second season of Major League Baseball. It resulted in the Blue Jays finishing seventh in the American League East with a record of 59 wins and 102 losses.
Offseason Transactions Transactions by the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season before the 1978 season. October 1977 Released Phil Roof. Purchased Joe Henderson from the Cincinnati Reds.
November 1977 Signed free agent Luis Gómez from the Minnesota Twins to a contract.
December 1977 Selected Willie Upshaw from the New York Yankees in the 1977 MLB Rule 5 draft. Acquired Tom Underwood and Víctor Cruz from the St. Louis Cardinals for Pete Vuckovich and a player to be named later (John Scott on December 16, 1977). Acquired Pat Kelly and Butch Alberts from the California Angels for Ron Fairly. Purchased Tommy Hutton from the Philadelphia Phillies.
January 1978 Acquired Mike Cosgrove from the Cleveland Indians in an unknown transaction. Signed free agent Mark DeJohn of the New York Mets to a contract.
February 1978 Signed free agent Luis Meléndez from the San Diego Padres to a contract. Purchased Steve Grilli from the Detroit Tigers.
March 1978 Signed Charlie Puleo as an amateur free agent. Acquired Rico Carty from the Cleveland Indians for Dennis DeBarr. Acquired Rick Bosetti from the St. Louis Cardinals for Tom Bruno and cash. Released Doug Rader. Released Jerry Johnson. Acquired Mickey Scott from the California Angels for Mike Cosgrove. Acquired Sheldon Mallory from the Oakland Athletics for Steve Staggs. Released Héctor Torres. Selected Larry Demery off of waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Released Joe Henderson. Purchased Mike Stanton from the Houston Astros. Signed free agent Dave Wallace from the Philadelphia Phillies to a contract. Returned Larry Demery to the Pittsburgh Pirates following previous waiver transaction.
Regular season
Opening Day starters Alan Ashby Bob Bailor Rick Bosetti Rico Carty Jerry Garvin Luis Gómez Roy Howell Tommy Hutton John Mayberry Dave McKay Dave Lemanczyk
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Transactions Transactions for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1978 regular season. April 1978 Purchased John Mayberry from the Kansas City Royals. Released Mark DeJohn. Purchased Don Kirkwood from the Chicago White Sox. Purchased Balor Moore from the California Angels. Acquired Tim Johnson from the Milwaukee Brewers for Tim Nordbrook.
May 1978 Signed free agent Tom Buskey from the Texas Rangers as a free agent. Purchased Joe Coleman from the Oakland Athletics.
July 1978 Sold player rights of Tommy Hutton to the Montreal Expos.
August 1978 Acquired Willie Horton and Phil Huffman from the Oakland Athletics for Rico Carty.
September 1978 Acquired Mark Wiley from the San Diego Padres for Andy Dyes. Purchased Dale Mohorcic from the Victoria Mussels of the Northwest League.
Roster 1978 Toronto Blue Jays Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders
Other batters Manager
Coaches (Hitting) (First base) (Pitching) (Third base) (Bullpen)
Game log
|- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || April 6 || @ Tigers || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for April 7 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 7 || @ Tigers || 2–6 || Fidrych (1–0) || Lemanczyk (0–1) || || 52,528 || 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || April 8 || @ Tigers || 5–2 || Garvin (1–0) || Slaton (0–1) || Willis (1) || 12,413 || 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 9 || @ Tigers || 4–8 || Billingham (1–0) || Underwood (0–1) || Faucault (1) || 9,169 || 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 11 || @ White Sox || 5–9 || Kravec (1–0) || Jefferson (0–1) || Torrealba (1) || 3,347 || 1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 12 || @ White Sox || 4–5 || Stone (1–0) || Lemanczyk (0–2) || LaGrow (2) || 5,742 || 1–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || April 14 || Tigers || 10–8 || Kirkwood (1–0) || Wilcox (0–1) || Murphy (1) || 35,761 || 2–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 15 || Tigers || 3–6 || Billingham (2–0) || Willis (0–1) || Faucault (2) || 15,024 || 2–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 16 || Tigers || 3–4 || Crawford (1–0) || Clancy (0–1) || || 17,088 || 2–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 17 || Royals || 1–2 || Gura (1–0) || Jefferson (0–2) || Hrabosky (3) || 10,169 || 2–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 18 || Royals || 0–5 || Splittorff (3–0) || Lemanczyk (0–3) || || 10,218 || 2–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 11 || April 19 || Yankees || 4–3 || Murphy (1–0) || Gossage (0–3) || || 13,306 || 3–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || April 20 || Yankees || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for September 20 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 21 || White Sox || 2–11 || Barrios (1–1) || Underwood (0–2) || LaGrow (3) || 10,108 || 3–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || April 22 || White Sox || 4–2 || Clancy (1–1) || Wood (0–3) || Willis (2) || 44,327 || 4–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 14 || April 23 || White Sox || 4–0 || Jefferson (1–2) || Stone (1–1) || || 17,427 || 5–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 24 || Indians || 2–4 || Hood (1–0) || Lemanczyk (0–4) || Kern (1) || 10,776 || 5–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 25 || Indians || 5–6 || Garland (2–2) || Garvin (1–1) || Kinney (2) || 11,348 || 5–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || April 26 || @ Royals || 3–1 || Murphy (2–0) || Splittorff (4–1) || || 19,545 || 6–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 18 || April 27 || @ Royals || 8–7 || Moore (1–0) || Bird (1–1) || Willis (3) || 17,422 || 7–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 28 || @ Angels || 4–5 || Miller (1–0) || Jefferson (1–3) || LaRoche (5) || 16,575 || 7–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 29 || @ Angels || 0–5 || Ryan (1–1) || Lemanczyk (0–5) || || 24,354 || 7–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 21 || April 30 || @ Angels || 9–3 || Garvin (2–1) || Knapp (3–2) || || 27,367 || 8–13
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || May 2 || @ Athletics || 1–2 || Keough (2–0) || Underwood (0–3) || Sosa (4) || 5,663 || 8–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || May 3 || @ Athletics || 3–11 || Broberg (4–0) || Clancy (1–2) || Lacey (2) || 2,512 || 8–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || May 5 || @ Mariners || 1–9 || Honeycutt (2–3) || Jefferson (1–4) || || 4,824 || 8–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 6 || @ Mariners || 0–6 || Mitchell (2–3) || Lemanczyk (0–6) || || 7,589 || 8–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 7 || @ Mariners || 9–7 || Romo (3–0) || Willis (0–2) || || 12,489 || 8–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || May 8 || Athletics || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for July 21 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 27 || May 9 || Athletics || 4–0 || Underwood (1–3) || Broberg (4–1) || || 11,339 || 9–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 28 || May 10 || Athletics || 3–1 || Clancy (2–2) || Langford (0–2) || || 21,766 || 10–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 29 || May 12 || Mariners || 8–3 || Jefferson (2–4) || Rawley (0–3) || || 11,518 || 11–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 13 || Mariners || 6–9 || Pole (3–4) || Lemanczyk (0–7) || Romo (3) || 21,350 || 11–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || May 14 || Mariners || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for July 24 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 31 || May 15 || Angels || 10–6 || Moore (2–0) || Hartzell (0–3) || || 11,295 || 12–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 32 || May 16 || Angels || 5–4 || Willis (1–2) || Aase (2–2) || Murphy (2) || 12,044 || 13–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || May 17 || @ Orioles || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for July 5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 18 || @ Orioles || 3–5 || Flanagan (4–3) ||Clancy (2–3) || || 4,255 || 13–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 19 || Yankees || 3–11 || Tidrow (2–3) || Jefferson (2–5) || || 26,025 || 13–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || May 20 || Yankees || 10–8 || Lemanczyk (1–7) || Clay (0–2) || || 30,550 || 14–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 21 || Yankees || 1–2 || Figueroa (5–1) || Underwood (1–4) || Gossage (6) || || 14–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 21 || Yankees || 1–9 || Clay (1–2) || Garvin (2–2) || || 41,308 || 14–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 22 || Red Sox || 4–5 || Ripley (1–3) || Clancy (2–4) || Stanley (3) || 25,054 || 14–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 39 || May 23 || Red Sox || 2–1 (12) || Jefferson (3–5) || Campbell (2–4) || || 14,578 || 15–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 24 || Red Sox || 2–8 || Torrez (6–2) || Lemanczyk (1–8) || || 28,825 || 15–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 25 || Red Sox || 5–9 || Eckersley (4–1) || Underwood (1–5) || Drago (4) || 17,197 || 15–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 26 || @ Yankees || 3–4 || Lyle (3–1) || Garvin (2–3) || || 24,171 || 15–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 43 || May 27 || @ Yankees || 4–1 || Clancy (3–4) || Figueroa (5–2) || Murphy (3) || 56,078 || 16–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 28 || @ Yankees || 3–5 || Guidry (7–0) || Jefferson (3–6) || || 41,534 || 16–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 28 || @ Yankees || 5–6 (13) || Gossage (3–4) || Murphy (2–1) || || 42,344 || 16–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 29 || @ Red Sox || 4–5 || Torrez (7–2) || Underwood (1–6) || || 25,935 || 16–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || May 30 || @ Red Sox || 0–4 || Eckersley (5–1) || Garvin (2–4) || || 25,853 || 16–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 48 || May 31 || @ Red Sox || 6–2 || Clancy (4–4) || Lee (7–2) || || 27,945 || 17–31
|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 49 || June 2 || Rangers || 3–1 || Jefferson (4–6) || Matlack (5–6) || || 25,273 || 18–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 50 || June 3 || Rangers || 4–3 || Underwood (2–6) || Umbarger (2–5) || Murphy (4) || 32,021 || 19–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || June 4 || Rangers || 5–9 || Ellis (4–2) || Lemanczyk (1–9) || Comer (1) || 28,374 || 19–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || June 7 || @ Indians || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for June 25 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || June 7 || @ Indians || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for September 11 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 9 || @ Brewers || 2–3 (10) || Caldwell (6–3) || Murphy (2–2) || || 9,959 || 19–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 10 || @ Brewers || 0–5 || Travers (3–2) || Garvin (2–5) || || 25,889 || 19–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 11 || @ Brewers || 1–2 || Sorensen (8–4) || Underwood (2–7) || || || 19–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 11 || @ Brewers || 4–5 || Stein (2–1) || Murphy (2–3) || || 21,568 || 19–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || June 12 || Twins || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for June 13 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 13 || Twins || 0–2 || Goltz (3–4) || Moore (2–1) || Marshall (8) || || 19–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 13 || Twins || 2–7 || Zahn (6–4) || Clancy (4–5) || || 14,489 || 19–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 14 || Brewers || 5–7 || Castro (2–0) || Murphy (2–4) || || || 19–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 14 || Brewers || 0–5 || Augustine (6–8) || Garvin (2–6) || || 28,346 || 19–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 60 || June 16 || @ Rangers || 8–3 || Underwood (3–7) || Ellis (5–3) || || || 20–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 61 || June 16 || @ Rangers || 5–2 || Jefferson (5–6) || Moret (0–1) || Murphy (5) || 20,660 || 21–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"