Jesse Barfield

Jesse Barfield played 12 seasons in the big leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees from 1981 to 1992. Barfield got his start in professional basketball after being selected in the ninth round of the 1977 MLB Draft out of Central High School in Joliet, Illinois. Over the next four years he worked his way up the Blue Jays minor league system and made his MLB debut in 1981. Over the 12 seasons he was one of the most consistent players in the league, both at the plate and in right field. Barfield’s best season came in 1986, when he hit .289 with 35 doubles, 108 RBI, 107 runs scored and a league leading 40 homeruns. His performance that season earned him All-Star honors, a Gold Glove Award and a Silver Slugger Award. He followed that performance up by hitting 28 homeruns in 1987 and earning a second Gold Glove Award in right field. After the 1992 season he took his talents to Japan and played briefly for the Yomiuri Giants in 1993 before returning to retire as a member of the Houston Astros in 1994. After his retirement he saw time as a color commentator for Blue Jays games and currently works at Competitive Edge Sports in Texas.