Jim Clancy, a former pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and 1982 All-Star, passed away on July 12, 2025, at the age of 69. The Blue Jays announced his death on social media but did not disclose the cause.
Clancy played for the Blue Jays for 12 of his 15 Major League Baseball seasons after being chosen sixth overall in the 1976 MLB expansion draft. He made his debut on July 26, 1977, against the Texas Rangers at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, allowing five earned runs in two innings in a 14-0 defeat.
The Blue Jays issued a statement expressing their condolences, mentioning that Clancy “spent 12 of his 15 Major League seasons with Toronto.” They noted his lasting impact on the franchise and extended sympathies to his family and friends.
Clancy ended the Blue Jays’ inaugural year with a 4-9 record, improving to a 10-12 record in 1978. Despite the team’s last-place finish in the American League East with a 59-102 record, Clancy became a key part of the starting rotation alongside Dave Stieb as the team grew more competitive in the early 1980s.
In 1982, Clancy earned his only All-Star selection with a 16-14 record and a 3.71 ERA, striking out 139 batters over 266⅔ innings. He led Major League Baseball with 40 starts, helping the Blue Jays avoid a last-place finish in the AL East with a 78-84 record. In 1984, he led the American League with 36 starts.
Clancy served as Toronto’s opening-day starter in 1981 and 1984. He achieved a 9-6 record with a 3.78 ERA in 1985 when the Blue Jays secured their first division title but lost to the Kansas City Royals in the AL Championship Series, marking his only postseason appearance with Toronto.
Known for his endurance, Clancy started over 30 games eight times with the Blue Jays and pitched more than 200 innings six times. He completed 73 games while with Toronto, exemplifying the workload of pitchers during that time.
After a challenging 1988 season, during which he posted an 11-13 record with a 4.49 ERA, Clancy signed with the Houston Astros as a free agent. He spent 1989 and 1990 with Houston, appearing in 96 games, including 36 starts, recording a 5.02 ERA and 168 strikeouts.
In July 1991, Clancy was traded to the Atlanta Braves for his final MLB season, where he transitioned to a relief role. He pitched in 24 games out of the bullpen for Atlanta, achieving his first postseason win in Game 3 of the World Series against the Minnesota Twins. Despite finishing with a 1-0 record and a 4.15 ERA, the Twins won the series in seven games.
Throughout his 15-year career, Clancy compiled a 140-167 record, a 4.23 ERA, and 1,422 strikeouts in 2,517⅓ innings. He appeared in 472 games, including 381 starts, and earned 10 saves during his later years with Houston and Atlanta. He ranks second in Blue Jays franchise history for starts, innings pitched, and complete games, and third in wins.
Former teammate Jesse Barfield honored Clancy on social media, calling him an anchor of the pitching staff and emphasizing his reputation as a competitor. Barfield noted that Clancy always gave the team a chance to win.
Another former teammate, Todd Stottlemyre, who played one season with Clancy, also remembered him fondly. Stottlemyre recalled Clancy’s kindness during his rookie year and described him as a dedicated player.
Originally from the Chicago area, Clancy was selected by the Blue Jays in the fourth round of the 1974 Major League Baseball draft out of high school, beginning a career that spanned nearly two decades. His longevity in the majors, during a time when starters were expected to pitch deep into games, showcased his consistency and reliability.
Clancy’s career paralleled the Blue Jays’ growth from an expansion team to a competitive presence in the American League East. While he did not win a World Series with Toronto, his contributions laid the groundwork for the organization’s championship runs in 1992 and 1993.
