Toronto Blue Jays
In 1977, Peter Bavasi, general manager of the expansion Toronto Blue Jays, hired Hartsfield, whom he had worked with in the Dodgers and Padres organizations, as the Blue Jays' first-ever manager. Hartsfield was quoted two decades later as saying that "the guys I managed the year before in Hawaii (in the triple-A Pacific Coast League) were probably a better team."[1] Hartsfield led the Blue Jays to a 54–107 record in the 1977 season, 45.5 games behind the eventual World Series champion New York Yankees.[1] Notable games from the season include a 9–5 win against the Chicago White Sox on Opening Day and a 19–3 victory over the Yankees on September 10.[1]
The Blue Jays improved slightly in 1978, compiling a 59–103 record,[1] although they still finished the season in last place.[1] The Blue Jays finished second to last in runs scored and earned run average.[1] In 1979, however, the Blue Jays regressed to 53–109, their worst showing yet and the worst showing of any American League team since 1966. Hartsfield was unpopular with the Blue Jays players, and by August the team was in open revolt against him, with players airing their grievances in the media on a near-daily basis.[3]
Having lost over 100 games in each of his three years as manager, and having been very publicly criticized by the Toronto sports media for apparently having lost control of the team, Hartsfield was let go at the conclusion of the 1979 season and replaced by Bobby Mattick. "This year, we should win 10 more games on attitude alone", enthused pitcher Mark Lemongello about the managerial change.[4] In fact, the team improved by 14 games that year.
This would be Hartsfield's only managerial job in Major League Baseball.[1] He compiled a record of 166–318 (.343) in 484 games,[5] giving Hartsfield the worst managerial winning percentage since World War II (among managers with 200 games or more).[6] His teams finished last in the American League East Division in each of his three seasons.
