1979 Toronto Blue Jays season

The 1979 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's third season of Major League Baseball. It resulted in the Blue Jays finishing seventh in the American League East with a record of 53 wins and 109 losses. The Blue Jays were the only American League East team to finish 1979 with a losing record and the loss total of 109 set the franchise mark; it is also the last time as of 2023 the team lost over 100 games in a season. Attendance for the season decreased to 1,431,651.

Transactions
Transactions by the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season before the 1979 season.

Regular season
Following the team's poor performance, manager Roy Hartsfield was fired at the end of the season. One highlight of the season was the awarding of the American League Rookie of the Year Award to Alfredo Griffin.

The end of the 1979 season marked a crossroads for the franchise. The first real talent from the minor leagues had made it to the major league roster. Such talent included pitcher Dave Stieb and third baseman Danny Ainge.

Opening Day starters

 * Bob Bailor
 * Rick Bosetti
 * Rico Carty
 * Rick Cerone
 * Jim Clancy
 * Alfredo Griffin
 * Roy Howell
 * John Mayberry
 * Dave McKay
 * Alvis Woods

Transactions
Transactions for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1979 regular season.

Draft picks

 * June 5, 1979: 1979 Major League Baseball draft
 * Future NFL quarterback Jay Schroeder was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1st round, but did not sign.
 * Ron Shepherd was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 2nd round.
 * Ron Romanick was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 3rd round, but did not sign.
 * Andre Robertson was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 4th round.

Starters by position
''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases''

Other batters
''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases''

Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Awards and honours

 * Alfredo Griffin, American League Rookie of the Year Award
 * Alfredo Griffin, Player of the Month Award, September

All-Star Game
 * Dave Lemanczyk, reserve