Former Blue Jays right-hander Jim Clancy dead at 69

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation
By Tyson Shushkewich | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 7:00 AM ET

The Toronto Blue Jays announced yesterday that former big leaguer Jim Clancy has passed away at the age of 69. No cause of death was revealed.

Clancy, a former fourth-round draft pick of the Texas Rangers, was acquired by the Jays during the 1976 expansion draft and spent 12 seasons with the Jays, spanning from 1977 through 1988. With Toronto, the Illinois product authored a 4.10 ERA through 2204 2/3 innings, striking out 1237 batters compared to 814 walks through 352 outings (345 starts).

The right-hander was an All-Star in 1982, compiling a 5.0 bWAR while also making a league high 40 starts to the tune of 266 2/3 innings. He would lead the AL in starts again in 1984, toeing the rubber 36 times. His second-best campaign came in 1987, when he authored a 3.54 ERA to the tune of a 4.9 bWAR across 37 starts and 241 1/3 innings.

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Blue Jays great, Jim Clancy.

Clancy spent 12 of his 15 Major League seasons with Toronto – including an All-Star appearance in 1982 – and ranks second in franchise history in starts, innings pitched, and complete games.

His impact on… pic.twitter.com/9nASV1IIbb

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 14, 2025

After spending 12 seasons with Toronto, Clancy became a free agent following the 1988 season and signed with the Houston Astros, making 96 appearences for the club through two and a half seasons. He would be traded to the Atlanta Braves in late July of 1991, and finished the season with the Braves. That would be his last year in the big leagues, with Clancy signing a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox for the 1992 season but retiring shortly into spring training.

For such a long tenure with Toronto, Clancy finds himself on numerous leaderboards for the Blue Jays organization. He sits second in innings pitched, games started, and complete games (73), third in strikeouts, wins (128) and shutouts (11), fifth in bWAR (24.8), and eighth in games played (352).

Upon retiring, Clancy would finish his career with a 20.8 bWAR, 4.04 FIP, and a 4.23 ERA through 472 big league appearances and 2517 1/3 innings.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: