Former five-time All-Star Tony Fernandez passed away Saturday night at age 57, according to Hector Gomez of Deportivo Z 101 (Twitter link). Fernandez suffered a brain stroke while he was already in hospital receiving treatment for complications from kidney disease, and Fernandez was placed in an induced coma two weeks ago.
Fernandez appeared in part of 17 Major League seasons from 1983-2001, suiting up for seven different teams but making his biggest impact with the Blue Jays. Over four separate stints with Toronto, Fernandez played 1450 of his 2158 MLB games in a Jays uniform, and is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, hits (1583), singles (1160), triples (72), and bWAR (37.5). A switch-hitting offensive contributor who hit .288/.347/.399 over 8793 career plate appearances, Fernandez was even more highly regarded for his defense, winning four consecutive Gold Gloves at shortstop between 1986-89.
Though Fernandez was dealt to the Padres along with Fred McGriff in the blockbuster December 1990 trade that brought Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter to Toronto, Fernandez returned to the Jays in time to help his old club capture its second consecutive World Series title. The Jays re-acquired Fernandez in a June 1993 deal with the Mets, and the shortstop hit .306/.361/.442 in 390 regular season PA with the Jays in 1993, and then .333/.423/.381 over 26 plate appearances during the 1993 World Series. Fernandez also posted a 1.022 OPS over 34 PA during the ALCS and World Series for the Indians in 1997, during the Tribe’s run to Game Seven against the eventual world champion Marlins.
The MLB Trade Rumors staff sends our condolences and best wishes to Fernandez’s family, friends, and many fans.
HalosHeavenJJ
57 is young. He was fun to watch. Always played hard. RIP.
thatsright
Always rooted against him because as a player he was a rival. Much respect, Tony, you put fear in me when you were up or when the ball came your way. RIP.
caldo19
Better to burn out than to fade away. The dude lived life hard and happy. RIP
FrostyPucker
It makes you think. I’m the same age as him. It really does make you think about things more.
drew ford
This is so sad. He was one of the iconic Blue Jays during their original post-expansion rise to contention. Gone too soon.
JayRyder
Rest in Peace
toycannon
Nooooooooooooooooo
padreshalxmon
Rest In Peace
dalrob
The best shortstop, and second best infielder (Sorry Donaldson) in Jays history. Only Alomar surpassed Tony’s superior fielding. And not by much.
imgman09
Watch his whole Career,Loved watching him Play!RIP and Prayers for the Family!
corey
As a kid growing up in the 80s, he was one of my favorites, a great glove and a great bat. Best wishes to his family, he will be remembered, by this fan, as a passionate go getter that stood out as a focused, hard working grinder that was what we (as kids) looked up to and respected.. He was to young, but in his limited time, he left his mark!
Mikel Grady
Well said Corey
OilCanLloyd
Awe man. He was truly one of the good guys. Really sorry to hear this. Baseball lost a good one.
FishyHalo
Way too young. RIP Fernandez.
Aoe3
That 1999 all star season at 37yo with Toronto was truly amazing!
jimmertee
What a great ballplayer and person.
We had a saying: “as Fernandez went well so did the Jays”.
Enjoy heaven.
mustang
The Yankees SS that got hurt in Spring Training.
His replacement Derek Jeter.
RIP
EasternLeagueVeteran
Interesting note about that 1996 Yankees season: FOUR players ended the season with more walks than strikeouts: Boggs, O’Neill, Bernie Williams and Tim Raines. Jeter, who took over for the injured Tony, did not. But tony had accomplished that feat for the Yankees the year before, 1995, and the preceding 3 years prior.
sufferforsnakes
A great glove. Sadly, I will remember him as the guy who booted a simple ground ball in the ‘97 World Series.
nowheredan
On the other hand, his home run against Baltimore got you guys to the WS in the first place.
Rangers29
I wasn’t lucky enough to see most of his career, but the part I did see he seemed like a class act. R.I.P
honey nut ichiros
Sad to hear this news. RIP Tony Fernandez.
MWeller77
I was a teenager growing up in San Diego when the McGriff-Alomar-Carter trade went down. I can’t believe that Tony Fernandez has passed at such a young age. Best wishes and condolences to his loved ones.
crazylarry
Played on a scary good Jays team. Time passes quickly.
nymetsking
RIP Tony.
Vin Scully
RIP Tony. Way too young to go.
Big glove502
as an nl west fan, I remember him best as a padre. but at 8-12 years old I only had access to so much baseball. I’m gonna check out all of his career and wish his family the best in this tough time.
Rsox
Rip
phenomenalajs
RIP, Tony.
padnastikador
I used to love watching Tony Fernandez play when I was younger. Heck of a ballplayer. He will be missed. RIP, Tony.
chicagofan1978
Very sad I was a huge fan of his may god have mercy on his soul.
InvalidUserID 2
Super solid player. RIP
em650r
Damm I remember him. RIP
Frisco500
He was lights out in an video game I used to play. And a really good player in real life. Sad news.
Chin Music
Which video game if you don’t mind me asking?
Frisco500
Ahh I’ve had so many baseball games over the years, I cant remember off top. I’ll have to think about it. I remember he wasn’t rated very high, but out hit most of the stars in the game. Just lacked power.
Maybe All-Star Baseball (ps2)
rudyrudnick
I AM SO SORRY to hear this terrible new great play and one of the games true gentelmen
hiflew
Before A-Rod, Nomar, and Jeter, there was Cal, Alan, and Tony. They were THE 80s trio of shortstops that redefined the position.
RIP to a true gentleman of the game.
Rubblebucket
Ozzie Smith wasn’t to bad
SDHotDawg
Ozzie was a wizard with the glove. His bat – especially with the Padres – was another story.
hiflew
Ozzie Smith was great, but he was more of a supersized version of the old guard of shortstops, the great field/no hit variety.
Cal/Alan/Tony redefined the position and showed that shortstops could hit as well as field.
realgone2
Damn.RIP.great player. I feel old now
jetup12
Very sad.
turner9
Sad day in Jays land.
You’ll be missed Tony.
R.I.P
maxorange33
Tony had the unique but effective style of looping the ball over to first on a grounder that was a thing of beauty. Most guys planted and threw a dart but Tony would just run through the play and in one smooth motion would toss a rainbow over. RIP Mr. Fernandez, you were special.
George
One of the best players ever signed by the Blue Jays, and a special human being. Gone too soon.
uvmfiji
No injuries, no Padres trade, no Alfredo Griffin, no Japan, no players strike, not getting hit in the head, would he have had 3000 hits? HOF? He was a joy to watch.
30 Parks
I used to imitate Tony’s flip-throw to first base when I was in Little League. Loved watching Tony play with the Jays. Great memories.
Joegio
RIP fly with the Angels. The great ones fie young. I’ll always remember when the GREAT ONE DIED, Roberto Clemente. I was 15 I idolized Roberto. Again RIP TONY
DarkSide830
here’s someone that really flys under the radar nowadays. long and productive career. rough to go so soon, RIP.
Nobby
Good ball player, excellent shortstop.
agrorolm
Fun to watch. He played a great smooth shortstop. Good clutch hitter. R.I.P. Tony “Cabeza” (as we caribbeans nicknamed him) Fernandez.
swany
I remember an early interview where they asked him why he did not walk more. He told them something along the lines of you do not get off the island walking to 1st base. You get off the island hitting the ball and running past 1st base.
SDHotDawg
Nice quote, but that was Benito Santiag who said it.
Tony walked amost as much as he struck out. It was never an issue.
JamesDaltOn
Got to watch him play at the old Busch Stadium while he was a Padre. I remember this because he took the time to sign an autograph for me. RIP
Mrtwotone
Good Depth move!
its_happening
Very sad news. The plays he used to make in Toronto was must-see TV. An incredible and underrated shortstop. One of the greatest Boue Jays ever.
its_happening
*Blue
martyfan
I was excited to see him sign with the Reds. Always a very good all around player.
Prayers for his family and friends.
Ducey
One of the reasons I became a baseball fan. That flip throw, just poking the ball the other way, a switch hitter. Very smart. Always looked like he would break as he was so skinny. Impossible not to love the guy.
Thanks Tony!
bigbadjohnny
VERY GOOD HITTER IN HIS TIME……..PRAYERS FOR HIS FAMILY.
ChiSoxCity
RIP
rustyrazor45
Sad to see players you watch growing up pass away so young.
osfandan
I was at the ALDS game in 1997 where he eliminated the Orioles. Hit an opposite field HR off Armando Benitez in the 7th or 8th to break a scoreless tie, if my memory serves me correctly. I was 12 and remember the heartbreak like it was yesterday.
dynamite drop in monty
I was at that game as well!
Gwynning's Anal Lover
If you had the chance to know Tony, he was a really nice person who was a bit on the humble side. I’m so sorry this happened to him. Super nice guy who was taken too soon. Along with everyone else, we’ll miss him.
brucenewton
Late career resurgence after sitting out a year.
robluca21
Very sad..my father passed away about 2 weeks ago at the same exact age. 57 is way too young in 2020
bluemonday
I remember watching a beer league baseball game while visiting the Domican Republic. Every shortstop threw sidearm to first base like Tony Fernandez
Joegio
Sorry about your father, rob. My dad passed at 61 when I was 21. 44 years ago. Day doesnt go by that I dont think of him. Remember people dont die if you keep them in your thoughts. your heart and dreams.
USNMariner
What I remember most about #1 was he never stopped smiling. He could pop up for an out or hit a double down the line to score 2 and still have that same smile. It was like he knew a joke that was too raunchy to share but was funny as hell. Oh, AND he never stopped working his ass off. Ever. RIP.
SDHotDawg
He will be missed. I loved watching him play for my Padres in 91 and 92. He was a great all around ballplayer. Rest in peace.
brucenewton
Late career resurgence after taking a year off.
letmeclearmythroat74
He was o my in Cincinnati for a minute , but loved watching him play ….
Dan LeBlanc
If I’m not mistaken, Tony Fernandez holds the MLB record for hits in a single season by a shortstop with 213 in 1986. Tony was one hell of a ball player.
MoRivera 1999
Jeter had 214 (2006), 216 (2012) and 219 (1999). The 216 and 219 led the league. But Fernandez was quite a hitter, too. He would have topped 3,000 hits if he’d had Jeter’s # of plate appearances.
BJ Ozymandias
My favorite Jay growing up in the 80’s (I’m 41)…what a smooth defender with a steady bat. RIP brother
Phiilies2020
Maybe not a Hall of Famer, but not far off. If he would have reached 100 homers (instead of 94), 300 steals (265) and got those hits closer to 2,500 (2,250)– he’d be in the conversation.
Ash paladium
Great player. Wonder if steroids had anything to do with his early death. Steroids certainly do ruin your kidneys and liver too. MLB is full of steroid and HGH users now.
StillSkydome
Kidney problems ran in his family (as reported by Toronto media and confirmed by former teammate/manager Buck Martinez). He’d been in decline for several years.
TrumpCard
Liked watching him play. RIP Tony
rycm131
Again?
filthyrich
Number One Blue Jay.
Thanks for all that shared some their fave bits so far.
Clips of his throws from deep in the hole are keeping me smiling these past couple days.
And (sorry Phils fans) some clips with focus on how clutch he was in the 1993 World Series has added a couple smiles.
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned anywhere was his little scream he’d let out before being hit by pitch.
Always cracked me up a little bit.
Apparently he would get razzed a little by teammates about this reaction, even prior to his horrific experience being hit in the face by a pitch in 1989,