1-01-1957 – GALEN CISCO, who had an outstanding collegiate football career as the captain and starting fullback for an OHIO STATE BUCKEYES team which captured the ROSE BOWL title with a 10-7 win over OREGON in this New Years Day classic game.

1-01-2000 – TONY ARIAS is named Director, Latin America Operations for the TORONTO BLUE JAYS. 1-02-2001 – IF/OF CHRIS STYNES signed as a free agent with the CHICAGO CUBS.

1-03-1991 – LHP JEFF FASSERO signed as a six-year minor league free agent with the MONTREAL EXPOS.

1-03-1996 – RHP ERIK HANSON was signed as a free agent by the TORONTO BLUE JAYS.

1-03-2000 – C RAUL CHAVEZ signed a minor league contract with the HOUSTON ASTROS.

1-03-2001 – RHP KENT BOTTENFIELD signed as a free agent with the HOUSTON ASTROS.

1-04-1983 – The BLUE JAYS announced that their player payroll would jump by $6 million for the 1983 season. It was only $850,000 in 1977.

1-06-1977 – The BLUE JAYS signed their first Canadian-born player, 17-year-old BOB ORAVEC, a pitcher from Toronto, who was assigned to their Class-A farm team.

1-06-1998 – OF DERRICK MAY signed a minor league contract with the MONTREAL EXPOS.

1-06-1998 – RHP JEFF ZIMMERMAN was signed as a free agent by the TEXAS RANGERS after having sent a fax to each of the 30 MLB teams. He had appeared with the WINNIPEG GOLDEYES in 1997, where he compiled a 9-2 record, with a 2.82 ERA, in 118 inning pitched, striking out 140 and walking only 35.

1-06-2000 – OF TERRY JONES was traded to the NEW YORK YANKEES by the LOS ANGELES DODGERS after having been signed to a minor league contract by them on 10-28-1999.

1-07-1976 – There almost never was a TORONTO BLUE JAYS franchise as rumors spread that LABATT's would buy the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS and move that franchise to Canada.

1-07-2002 – IF DAVID POST signed as a minor league free agent with the PITTSBURGH PIRATES.

1-08-1976 – JOHN McHALE, president of the MONTREAL EXPOS, supported the shift of the GIANTS to Toronto, looking forward to a strong baseball rivalry.

1-09-2001 – IF WILTON GUERRERO was signed to a one-year contract with an option for 2002 by the CINCINNATI REDS.

1-09-1976 – RHP VICTOR CRUZ was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the ST. LOUIS CARDINALS.

1-09-1979 – The BLUE JAYS selected SS MARK EICHHORN in the free agent draft, and then converted him into a pitcher.

1-09-1996 – RHP TODD STOTTLEMYRE was traded to the ST. LOUIS CARDINALS by the OAKLAND ATHLETICS in exchange for three minor league pitching prospects.

1-10-1984 – DENNIS LAMP is a free agent signee of the BLUE JAYS, who rebounded from a poor season that year to record an 11-0 mark in 1985, becoming the premier middle reliever in the AMERICAN LEAGUE.

1-10-1989 – PAUL BEESTON was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer for the TORONTO BLUE JAYS.

1-10-1990 – C ANGEL 'SANDY' MARTINEZ signed as a free agent by the TORONTO BLUE JAYS.

1-10-1996 – The BOSTON RED SOX traded LHP RHEAL CORMIER to the MONTREAL EXPOS, along with RHP SHAYNE BENNETT and IF RYAN McGUIRE, for IF WILFREDO CORDERO and LHP BRYAN EVERSGERD.

1-10-2000 – BOB DIDIER was named Major League Catching Instructor by the NEW YORK YANKEES, after having served with the TORONTO BLUE JAYS as a minor league manager and catching instructor from 1993-1996.

1-11-1976 – San Francisco mayor GEORGE MOSCONE vowed to fight the sale of the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS to Toronto and keep the team in his city.

1-11-1993 – LHP TONY CASTILLO re-signed as a free agent with the TORONTO BLUE JAYS.

1-12-1976 – A U.S. congressional committee recommended that the sale of the GIANTS be stopped and that Toronto be granted an expansion franchise instead.

1-12-1984 – AL LaMACCHIA was named Assistant to the President, Baseball Operations for the TORONTO BLUE JAYS.

1-13-1976 – The city of San Francisco filed a lawsuit accusing the GIANTS of breach of contract in a tactic to keep the team in that city.

1-14-2000 – RHP MIKE MORGAN signed a minor league contract with the ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS.

1-14-2001 – LHP DAVID WELLS and RHP MATT DeWITT were acquired by the CHICAGO WHITE SOX from the TORONTO BLUE JAYS in exchange for LHP MIKE SIROTKA, RHP KEVIN BEIRNE, RHP MIKE WILLIAMS and OF BRIAN SIMMONS.

1-14-1963 – 3B PETE WARD, SS RON HANSEN, OF DAVE NICHOLSON and RHP HOYT WILHELM were traded by the BALTIMORE ORIOLES to the CHICAGO WHITE SOX for SS LUIS APARICIO and OF AL SMITH.

1-14-1969 – The official logo and colors for the MONTREAL EXPOS are unveiled.

1-14-1996 – C PAT BORDERS was signed as a free agent by the ST. LOUIS CARDINALS.

1-15-1986 – JIMMY KEY, the most successful left-handed starting pitcher in TORONTO BLUE JAYS history, signed a new pact becoming the first player to have a drug-testing clause in his contract.

1-16-1974 – DUKE SNIDER was appointed as a special batting instructor for Spring Training by the MONTREAL EXPOS.

1-16-1984 – BILLY SMITH is appointed as the 1B Coach for the TORONTO BLUE JAYS, after having been Director of Player development since 10-19-1979.

1-16-1988 – LARRY WALKER missed the entire 1988 season after suffering a major career-threatening knee injury, sustained while playing Mexican Winter League Baseball for HERMOSILLO. His leg was placed in a cast for eight weeks, then he rehabbed over the next seven months.

1-16-1998 – Utilityman MIKE MORDECAI signed a minor league contract with the MONTREAL EXPOS.

1-16-2001 – OF CHAD MOTTOLA is sold to the FLORIDA MARLINS by the TORONTO BLUE JAYS.

1-17-1973 – C LUIS PUJOLS was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the HOUSTON ASTROS.

1-17-1977 –  BOBBY PRENTICE, the Canadian Scouting Director for the BLUE JAYS, signs two 18-year-old pitchers, TOM DEJAK and REMO CARDINALE, both of whom are natives of Toronto, assigning them to their yet to be named Class-A team.

1-17-1989 – MATT STAIRS was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the MONTREAL EXPOS, playing for ROCKFORD-A, JAMESTOWN-A, and WEST PALM BEACH-A during his first year in the professional ranks.

1-18-1980 – RONALD J. McCLAIN was named as the Trainer of the MONTREAL EXPOS, after having been both trainer / travelling secretary of the Class-AAA INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS, of the AMERICAN ASSOCIATIOn, from 1973-1979.

1-19-1979 – 1B ANDRES GALARRAGA is signed by the MONTREAL EXPOS as a non-drafted free agent on a recommendation by FELIPE ALOU.

1-19-1982 – LHP GRANT JACKSON was taded by the MONTREAL EXPOS to the KANSAS CITY ROYALS for 1B KEN PHELPS.

1-19-1999 – RHP EVERETT STULL was signed as a free agent by the ATLANTA BRAVES.

1-19-1999 – OF RYAN THOMPSON was signed to a minor league contract by the HOUSTON ASTROS.

1-20-1977 – The BLUE JAYS announced their inaugural season schedule with the opening game to be at home on 7 April against the CHICAGO WHITE SOX.

1-22-1969 – In their first trade, OF RUSTY STAUB was originally acquired by the MONTREAL EXPOS from the HOUSTON ASTROS in exchange for 1B DONN CLENDENON and OF JESUS ALOU, but the deal later turned into a seven player swap when Clendenon refused to report to the Astros.

1-22-1977 – Tickets for their first spring training games went on sale at the BLUE JAYS training camp location in DUNEDIN, Florida, for $ 2 per ticket.

1-22-2002 – BILL SINGER was named as a Special Assistant to the General Manager of the PITTSBURGH PIRATES.

1-23-1984 – Recognizing Toronto's continued improvement, Las Vegas bookmakers listed the BLUE JAYS at 10-to-1 to win the AMERICAN LEAGUE pennant, while in 1982 the team was rated at 400-to-1.

1-23-1990 – RHP GIOVANNI CARRARA signed as a non-drafted free agent with the TORONTO BLUE JAYS.

1-23-1996 – OF TIM RAINES was traded to the NEW YORK YANKEES by the CHICAGO WHITE SOX.

1-24-1969 – The MONTREAL EXPOS officially unveil their initial home / road uniforms.

1-24-1985 – RHP TOM "The Terminator" HENKE was claimed from the TEXAS RANGERS as free agent compensation for DH CLIFF JOHNSON.

1-24-1997 – IF GREG COLBRUNN signed as a free agent with the MINNESOTA TWINS.

1-24-1997 – RHP STAN SPENCER signed as a free agent with the SAN DIEGO PADRES.

1-24-1999 – GORD ASH was named as President, Baseball Operations and General Manager for the TORONTO BLUE JAYS, becoming one of only four Canadians to become a General Manager of a MLB club; others are GEORGE SELKIRK, MURRAY COOK and DOUG MELVIN.

1-25-1984 – Toronto signed five pitchers to new contracts on this date - JIM ACKER, JIM GOTT, JOEY McLAUGHLIN, MIKE MORGAN, and MATT WILLIAMS.

1-25-1999 – The HOUSTON ASTROS signed free agent RHP XAVIER HERNANDEZ.

1-25-1999 – OF TIM RAINES signed as a free agent with the OAKLAND ATHLETICS.

1-25-2002 – IF/OF MATT STAIRS was signed as a free agent by the MILWAUKEE BREWERS.

1-26-1985 – RHP JIM GOTT, RHP JACK McKNIGHT and IF AUGIE SCHMIDT were sent to
the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS in exchange for LHP GARY LAVELLE.

1-26-1998 – IF GREG COLBRUNN signs as a free agent with the COLORADO ROCKIES.

1-26-1999 – RHP MIKE MORGAN signed as a free agent with the TEXAS RANGERS.

1-27-1977 – The BLUE JAYS selected UTICA, New York, to be the site of their first Class-A minor league farm club, in the New York-Penn League.

1-27-2000 – C PAT BORDERS signs as a free agent with the TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS.

1-28-1986 – BOBBY PRENTICE, the Director of Canadian Scouting for the BLUE JAYS, is elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

1-28-1999 – OF ORLANDO MERCED signed a minor league contract with the MONTREAL EXPOS.

1-29-1980 – Incoming BLUE JAYS Manager BOBBY MATTICK relaxed rules for his players, as they now could wear long hair and beards; under initial Manager ROY HARTSFIELD, they were forbidden to do so.

1-30-1996 – C BENITO SANTIAGO signed as a free agent with the PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES.

1-31-1978 – ANDRE WOOD, a 19-year-old shortstop, and a native of the Bahamas, who can also play the outfield, was signed by the BLUE JAYS.