Barfield adds outfield assist
FORMER BLUE JAY GREAT ATTENDS VAUXHALL ACADEMY OF BASEBALL’S SCHOLARSHIP DINNER
One of the best outfield arms ever seen in major league baseball was in Vauxhall last weekend to lend a helping hand. Former Toronto Blue Jays right-fielder Jesse Barfield — who formed what is considered to have been one of the best outfields of the 1980s alongside George Bell and Lloyd Moseby — visited southern Alberta to attend the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball’s 11th annual Awards and Scholarship Banquet Saturday night as a guest speaker.
“It’s always a pleasure to be around the kids and sharing the moments and anything I can do to help out,” said Barfield. “Baseball is a great sport and there are a lot of little details that go into it. They’re doing a great job up here and hopefully my two cents will help.”
In addition to sharing a story or two from a memorable career, Barfield also spent some time with Vauxhall Academy players, sharing a few tricks of the trade.
Having shared the outfield alongside Bell and Moseby, the former Jay, who led American League outfielders in assists for three consecutive seasons from 1985 to 1987, brings some solid advice to the table.
He also brought a photo of the trio from back in their ’80s heyday on his trip to Vauxhall.
“I was just looking at an eight-by-10 (picture) today when I was packing up early this morning. In fact, I brought it up and I’ll show it later. It’s us goofing off in the dugout and having fun. But once that game started it was all business.”
Fans may talk about Barfield and his fellow outfielders’ offensive numbers, but it was defence that the trio focused on.
“Defensively there wasn’t a whole lot that was going to get by us,” he said. “We played counts. If it was in the hitter’s favour I would look over and we would shift to pull a couple a steps. It was like synchronized swimming. I would look over and they were shifting over at the same time.
“If the guy was behind the count, I’m shifting over toward the line. If it was a lefty, I’d look over and they’re shifting at the same time. Man, it was nice. We were always in tune with what was going on and we kept defence different from offence and a lot of kids need to realize that. You have to separate the two.”
His ability to gun down baserunners from right field started when he was young, even if baseball wasn’t his primary sport.
“I was always blessed with a good arm as a kid,” said Barfield. “I didn’t play Little League baseball until I was 12. I didn’t even like baseball. I played basketball, being from the Chicago area. That’s all we did.
“We had great coaches throughout. But I paid attention to guys like Dwight Evans and guys before me with their footwork and throwing habits and how they picked up the ball. The day I passed Dewey in outfield assists, I kind of chuckled. We’re good friends. But I chuckled and said ‘Dewey, this is quite an honour because you were my guy. I watched you and learned a lot from you.’ The thing is, there were probably other guys that had stronger arms, perhaps, but I took a lot of pride in the accuracy.”
On the weekend, Barfield shared that skill with some local talent.
“They (Vauxhall Academy) are connected with the Jays and the Jays are connected with the alumni,” he said. “We’re together in all this. Basically all of Canada are the Jays now, without Montreal. They do a do a good job of networking with coaches throughout Canada. I’m here because of them.”