A Milwaukee Brewers' Legend Led The Toronto Blue Jays To Their Last World Series Title

[Tim Muma]

The Toronto Blue Jays hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, the first time the Canadian club has played in the Fall Classic since 1993. The franchise won its second consecutive title that season, led by World Series MVP and Milwaukee Brewers legend, Paul Molitor. One could argue that’s the closest Brew Crew fans have come to tasting a championship, watching Molitor dominate and celebrate while wearing Robin Yount’s number 19 on his back.

Of course, nothing would compare to everyone going nuts with their fellow Brewers’ fans as the team piles onto each other and hoists the franchise’s first World Series trophy. But maybe for some, he at least gave them a morsel of enjoyment and pride. It was also bittersweet watching him collect hit after hit, continuing to prove his “clutchness” he established across 15 seasons in Milwaukee.

Molitor couldn’t be stopped in the ‘93 Fall Classic, and despite Joe Carter’s iconic walk-off home run to give the Jays their second straight title, Molitor was the obvious choice for MVP. In six World Series games that year, “The Ignitor” did it all:

• .500/.571/1.000/1.571
• 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs
• 10 runs scored
• 8 RBI
• 3 walks, 1 HBP, 0 strikeouts

In going 12-for-24 in the series, Molitor had a hit in every game. He also had two three-hit contests and a pair of three-hit games (and again, zero strikeouts). His 10 runs scored in one World Series are tied for the most in MLB history, while his 24 total bases rank fifth all-time. His dominance peaked in ’93, but Brewers fans shouldn’t forget his postseason production in Milwaukee: a .826 OPS over 17 games, highlighted by becoming the first player ever to notch five hits in a World Series game.

All of Molitor’s numbers speak for themselves when it comes to value, especially with the Blue Jays. But the most telling thing about that series might have been what manager Cito Gaston did during Games 3-5 played in Philadelphia. Recall that back then, when the National League team was at home, the pitchers would have to bat, meaning Molitor couldn’t DH as he had in 137 regular-season games that year. The 23 times he was in the field, Molitor played first base.




But at 37, Molitor led MLB with 211 hits, slashed .332/.402/.509, and racked up 121 runs and 111 RBI. There was no way Gaston could justify benching him for the road games in Philadelphia. So, with a lefty starting Game 3, he slotted Molitor in at first base and sat John Olerud. Sure, Olerud was a left-handed hitter—but he was also the American League batting champ at .363, while topping the league in OBP (.473), OPS (1.072), and doubles (54). Can you imagine the Twitter debates over that move today?

Molitor made him look like a genius. He drove in a pair of runs in the first inning with a triple, then scoring on a sacrifice fly to put Toronto up 3-0 after half an inning. Two innings later, Molitor blasted a two-out solo homer to increase the lead to four. Overall, he went 3-for-4 with a walk, three runs and three RBI as the Blue Jays won 10-3 to take a 2-1 series lead.

For Games 4 and 5, Molitor moved over to third base in place of Ed Sprague. It was definitely a defensive gamble as he hadn’t played that position in two years and only 18 innings in the previous four seasons combined. Molitor went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, two runs and two RBI with Toronto winning 15-14. He would only go 1-for-4 in Game 5 as Curt Schilling shut down the Blue Jays in a 2-0 win. But Gaston’s belief in the Hall-of-Famer paid off as Toronto took a 3-2 series lead back home.

Two nights later, Molitor would technically score the run that won the World Series, crossing the plate ahead of Carter on his title-clinching home run. No surprise Molitor was on base for the winner, going 3-for-5 with a triple, a homer, three runs and two RBI in his final postseason game.

Though Brewers’ fans couldn’t take the same pleasure in winning a championship like Molitor could, many were happy for him - inside and outside of Wisconsin - and that included his manager. Gaston said multiple times how he and the veteran players really wanted to get Molitor a ring after he was so close in 1982 and was the epitome of a teammate and professional.



So, Molitor got his ring, though he’s always admitted it would have meant more to win one in Milwaukee. Still, he remains a Brewer at heart. He entered Cooperstown wearing a Brewers cap, regularly reunites with his ’82 teammates, and returned this season to honor Bob Uecker and throw out the first pitch before Game 5 of the NLDS. Naturally—because Molitor is always clutch—Milwaukee went on to win that game and earn its first postseason series victory since 2018.

Maybe, this year, the Blue Jays have the Molitor magic on their side, and it will transfer to the Brewers next season... we hope.

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[Michael Trzinski]

@Tim Muma, as a fellow baseball historian, I say 'well done!'

[Bassball]

I think if he hadn’t dealt with so many injuries he’d be the all time hits leader. 

[Michael Trzinski]

2 hours ago, Bassball said:

I think if he hadn’t dealt with so many injuries he’d be the all time hits leader. 

Based on numbers...

In 21 years, he played 2683 games, which is 127 games/season. Let's just say he had averaged 140 games (to account for two strike seasons and end-of-career lack of playing time), which would be an additional 257 games. At the rate of 1.23 hits/game, that would increase his career hit total to 3635. 

If we bumped the average to 150 games/season, he would have played 3150 games and at 1.23 H/game, the hit number would be 3874.

If the average is 160 games/season, that would be 3360 games and 4132 hits, which would put him third behind Rose and Cobb.

What we can't really track is that if he had been healthy, would he have knocked more than 1.23 hits/game? Maybe one of the analyst experts on BF could figure that out, but I can't. It would be safe to say he would have probably been in the top five.

My question: how is it he only made seven All-Star teams????

[Ro Mueller]

I was definitely rooting for him in that postseason.

If I recall correctly, at that time the Brewers (no playoffs since 1982), Packers (one playoffs since 1972), Bucks (fading - no playoff series wins in 3 years), football Badgers (horrid multi-year run) and basketball Badgers (horrid multi-year run) were all in lulls.

[greenlawler]

Dude I grew up loving Paul Molitor. He was my hero. He was my favorite of all time. 

But a deeper dive into his personal life gives me pause. This was a revelation. So disappointed. 

I am so conflicted. On one hand you have "The Ignitor" my favorite player of all time, and on the other hand you have the guy who could not keep his marriage together. 

I have no forgiveness for folks who cheat on their spouses.