Remembering the former Toronto Blue Jays coaches who died in 2023

January 1, 2024

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By Kevin Glew

Cooperstowners in Canada

On the first day of 2024, I wanted to take some time to remember two former Toronto Blue Jays coaches and a onetime Blue Jays pitching prospect that passed away in 2023.

Don Leppert

Leppert passed away on April 13 at the age of 91. The hardnosed and colorful Indianapolis native became the Blue Jays’ first bullpen coach when he joined manager Roy Hartsfield‘s staff on October 15, 1976. Prior to his coaching career, Leppert was a big league catcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Senators for parts of four seasons from 1961 to 1964. Leppert began coaching in the Pirates’ system in 1966 and the Bucs promoted him to their big league staff two years later. He’d coach with the Pirates for nine seasons prior to landing with the Blue Jays. Leppert worked as a bullpen/catching coach with the Blue Jays for their first three seasons. During his time with the Blue Jays, he helped hone the skills of catchers Alan Ashby, Rick Cerone and Ernie Whitt. Leppert was also good for a colorful quote from time to time. For example, after the Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 13-12 in a wild 10-inning game at the Kingdome on July 18, 1978, reporters asked him for his thoughts about the contest. “I’ve been to three county fairs, four goat ropings and sailed around the Cape of Good Hope, and I ain’t seen nothing like that before,” Leppert responded. When Hartsfield was fired after the 1979 season, Leppert moved on to become a first base coach for the Houston Astros.

You can read my full obituary about Leppert here.

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Perry Lychak

Lychak passed away on September 20 at the age of 65. In Canadian baseball circles, the former national team pitcher was best known for the three-hitter he hurled against the powerhouse Cubans at the 1981 Intercontinental Cup in his hometown of Edmonton, Alta. After graduating from W.P. Wagner High School in 1976, Lychak headed to Edmonds College in Lynwood, Wash., prior to securing a baseball scholarship at Indiana State University. In 1978, he helped lead Indiana State to the NCAA Division 1 Midwest Regional tournament. He took the mound for Canada at the 1979 Pan Am Games and 1980 World Cup before getting the starting nod against Cuba in 1981. His performance earned him a contract with the Blue Jays with whom he proceeded to post a 3.02 ERA in 190 appearances in parts of five minor league seasons with their class-A Kinston affiliate. The southpaw settled in Kinston following his baseball career and became a popular teacher and baseball coach.  

You can read my full obituary about Lychak here.

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John Sullivan

Sullivan passed away on June 1 at the age of 82. A gruff but much-loved Blue Jays coach from 1982 to 1993, it was “Sully” who retrieved the ball that Joe Carter belted for the walk-off World Series-winning home run out of the bullpen in 1993 and presented it to Carter in the clubhouse. Prior to his coaching career, Sullivan was a big league catcher for parts of five seasons with the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies between 1963 and 1968. Following his playing career, Sullivan became a successful manager in the Kansas City Royals’ organization for six seasons from 1973 to 1978. In four of those campaigns, his teams won league championships. Impressed by Sullivan’s minor league resume, Bobby Cox added him to the Atlanta Braves’ coaching staff in 1980. Sullivan then followed Cox to the Blue Jays where he served as the club’s first base coach in 1982 and 1983, before becoming the club’s bullpen coach from 1984 until 1993. 

You can read my full obituary about Sullivan here.