September 17, 2010 – Jose Bautista breaks Blue Jays’ single-season home run record

September 17, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Cooperstowners in Canada

Fourteen years ago today, Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista belted his 48th home run of the 2010 campaign to break George Bell‘s single-season franchise record set in 1987.

Bautista’s record-breaking blast was a two-run shot off Boston Red Sox reliever Michael Bowden in the sixth inning of a Blue Jays’ 11-9 win at Fenway Park.

“It’s way more enjoyable to hit it when we win,” Bautista told reporters after the game. “I didn’t get to enjoy the one that I tied (the record) with so much because we lost that day.”

Fortunately for Bautista, the ball landed in the seats above the Green Monster at Fenway and a fan threw it back on to the field. So, he was able to retrieve it.

Bautista would sock six more home runs that season to finish with 54, which remains a Blue Jays’ single-season record.

Prior to 2010, Bautista had been used primarily in a utility role and had never clubbed more than 16 home runs in a big league season. But Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston and hitting coach Dwayne Murphy had worked with him and made some changes to his swing.

“I had a couple of bad months but when I’ve been going good I’ve been able to ride the wave for a long time,” Bautista told reporters about his 2010 season. “The confidence that Cito has given me and the change in the (batting approach) has allowed me to have that consistency.”

Gaston, in his second tenure as Blue Jays manager, was thrilled to see Bautista break the record.

“It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person, as far as a player and a teammate,” Gaston told the Toronto Star. “I’m proud I was here to see it.”

Earlier that month, the Toronto Star spoke with Bell, who had held the record for over two decades. Bell had offered hitting tips to Bautista both in the Dominican Republic and in Blue Jays’ spring training, where he had served as a guest instructor. He was happy that Bautista was going to be the one to break his record.

“Jose has a good Dominican heart,” Bell told the Toronto Star. “He helps other players and he plays a lot of positions, he’s a good all-around player, a very good player, and people in our country see that.”

After his record-breaking 2010 campaign, Bautista had two more 40-home run seasons with the Blue Jays and eight consecutive 20-home run seasons in total.

He finished with 288 home runs as a Blue Jay, which is the second-most to Carlos Delgado who belted 336.

For his efforts, Bautista had his named added to the Blue Jays’ Level of Excellence on August 12, 2023.