James Edward Key (born April 22, 1961) is an American former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Toronto Blue Jays (1984–1992), New York Yankees (1993–1996), and Baltimore Orioles (1997–1998).

[1] For the school's baseball team, he compiled a 10–0 win–loss record with nine shutouts and a 0.30 earned run average (ERA) in his senior year.

Key made his Major League debut on April 6, 1984, and was utilized in relief situations through his inaugural year, notching 10 saves and a 4.65 ERA.

[5] As a free agent, Key signed a four-year contract worth $17 million with the New York Yankees on December 10, 1992.

In his final start as a Yankee, he outdueled Greg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves in the deciding game of the 1996 World Series.

[3] Key signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles on December 10, 1996,[3] and posted a 22–13 record in 59 appearances over two seasons.

Key tended to give up more than his share of home runs even while holding his opponents' on-base percentage to a low level.

Instead, noted surgeon James Andrews removed bone chips, costing Key several months in the middle of the 1988 season.