Toronto Blue Jays: 5 Biggest Game Moments

It’s the beginning of baseball season for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays will be facing the New York Yankees for their home opener at the Rogers Centre. As we enter the beginning of this season here’s five of some of the biggest moments to happen at a Blue Jays game.

JOSE BAUTISTA’S BAT FLIP

It was 2015 and it was the game that could potentially take the Toronto Blue Jays to the Championship series. It was the bottom of the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers and the score was 3-3. The energy is tense and buzzing in the Roger’s Centre but turns into an absolute craze when Bautista hits a three-run home run. The score was up to 7-3 (the Jays won in the end), and we got the famous Bautista bat flip (and some pretty good memes).

BLUE JAY’S FIRST WORLD SERIES TITLE

It was in 1992 and the Blue Jays were in Atlanta playing against the Atlanta Braves in game six. The game was tied in the bottom of the 9th inning pushing the teams to the bottom of the 11th inning. This is where it gets good for the Jays. The score was 4-3 for the Jays and two outs, the Braves come up to bat. The Braves managed to bunt the ball, but pitcher Mike Timlin was able to retrieve the hit and throw it to first baseman, Joe Carter. This gave the Jays the last out they needed to become the World Series champions. Making the Toronto Blue Jays the first and only Canadian team to play and win in the World Series.

JOE CARTER’S HOME RUN

It was 1993, the year after the Toronto Blue Jays clinched their first Championship win against the Atlanta Braves. The Jays once again made it to the World Series, facing the Philadelphia Phillies at home in Toronto. The series was tied 3-3 and the Jays needed this win to clinch the series. After losing a 5-1 lead against Philadelphia it was the bottom of the ninth and the Jays were down by one run. Luckily for the Jays, with two strikes already against him, Joe Carter stepped up to the plate (quite literally) and hit a three-run home run. This moment secured back to back championship wins for the Blue Jays and their first World Series win at home.

THE INFAMOUS BEER CAN INCIDENT

Sometimes some of the biggest moments in Jays history aren’t necessarily a good thing. It was 2016 and the Blue Jays were playing the American League wild-card game against the Baltimore Orioles at home. The bad that came with this game? It happened in the seventh inning when a fan from the stands threw a beer can and almost hit Orioles left fielder Hyun Too Kim. Since then the fan has received punishment but it still marks a moment of shame for many sports fans. Luckily for us, a major good moment occurred later in the game in the bottom of the 11th inning. With the game tied 2-2,  Edwin Encarnacion hit it home big with a three-run home run sending the score to 5-2 and sending the Blue Jays to the AL Division Series against the Texas Rangers.

BLUE JAY’S FIRST AL EAST TITLE

Almost 10 years before their back-to-back World Series wins in 1992 and 93, the Blue Jays won their first AL East championship. Interestingly enough, the Blue Jays had beaten the New York Yankees by two games in order to clinch the title and while doing so, set a team record that still stands of 99 wins. With the Blue Jays going against the Yankees for the home opener this wekend, maybe a little luck from the “Drive of 85” will be on their side to pull off a win.