Baseball history: Blue Jays 1977-1993-present:

 

The Toronto Blue Jays are currently the only major league baseball team in Canada and have been around since 1977. Since then, they have accumulated 2 World Series championships and a country wide audience. In 1977, the Blue Jays played their first ever MLB season at Exhibition Stadium (now known as BMO Field) and went as expected, not good. They lost over 100 games. These types of seasons lasted another few years until 1983 when the Jays had their first winning season. In 1985, the Blue Jays made the MLB playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Unfortunately, they would not make it to the World Series, losing to the eventual winners, the Kansas City Royals. This would also mark the only time Exhibition Stadium would be home to Blue Jays playoff baseball. In 1989, the Blue jays moved from Exhibition Stadium to Skydome (now known as Rogers Centre) and has been their home ever since. The Blue Jays made the playoffs in 1989 and 1991 and lost to the Oakland Athletics and the Minnesota Twins, who both would also go on to win the World Series that year. The Jays’ time at the top was to come. 

 

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​                                 Photo of Exhibition Stadium: Where the Jays used to Play Ball

In 1992, The Jays would have their best record in franchise history with 96 wins and 66 losses. In the playoffs, they played the Oakland Athletics, the team that ended their run in 1989. In game 4 of a best-of-7 series, on the verge of losing the game and the series being tied 2-2, Blue Jays’ Roberto Alomar etched his name into Blue Jays fans memories by hitting a game tying home run. This led to not only the win in game 4, but insinuated a chokehold on the series. The Blue Jays won the series two games later and went to the World Series for the first time ever. In 6 World Series games in 1992, the Toronto Blue Jays won their first ever World Series championship, defeating the Atlanta Braves 4-2 in the series. This is also the first time the championship was won outside the USA. Going into 1993, the Blue Jays would have a target on their backs knowing they would defend their title. The season ended in one less win and one more loss, 95-67. The Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 in the series to advance to the World Series again to defend the title against the Philadelphia Phillies. In a back and fourth battle in game 4 of the series, the Blue Jays ultimately made a comeback and won the game 15-14 to lead the series 3-1. After losing game 5, the Jays looked to try and win the championship again in game 6. Down by 1 in the ninth inning, 2 outs, 2 runners on, Blue Jays’ Joe Carter hits a walkoff 3-run home run to not only win the game, but win the World Series in one of the greatest home runs in MLB history and greatest moment in Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Sports history. 

 

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​                                                               A photo of the Rodgers Center (Formerly Skydome) 

After winning back to back World Series championships, the Toronto Blue Jays went cold for years, decades even. To put it simply, the glory days of this franchise seems to be in the rear view for now. Sure, there were two separate playoff runs in 2015 and 2016 but then instantly back to cold. A little history on Canada’s only active Major League Baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays.

Want to know more about the history of Canada's only baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays? Click here

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​                                                                    The Blue Jays during a game in Toronto

Hockey history: Canadian teams not winning a Stanley Cup since 1993

The Edmonton Oilers falling ever so short in the Stanley Cup Finals was a reminder to Canada that the Montreal Canadiens are the last Canadian team to win a Stanley Cup since 1993. Since then, only 7 times a Canadian team reached the Stanley Cup Finals and lost (5 went to game 7).

 

 

 

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                                                                               A  Photo of a Stanley cup Finals Game
1994 was a 7 game, high blood pressure inducing series where the New York Rangers beat the Vancouver Canucks. 10 WHOLE YEARS LATER, the Calgary Flames made it to the Finals. Why did it take ten years for a Canadian team to reach the finals? Anyway, the Flames lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tough loss. Then the lockout happened next season. The year after the lockout, in 2006, the Edmonton Oilers took their chance at winning the Stanley Cup (yes, before Connor McDavid). Series went to 7 games and ended in the Carolina Hurricanes on top hoisting the trophy. The next year, the nation's capital team, the Ottawa Senators took their turn. It was a forgettable series like the lockout was as they lost to the Anaheim Ducks. 2011 however, was memorable… for all the wrong reasons. The Vancouver Canucks tried again and took the series to the 7th and final game. They lost to the Boston Bruins and the city rioted. If you’re waiting for the Toronto Maple leafs to reach the finals, just keep waiting. The next Canadian team to reach the Stanley Cup Finals was the Montreal Canadiens in 2021 (ANOTHER 10 YEAR WAIT! WHAT ARE WE DOING?). The Canadiens lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Covid confusing year. And finally, the Edmonton Oilers tried in the most recent Stanley Cup. They lost to the Florida Panthers but Connor McDavid won MVP (HOORAY I think). Still waiting on the Maple Leafs? Yes? Ok, keep waiting.

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                                                      A NHL hockey game photo: Cannucks vs Panthers 
Are Canadian hockey teams hopeless in winning the Stanley Cup? No. Are the Toronto Maple Leafs hopeless? Maybe. I honestly don’t think so but still. The Stanley Cup will forever be up for grabs to the Canadian hockey teams. Will we bring Lord Stanley back to Canada in the near future? I’m hopeful. I’ll leave you with one question: which Canadian team will be the team to win it? And what year? Want to know which Canadian team? Please click here for more

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