Toronto Injury Lawyer Blog
What makes the Toronto Blue Jays unique as a Major League Baseball team, is that they are the only Major League Baseball Team which represents and draws fans from an entire nation. The Toronto Raptors have the same standing in the National Basketball Association. But, the Toronto Blue Jays seem to do a better job uniting a country. Perhaps this is because they have a longer history to draw from compared to the Toronto Raptors (1977 vs. 1995). Or perhaps it’s because the Toronto Blue Jays have had more success in their sport compared to the Toronto Raptors (2 championships and 1 finals appearance vs. 1 championship).
When the 2025 Major League Baseball season began, even the most optimistic Blue Jays fan did not expect to see the results we saw. The Toronto Blue Jays had finished the previous season dead last in their division. They had not signed their star player, Vladimir Guerrero to a contract; and Mr. Guerrero’s pending free agency; became a distraction whether the team and Mr. Guerrero liked it or not.
In 1985, the Toronto Blue Jays made their first real playoff run. In those days, there was no Wild Card playoff round. You needed to win your division in order to advance to the playoffs. The American League East has been categorized as the most difficult division in baseball for years. Having to compete with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, even in their most grim years, is still difficult. Baseball is a fabric of those cities and cultures. The same can be said for hockey in Toronto. But, the same cannot be said for baseball in Toronto either. You can try to call Toronto a baseball town; which it is. But, when push comes to shove, baseball still plays second fiddle to hockey.
Back to 1985, the Toronto Blue Jays won the American League East going 99-62; which marks a franchise best record for wins still to this day. This was the first time the Toronto Blue Jays had made the playoffs. They took a commanding 3-1 series lead in the American League Championship Series against George Brett and Brett Saberhagen’s Kansas City Royals. My parents would let me stay up late to watch my the best outfield in Major League Baseball (Jesse Barfield, Lloyd Moseby and George Bell) do their thing. They were all wonderful to watch.
The Toronto Blue Jays collapsed and lost their 3-1 series lead; losing in 7 games to the Royals who went on to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. I was heartbroken as a child. That was probably my first ever heartbreak. I remember cheering so hard for Ozzie Smith, the all star short stop for the St. Louis Cardinals to beat George Brett (who I now hated for beating my Blue Jays).
That was a hard loss to take as a young child. But, it instilled a love for baseball, along with a real connection to the Toronto Blue Jays and to the City of Toronto itself. Note: I was also an official member of the Toronto Blue Jays Fan Club. They would send me a newsletter in the mail, along with stickers and buttons. Getting mail as a young kid was always a treat, and it was made even better when it came straight from your favourite Major League Baseball team.
The 2025 Toronto Blue Jays took the nation of an enthralling rollercoaster ride of emotions. But, more importantly, they showed us how fun baseball can be, and the right way to play the game. Sports brings people together, both in joy and passion; and in sadness and sorrow. The Jays did both. From the ups of the Springer Dinger to get the Jays to the World Series; to the downs of logged ball in Game 6, or the double plays to end Game 6 and Game 7. We were all united in the good times, and bad. And while the Toronto Blue Jays were 2 outs away from winning Game 7 of the World Series yet failed to achieved their goal; they accomplished so many other things unintentionally.
All of the players on the Toronto Blue Jays roster (even the ones who you might believe made mistakes or performed poorly in the playoffs) increased their value on the free agent market and in the eyes of the rest of the league. One team’s trash is another team’s treasure. All of the players can now boast significant playoff experience; having played in some of the most intense games we’ve ever seen. Ever played in an 18 game extra inning World Series game? All of the Blue Jay players can add that to their resume. The same can be said for and extra inning game 7 World Series game as well. That sort of playoff experience cannot be taught, and only a handful of players have it.
The Toronto Blue Jays united a country when some Team Canada spirit was much needed while a not so silent trade war with our neighbour continues; and while a country remains divided over domestic politics, along with politics abroad. The Canadian political right and Canadian political left can disagree all they want on policies and politics; but they can all get behind and support the Toronto Blue Jays.
Finally, and most importantly, they introduced the sport of baseball to a generation of new fans. Baseball registrations haven’t yet begun for the summer of 2026; but word has it that early requests for registration are already flowing. Children are also enrolling in more winter baseball programs, where they are offered. Instead of hockey, more kids are choosing baseball, which is nice to see in a country which is so fixated on pucks and sticks.
They say that it’s better to have lost in love; then to never have loved at all. If you look at the Toronto Blue Jays 2025 Season through those lenses, the season can be characterized as a complete success. Yes: they fell a foot short; but it was one heck of a ride. A ride like none other we’ve ever experienced in professional sport in Toronto (or Canada for that matter).
