Greater Than Baseball: The Toronto Blue Jays’ Importance To Canada

Being Canadian is awesome. Like everything else in the world, Canada isn’t perfect. Despite the imperfections, the scenery is beautiful, with many fun places to go. The people are easy-going and friendly, and the only argument you’ll ever get into with someone is who is more sorry. Also, no, we do not live in igloos. One thing many people don’t know about Canada, though, is that we love baseball!

Canada and baseball aren’t always two words that you’ll hear together since the sport is known as America’s pastime, but I can assure you it is alive and well here. More specifically, Canada’s love for the Toronto Blue Jays. If you’re Canadian, you’re a Jays fan — I don’t make the rules. All jokes aside, the Blue Jays are extremely important to Canadians. From personal experience, the team continues to help Canada become closer.

After playing in Florida for the last 670 days, the Blue Jays finally returned to Toronto last month. The reunion was welcomed with thunderous cheers, beautiful plays and better yet, a series sweep for the birds. The stadium was electric. I could feel Rogers Centre shaking from the comfort of my couch. Sure, it’s always great to watch the Blue Jays play, but knowing they are back in Canada, surrounded by the people who love them most, always makes it 10 times better. However, if that doesn’t convince you, I have some real-life experiences that will.

The Jays Migrate South

I’ll never forget a game I attended in 2015 that put it into perspective for me. The Jays were visiting the Seattle Mariners. Living in Vancouver, it was a no-brainer to go down and watch. Well, it was also a no-brainer for thousands of other Canadians because my family and I sat at the border for over four hours. Finally, after a grueling commute, we made it to the game. Parking was a mess, but we eventually made it in. As soon as we sat down, I looked around and did not see a single Mariners fan insight. It was quite literally a sea of blue. People were chatting, and I made friends with a bunch of random people from all over Canada. It felt like it was a Jays game. Not to mention every at-bat, play and pitch were accompanied by chants and cheers.

What made this moment particularly special was being surrounded by fellow Blue Jays fans, cheering on the team we love most. The best part was it took place at a stadium that wasn’t even Rogers Centre. I have never been more impressed and proud of anything else. The worst part? The five-hour traffic jam, paired with the three-hour border wait. It was so worth it. The fact that we packed a stadium that wasn’t even ours, put up with excruciating travel times and continue to come back for more proves how much Canada loves their Jays. It’s one of those moments where you just had to be there.

The Bat Flip

This next moment is historic. Oct. 14, 2015, was the moment that I realized how vital the Jays are for Canada. If that date doesn’t come to mind, it was the ALDS Game 5 against the Texas Rangers, also known as the José Bautista bat flip game. The game was a long one, so I will spare you explaining everything, but it was crazy. It’s on YouTube, so if you haven’t seen it yet, definitely watch it.

Anyway, this game was insane. The seventh inning took an hour alone, which included multiple benches-clearing incidents and cans thrown onto the field — see, Canadians aren’t perfect. The camera was shaking from the craziness. I was at a restaurant during the game, and the experience was unreal. It was more than just baseball. My family’s meals were also paid for by a fellow Jays fan sitting beside us because of a jersey I was wearing. Somehow a jersey connected me with an entire restaurant of strangers. Although, if you think about it, it makes sense. We have one MLB team, so Canada comes together to rally behind one special team rather than a bunch like the United States.

The Jays allow fellow Canadians to put aside their differences and share something in common with one another. I can’t count on one hand the number of times I have had someone come up to me when I was wearing a Jays jersey and start talking to me about them. Remember that I live in Vancouver, the farthest province from Ontario, and these occurrences happen monthly. It is an incredible feeling.

More Than A Team

The Blue Jays are more than just a baseball team in Canada; it is a family. The Jays have been a place for Canadians from all 10 provinces to come together, rally, create connections with strangers and bond with one another. Canadians don’t always get along, but they always do when the Blue Jays are involved. The atmosphere at a Blue Jays game is terrific. The energy, unity and connection from Canadians across the country is an incredible feeling — one jersey, one team, for one country to support and represent. When you step back and think, you have to admit it’s pretty cool. And hey, even if you’re not Canadian, watch a Jays game, and by the time you leave, you will be an honorary family member in our eyes.

Cover photo courtesy of Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images