TORONTO (Oct. 20) — In sports, as in life, an opportunity lost can bite you hard. That’s what the Seattle Mariners are facing tonight in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at Rogers Centre. With all of Blue Jays Nation still in an uproar over John Schneider’s bullpen decision in Game 5 at T–Mobile Park, the Mariners came to town and badly flopped in their first chance to clinch the A.L. pennant. In fact, Seattle was never truly in Game 6, Sunday night, as the Blue Jays leapt to an insurmountable 5–0 lead. And, who actually believes that journeyman George Kirby can out–pitch former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber in tonight’s decisive match (Sportsnet, 8:08 p.m.)? Especially after Kirby yielded eight runs over four innings to the Blue Jays in Game 3.

Nope. It will be a late party tonight here in The Six as the Blue Jays punch their World Series ticket for the first time in 32 years. And, what a moment for those, unlike myself, who either weren’t yet born, or not old enough, to remember the consecutive championships of 1992 and 1993. I was privileged to cover the Blue Jays playoff games back then in the infant stage of all–sports radio here in town. We were The FAN–1430 (to become The FAN–590 in February 1995). The Jays upended Oakland in six games in the ’92 ALCS then did the same to Atlanta in the World Series. When Otis Nixon of the Braves bunted out to Blue Jays reliever Mike Timlin at the old Fulton County Stadium early on Oct. 25, 1992, I was standing with radio colleague Scott Ferguson in the visitors’ broadcast booth, directly in back of Tom Cheek and Jerry Howarth. Dressed in their grey road uniforms, the Toronto players burst out of the dugout and piled upon one another near the pitching mound. As with any “first time”, that moment, in my eyes, can never be topped. Even by Joe Carter’s walk–off home run against Philadelphia at SkyDome the following year — a more–enthralling triumph given it occurred on home turf and ended the series so dramatically. That’s why the current playoff run is less novel for oldsters who recall the first two championships. For a person like my son, however, this is all new and exciting, even with fading memory of the “bat–flip” playoff game in 2015 and the “Donaldson Dash” in 2016; both in the Division round against Texas.

No person less than 40 years of age today can properly remember the World Series celebrations of ’92 and ’93.

Neither, of course, does the phrase “Game 7” sit particularly well here in Toronto. Not with the Maple Leafs having lost decisive playoff (or qualifying) matches to Boston (2013, 2018, 2019, 2024); Columbus (2020), Montreal (2021) and Florida (2025). Or, the Blue Jays coming up woefully short in their only previous Game 7 — losing to the Royals at Exhibition Stadium in the 1985 ALCS, blowing a 3–1 series lead. For that memory, I dug out my ’85 Blue Jays scrap book. But, take it easy. A reprise will not occur tonight at the Dome. My son, Shane, and all other 20 and 30–somethings in the city, will be treated to an unforgettable first: the Blue Jays advancing to the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and the most–unique professional athlete of all time, Shohei Ohtani.

Starting Friday night at Rogers Centre.

Get ready for local car horns to interrupt the night–time calm.

THE ONLY OTHER GAME 7

I was 26 years old and watching from a hotel in Winnipeg when the Blue Jays defeated the Yankees (above and below) on Oct. 5, 1985 at Exhibition Stadium to make the playoffs for the first time (in the club’s ninth season).

 
 
After grabbing a 3–1 lead in the ALCS at Royals Stadium, the Blue Jays lost Game 5 then came home with consecutive chances to eliminate Kansas City and encounter St. Louis in the 1985 World Series. But, a wind–blown triple off the bat of light–hitting catcher Jim Sundberg in Game 7 ended the dream for Toronto baseball fans. Kansas City won, 6–2, then defeated the Cardinals for the first title in franchise history.

 


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