Fans around the world and at home in Toronto are getting ready to cheer on the Blue Jays as they head into Game 1 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) on Sunday.
The Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 3-1 to win the American League Division Series (ALDS) and will have a home game advantage for the first two games of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners.
Whether it’s on a TV screen, at a bar or from a seat at Rogers Centre, fans say they’re excited to see the Blue Jays surpass expectations with a successful run this season.
From over 5,700 kilometers away in Brighton, U.K., diehard Blue Jays fan Karla Courtney has been tuning in to watch her favourite team — even if it means going to bed at 5 a.m.
The excitement has come as far as London, she said, with her Blue Jays hat receiving many compliments and cheers from other baseball fans.
“The Jays are the only Canadian team, so it’s a big deal. It really bonds people together,” she said, adding she’s knitting a special sweater to keep calm during games and to commemorate the season.
“I’m knitting what I’m calling a post-season or playoff sweater. The idea is I’m only knitting it on game days.”
Courtney said she first became a fan in 1991, but was “hooked for life” after watching the 1992 and 1993 World Series. She still keeps an August 1993 ticket stub and a 1992 championship pennant to remember those days.
She says she’s determined to come back home to Toronto to celebrate with the city, and finish off her sweater — if the Blue Jays make it to the World Series again.
“Hopefully the Jays go far and hopefully I finish my sweater,” she said.
This London, Ont., teacher hits a home run with his Blue Jays-themed classroom
Lesley Mak will be amongst the roaring crowd at Game 1 and 2 of the ALCS at Rogers Centre, something she is absolutely thrilled to be able to experience this year.
“Most of us did not expect this season to go well. We won only 74 games last year,” she said, adding she got standing tickets for the second game through the District Drop release on Friday.
“[The team] just outperformed and outperformed and outperformed everyone. Everyone chipped in, everyone either played at or above expectations, and we just kept winning.”
She says throughout the city everyone seems to have “Blue Jays brain” right now, with many people analyzing the upcoming starting lineup, wearing merch, or simply coming together to watch games.
Mak advises anyone in the Greater Toronto Area hoping to watch the game in a bar to book and plan well in advance.
“If they do allow reservations, take the reservation. It’s going to be really something for the next couple of weeks,” she said.
Excitement building for Toronto Blue Jays fans in Calgary after team advances
Toronto will host free viewing parties for the remainder of the post-season run with ALCS games being hosted at David Pecaut Square, said the City of Toronto in an emailed statement Thursday.
The city said the viewing parties will not have a ticketing system and will be open to everyone.
On social media, the Blue Jays owner Rogers began the “Dial the Dugout” giveaway to give out 400 pairs of tickets to the ALCS home games.
Fans could enter on Saturday by visiting the company’s booth at Union Station. But the company said in a statement to CBC that fans can still enter by posting a video on social media or by texting or calling a number shared by Rogers by 5 p.m. Sunday.
Blue Jays fans celebrate 2nd World Series win
Across the border in Los Angeles, Blue Jays fan Nathan Elliott is still feeling the thrill of the game after watching the last two ALDS games in New York.
He said while the Yankees had star players and “home run power,” the Blue Jays this year have a certain “je ne sais quoi” that’s made the team a well-bonded unit.
“I think the team in its entirety has surpassed any and all expectations. They handled the Yankees with relative ease, sort of in my opinion,” said Elliott.
“The team must be feeling pretty great into this upcoming series starting Sunday.”
He says while the first game in New York was very jovial, the second game was the polar opposite, with urgency in the air and some fans heckling Elliot and his friends.
For he and his friends, the decision to go to a New York game came all down to cost, with tickets at Yankee Stadium being cheaper than ones at Rogers Centre.
It’s something his group will consider again in the next two rounds, he says, adding he’ll try to gather some people in Los Angeles to celebrate the ALCS games this week.
“The beautiful thing about Los Angeles is it’s full of Canadian expatriates,” said Elliott.
“I think it’s going to come down to just selecting a spot, getting those group texts firing and hopefully we bring our Canadian flag out in full force.”
Known as the “guy always wearing the Blue Jays hat” amongst his friends and family, Toronto-based fan Jose Taboada says it’s been exciting to see people across the country want to learn about the sport with each Blue Jays victory.
While he’ll be hunkering down at home to watch the first ALCS game due to superstition amongst his friends, he says Monday will be a fun new tradition combining a Thanksgiving fest with the second ALCS game.
“On Monday, it’s going to be turkey with a side of baseball,” he said.
“This wasn’t a projected team to make the playoffs at the start of the season and now to be in the ALCS, it’s such a special ride.”
Game 1 of the ALCS will take place at 8:03 p.m. ET on Sunday and on Thanksgiving Day, Game 2 will take place at 5:03 p.m. ET.
