2008 Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays had a respectable 2007 MLB season, finishing 3rd place in the ultra-competitive AL East. They probably would have done even better if the team hadn’t been plagued by injuries, but with Vernon Wells and Frank Thomas both healthy and eager to play, and with Rod Barajas, Buck Coats, David Eckstein, Scott Rolen and Marco Scutaro added to the roster, manager J.P. Ricciardi is confident that the Jays will make it to the playoffs in 2008. Get your tickets to Rogers Centre and cheer the Toronto Blue Jays on to a winning season in 2008!

Beginnings

The Toronto Blue Jays were created in 1977 as Canada’s second Major League team. The team struggled for its first few years, finishing in last place for 6 straight years. Bobby Cox became manager in 1982 and the team immediately began improving, finishing fourth in 1983 and second the year after. Then, in 1985 Cox led the team to its first Division title and postseason berth. Unfortunately for Toronto fans, the team lost to the eventual world champion Kansas City Royals.

The Blue Jays remained competitive and reached the playoffs again in 1989. That year also saw the opening of the Blue Jays’ brand new state of the art stadium: Skydome. This new stadium featured a hotel and the first retractable roof ever built. Protected by the sometimes fierce Toronto weather, fans flocked to the new stadium by the millions.

World Series Winners

In 1992 the Blue Jays finally broke through winning their first postseason series and making their first World Series appearance. Once there they thrilled their fans by defeating the Atlanta Braves in 6 games and bringing the World Series north of the border for the first time. That Blue Jays team, led by Roberto Alomar, Joe Carter, and Jack Morris, won the World Series again in 1993. They became the first team to repeat in 15 years when Joe Carter hit a series winning homerun off of Phillies closer Mitch Williams.

Even though the Blue Jays have not made it back to the World Series, they have fielded several strong teams recently that have narrowly missed the playoffs. They continue to pack Skydome, now known as the Rogers Centre.