Karl Mascarenhas, a longtime Toronto Blue Jays fan, was taking his dog Karma for a walk in Milton when he saw something he hadn’t seen before at his local park.
Three kids were at the park, pretending they were in the World Series. The pitcher was pretending to be Kevin Gausman, doing his patented stationary steps at the mound before delivering the pitch. He released the ball for a perfect strike that was called by the catcher pretending to be Alejandro Kirk.
This is how a Toronto Blue Jays team that reached the World Series inspired. It was a magical ride for Canada’s team, from under .500 in late May to A.L. East winners ahead of the New York Yankees in September. It wasn’t to be at the final hurdle, losing Game 7 of the World Series 5-4 to the indomitable Los Angeles Dodgers.
TORONTO, ON – NOVEMBER 01: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on during the singing of the national anthem prior to Game Seven of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
This particular Halloween weekend was one of a country in unison, everyone racing through their daily chores to make sure their undivided attention was directed to Game 7 of the World Series. There was no bigger priority for 8 p.m. ET on this Saturday night.
The Blue Jays had been hunting a World Series title for 32 years and will remain on the hunt. Major League Baseball is a more exclusive playoff club than other leagues like the NHL or NBA, making the task of getting back to the summit that much more difficult.
Then there’s the aspect of playing in the A.L. East, where Toronto is going up against storied franchises like the Yankees and Boston Red Sox year after year. Over the course of this 32 year drought, the Yankees have made the playoffs proper (not including the Wildcard game) 24 times and won the World Series five times. The Red Sox have reached at least the Division series 14 times and won the World Series four times.
This hallowed year of 2025 for the Blue Jays marked the third time they got to at least the ALDS. Those fabled teams of 2015 and 2016 got as far as the ALCS but no further.
Still, the memories from those postseason runs continue to live on.
How one hit in baseball can change everything
When Jose Bautista crushed that pitch from Sam Dyson into the left field seats in the bottom of the seventh of the deciding Game 5 of the ALDS, it created a moment that teased what’s possible when the Blue Jays do something special.
Bautista had a great career in Toronto but that moment single-handedly elevated him to legend status across the country. His bat flip has been made a mural in downtown Toronto. His ovation when entering the field to throw the first pitch before Game 6 of the ALCS was deafening.
Toronto Blue Jays Jose Bautista flips his bat after hitting a three-run homer during seventh inning game 5 American League Division Series baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015. The Toronto Blue Jays was one of the top Canadian subjects of Google searches in 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
“I really understand how much they love us, how much they support us, how much they want us to succeed,” Gausman said.
If you play well in Toronto, as you’ve seen, all those guys from the 2015, 2016 teams coming back, throwing out the first pitch, like, those guys are legends. So I think this city really loves their athletes and especially if you give them something to be proud of. So we’re ecstatic. The love that they give us, we feel it out there, and they have turned this place into such a crazy environment, such a fun place to come to work every day. And really, you drive around this city right now, it’s electric.
Kevin Gausman, pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays
“Everybody’s talking about the Blue Jays and they’re fired up for us, and we’re excited to go out and put on a good show for ’em.”
The Blue Jays put on a great show, earning the respect of not only the Dodgers but baseball viewers worldwide. This Game 7 was one for the ages, Toronto coming within two outs of victory in the top of the ninth and then within 90-feet of tying the game with two outs to play with in the bottom of the 11th. Even Prime Minister Mark Carney shared his heartbreak and pride in this magical team.
Guerrero Jr. never came home and that will hurt for a long time. What will emerge over time are the memories of Bo Bichette’s three-run home run in this Game 7, George Springer’s three-run blast in Game 7 of the ALCS, and the absolute battering of the Yankees in the ALDS. This team provided so much for Canada to harmonize and rally around and didn’t deserve such a heartbreaking fate.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith (16) celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during 11th inning Game 7 World Series playoff MLB baseball action in Toronto early Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
It’s a loss that still means victory for Canada
“I was in Vancouver, I was watching with my dad,” said Kevin from Burnaby, B.C. “I really started watching baseball when they made that run in ’92, I was all caught up in the fever of it, it was a nice thing to do with my dad but now also with my kids. Kids started playing baseball, found something in common so it’s a great thing to be a part of.”
Kevin booked the flight from Vancouver to Toronto once the Blue Jays took a 3-2 lead in the World Series. He coaches his kids’ baseball team and would have loved to bring his wife and kids along with him but for the exorbitant prices. When asked what this victory meant for the country, Kevin got a little emotional when grasping the magnitude.
“I think that’s really hard to put into words,” Kevin said.
It’s great to witness in person but I think it’s something great across Toronto and Canada. It’s unifying, I think, and also important for baseball.
Kevin, Blue Jays fan from British Columbia
“I think the Blue Jays have had a tough time for a number of years and baseball is waning. I coach my kid’s baseball teams and we’ve seen registration dwindle and dwindle in the past two to three years and I think this would pick it up.
“Baseball’s a great game.”
Blue Jays’ true friendship captured fans’ hearts
Toronto Blue Jays’ Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7), George Springer (4), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27), Tyler Heineman (55) and members of the bullpen line up for the singing of the national anthems ahead of first inning MLB American League Championship Series game 7 baseball action against the Seattle Mariners in Toronto, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
The most heartwarming aspect of the Blue Jays’ run to the World Series has been the friends made along the way.
Look toward the dugout and you can see everyone light up seeing Max Scherzer bark Schneider away and then mimic the interaction. They’re helping each other have better at-bats, they’re uplifting each other after mistakes, and they’re providing plenty of healthy internal competition to push each other to now be champions.
“This is the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball,” Ernie Clement said before the game. “It’s the tightest group I’ve ever been a part of…
I think when we win it’ll be a really special feeling because of all the ups and downs. You get to play with 30 of your best friends and I don’t think that happens every year.
Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) reacts after an inning-ending double play during seventh inning Game 7 World Series playoff MLB baseball action against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Make no mistake, though, this isn’t a group that reached the final stage off pure vibes. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was within touching distance of World Series MVP on the back of clutch hitting and tremendous defence at first base.
Ernie Clement collected 30 hits to set a new record for the most hits in a single postseason. Trey Yesavage became the first rookie to have multiple games with at least 10 strikeouts in the postseason. Max Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young award winner and delivered when it mattered most in Game 7. Kevin Gausman was outstanding. Daulton Varsho plays centre-field as well as anyone.
Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer (4) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during seventh inning MLB American League Championship Series game 7 baseball action in Toronto, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
George Springer was signed for his playoff pedigree as a World Series MVP and champion and further enhanced his reputation despite battling all sorts of aches and pains. Addison Barger is the kid too young to comprehend how big this stage is to be intimidated by it. He hit the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history.
All those names and there’s still Alejandro Kirk, Shane Bieber, Chris Bassitt, Jeff Hoffman and Andres Gimenez who all had big moments. The bottom of the order has been better than any other team in the postseason.
And then there’s Bo Bichette. He missed the ALDS and the ALCS. He did everything to be back for the World Series on a bum knee, even floating the idea of moving to second base from his customary shortstop to fit better into the team.
Until the top of the ninth, he had a legitimate case to rival Joe Carter for the biggest home run in franchise history.
No storybook ending but a fire for baseball stoked
Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr., left, and Toronto Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk, center, talk with pitcher Trey Yesavage during the seventh inning in Game 7 of baseball’s World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
People have come in from Ottawa, New Brunswick, British Columbia and more, all in anticipation of a moment they have been craving for 32 years.
Then there are the local Torontonians like Julian Persaud, who bought a general admission ticket for Game 7 and lined up outside the Rogers Centre at 8:30 a.m. ET, nearly 12 hours before first pitch. The plan was to be at the front of the line when the gate opens and race through the stadium to save seating for his family. Persaud was five-years-old when the Blue Jays won in 1992 and has no real memory of it.
Now, he has a moment with his wife — also a die-hard fan — and four-year-old son that will live long in the memory.
“I’ll remember it forever,” Persaud said. “More importantly, I’m hoping it becomes a core memory for my kid and he becomes a Jays lifer as well.”