A dream season, a nation’s heart
When the Toronto Blue Jays battled through the 2025 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and came up just short in Game 7, it wasn’t only Toronto that felt the impact — the whole of Canada did.
In the hours following the devastating 5-4 defeat at the Rogers Centre, fans from all over stood in silence, marking solidarity and disbelief at what unfolded the night of Nov. 1. The Jays’ improbable rise didn’t just bring baseball back to Canada’s heart; it brought a moment of collective connection.
Two weeks on from the crushing defeat, Yahoo News Canada wants to hear from you:
‘This year you gave me something I never knew was missing’: Jays’ run closed with mourning and pride — simultaneously
Blue Jays’ 2025 season stirred more than fandom, triggering something deeper: a communal sense of loss, even among casual fans.
As one sports writer put it, Jays fans find themselves working through the classic five stages of grief after the World Series defeat — “denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance” — all the feelings currently captured across social media posts by Jays supporters, old and new.
“I didn’t grow up watching every game, but this year you gave me something I never knew was missing,” Jays fan and social media influencer Vivian Santizo narrates in her Instagram Reel.
“You brought my family and friends closer. Gave us something to laugh, yell and believe in together,” she adds in her gratitude-filled post for the Jays.
“Maybe we didn’t win the series, but thank you for giving us something so much bigger — each other,” she concludes.
Santizo’s words encapsulate not just Toronto’s but Canada’s mood — a mix of melancholy and joy. Messages posted by fans and players’ families mourn the trophy slipping away, but also echo a sentiment widely shared: a team worth cheering for, a nation proud.
In another appreciation post, this time by Rogers, the sense of pride in not just being a Blue Jays fan but also a Canadian can be felt.
The sense of pride was so strongly felt among Canadians that regardless of the World Series defeat to the Dodgers, Blue Jays fans wanted to throw the team a celebration parade to honour their valiant effort.
“Rogers I think we should still have a huge city party for the jays players who deserve to be celebrated from bringing our city and nation.. THEY ARE WINNERS TO US ALL and they wanted this for us . Plz let’s celebrate the players the mangers the team somehow,” commented an Instagram user.
Asking the big questions
So what exactly is the mood now? Is the outpouring of national support for the Blue Jays appropriate, or has it gone over the top? Are we simply mourning a loss or celebrating a journey that changed how Canadians feel about their team? Whether you’re choosing “perfect — they earned it” or “tired of hearing it,” the answers tell as much about Canada’s identity as they do about baseball.
Looking ahead to the next season
In the end, the 2025 season was bigger than baseball for Blue Jays fans — it defined itself as a moment in Canadian sport. The Jays defied expectations, ignited national pride, and reminded fans of the power of “us” — a feeling that lingers regardless of the scoreboard not going in our favour. And as the off-season begins, Canada isn’t walking away just yet — the nation’ only catching its breath.
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Joy Joshi is a senior editor and writer at Yahoo News Canada.