A few years ago, my son and I took a trip to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side.
There is a consensus that’s the best way to experience one of the great wonders of the word. They are right. It was beautiful.
A manageable drive north of the Falls is Toronto, a city I’ve always wanted to visit. Maybe some day.
It won’t be this week. I feel for you Toronto, especially how the Blue Jays lost Game 7 of the World Series late into the Nov. 1 night, and early into Nov. 2.
From a baseball perspective, this is misery at its max.
Blue Jays fans no doubt had their proverbial hearts were ripped out after the Toronto had the championship in its grasp only to lose it in a gut-wrenching Game 7 loss to the Dodgers.
It was an eerie feeling watching it unfold. I found myself rooting for Toronto, a team I’ve never had an interest. I wasn’t sure why. Maybe because it’s easy to root against the glitz and glamour of the Dodgers.
Then it hit me.
Cleveland fans had been here before. As the old saying goes, “You wouldn’t wish this upon your worst enemy” — not that I have anything against anything associated with Toronto.
So let’s go back in time and examine how what the city of Toronto and its baseball team endured in Game 7 seems similar to what happened in these parts in 1997 to the Cleveland Indians.
The Marlins’ Craig Counsell is greeted by teammates, including Bobby Bonilla (24) and John Cangelosi (28), after he scored the winning run on Edgar Renteria’s hit in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series against the Indians. Florida won, 3-2, in 11 innings. (Eric Draper – The Associated Press)
For many, Game 7 of the 1997 Fall Classic between Cleveland and the Florida Marlins is one of the great games in World Series history. The Indians had a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7. An error by second baseman Tony Fernandez opened the door for the Marlins to rally with a run to make it 2-2 and forced extra innings.
On Nov. 1, the Blue Jays had a 4-3 lead in Toronto going into the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, unsung hero Miquel Rojas – with Shohei Ohtani waiting on deck – hit one of the most improbable home runs in World Series history that tied the game at 4-4 and sent it into extra innings.
In ’97, that Game 7 went to 11 innings, when the Marlins won it in walk-off fashion as Edgar Renteria singled off Indians starter Charles Nagy and scored Craig Counsell with the winning run.
The Dodgers’ Will Smith celebrates his home run against the Blue Jays during the 11th inning of Game 7 of the World Series on Nov. 2. (Brynn Anderson – The Morning Journal)
In an odd twist, former Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber was on the mound for the Blue Jays in the top of the 11th innng and the score tied at 4-4. L.A. catcher Will Smith then connected for a dramatic home run that stunned the home crowd.
In the bottom of the 11th, Vladimir Guerroro Jr. led off the frame with a double and got to third with one out, but Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk hit into a double play to end the game. Stunned silence took over Rogers Centre.
No doubt, tears were shed. Remote controls and TVs throughout Eastern Canada were trashed. This one will sting for a long, long time for the folks up North, even though the franchise won back-to-back World Series in 1992 and 1993.
To come that close to a World Series championship and leave empty-handed leaves scars for a lifetime.
Former Indians manager Mike Hargrove has been asked numerous times how long it took for him to get over that Game 7 loss in 1997.
“I’ll let you know when it happens,” said Hargrove many times with his canned response.
Welcome to the club, Toronto.
Next season, the Blue Jays don’t come to Cleveland until September for a weekday series Sept. 1-3.
For Toronto fans who might make the trip visiting friends or family from Northeast Ohio, a day at the Progressive Field might be the perfect therapy session.
Group hugs during the seventh-inning stretch.
Hang in there Toronto. We feel your pain. You’ve got a friend in Cleveland.