Throughout 50 seasons as a franchise, the Jays have faced many ups and downs. It can be sour to talk about the upsets, but it’s important to learn about the losses in order to appreciate the sweetness of victory! Toronto has dealt with disappointments in close games that just didn’t go their way, injuries to key players, or prominent individuals falling short of expectations. Jays fans have seen it all, from the lowest of lows to some of the greatest moments in MLB history. For now, we’ll delve into some of the heartbreaks throughout Blue Jays history, all of which built up to the team that could win it all.
We Were Just Beginning – The 1970s Seasons
As is often true of expansion franchises, the Blue Jays had a challenging start in Major League Baseball. Although star-studded with early Blue Jays legends like Bill Singer, Ernie Whitt, Doug Ault and the team’s lone Canadian, Dave McKay, the inaugural ‘77 Jays only won 55 games. They pushed hard for success through the remainder of the decade, but the team couldn’t quite shake their losses. The Blue Jays record for worst losing margin was set on August 25, 1979 in a crushing 24-2 loss to the California Angels. In total, the 1979 team lost 109 games, finishing dead last in the AL, and recording quite possibly the worst season in Blue Jays History.
Robbed of the Taste of Victory - ALCS Game 7, 1985
After logging a franchise record of 99 wins in the regular season, the Blue Jays won their first ever post-season game on October 10, 1985. This short-lived post-season run is known to Blue Jays fans as the “Drive of ‘85”, a thrilling time in franchise history when the Jays jumped onto the MLB stage as a true contender. Game 1 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) solidified their power as a team as they defeated the Royals 6-1, but by Game 7, the series was tied 3-3 and disaster loomed. The Blue Jays trailed 2-1 up until the 6th inning when Kansas City’s Jim Sundberg hit a 3-RBI triple off of legendary Toronto pitcher, Dave Stieb. It was a score the Jays could not recover from, thus ending their first ALCS appearance.
Losing our Wings - the Collapse of the 1987 Jays
The 1987 Blue Jays team was a force to be reckoned with. George Bell hit over 47 homers that season, while Jimmy Key and Tom Henke dominated from the mound. With only 7 games left in the regular season, the team had racked up 96 wins, holding a 3 ½ point lead atop the American League. Wins in those last 7 regular season games would prove crucial to securing a spot in the postseason, but just behind the Blue Jays, the Detroit Tigers were waiting to pounce.
The longstanding feud between Detroit and Toronto was in full force when the two teams faced off on September 24, 1987. The story goes that Tony Fernandez, Toronto’s exceptionally talented second baseman, was targeted by Bill Madlock, who slid through second base to take Fernandez out at the ankles. Fernandez fell and landed awkwardly on his elbow, ending his season in an instant. Fernandez’s loss was felt keenly, and by the beginning of October, the Jays and Tigers were tied in the standings.
Fate had it that Detroit and Toronto faced off again in the final three games of each team’s regular season, with each clawing for a post-season berth. In three one-run differential games, the Jays fell to the Tigers, saying goodbye to their postseason plans. In one of the most heartbreaking moments, the second game of the series was tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th, when Detroit’s Alan Trammell hit a walk-off single between the legs of Manny Lee. Manny Lee was Tony Fernandez’s replacement at second base.
1991 - Just Not Ready Yet
The 1991 ALCS pitted Blue Jays legends like Devon White, Joe Carter, Jimmy Key, Dave Stieb, John Olerud, and Duane Ward against the Minnesota Twins. The teams split Games 1 and 2, but the Twins dominated the next three, taking the series win, and claiming their spot in the World Series. The heartbreak didn’t last long for Toronto however, as the next two seasons would be the best in franchise history…