REGINA — Toronto Blue Jays fans in Regina were cheering and clapping as the team advanced to the World Series for the first time since 1993.
Dozens of Jays fans were watching the game at Birmingham’s Vodka and Ale House on Monday, including 30-year-plus Toronto fan Brian Martin.
“Unreal, this is amazing, totally amazing,” he said after watching the Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.
Martin described the last three decades as filled with disappointment and said he didn’t expect much heading into this year.
“You're kind of waiting for them to plummet, and they never did. They surprised the hell out of me.”
Graham Clark was also watching the game and has been a Toronto fan since 1992.
“I was at that game at Taylor Field in 1993 when they came to town. And that was like an epic, epic, epic team.”
Even though the Jays have only made the postseason a handful of times since 1993, Clark never lost hope in the team reaching the playoffs each year.
“We have nothing but faith in this team.”
George Springer was the hero for the Jays, hitting a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to close the series.
“I said to the rest of the group he [Springer] is almost due for a hit. Like, he is due,” said Martin.
“It saved the game. One hundred per cent it saved us as a team,” said Clark.
Even for a more casual Blue Jays fan like Kyle Ringelin, this postseason has been exciting.
“You just can't write the stuff that happens in playoff sports.”
With the win, the Blue Jays will now face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series starting Friday.
The Dodgers won the World Series last year and swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series this year to return to the Fall Classic.
Despite this, Jays fans are confident in their team.
“I think they can. I think it will take the bats to keep hitting.”
“I think our defence and our pitching are going to be the most critical parts of this. We're great behind the bats right now,” said Clark.
