Toronto·UpdatedBaseball fans, rejoice — the World Series is here, and the Toronto Blue Jays are front and centre on the sport’s biggest stage for the first time in over three decades. The Blue Jays take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series Friday in TorontoListen to this articleEstimated 7 minutesToronto Blue Jays fans, pictured here during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, are about to see their team in the World Series for the first time since Oct. 23, 1993. (Lindsey Wasson/The Associated Press)Baseball fans, rejoice — the World Series is here, and the Toronto Blue Jays are front and centre on the sport’s biggest stage for the first time in over three decades. The Jays are facing off against the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre starting at 8 p.m. ET Friday.While 1993 is a lot more recent than 1967, it’s still a long time ago for a whole generation of Torontonians who never got to witness the Blue Jays’ back-to-back championships, the franchise’s only two World Series appearances. “I’m pretty nervous. I’ve never [seen] the Jays get anywhere near here in my life,” a High Park Little Leaguer named Tobin told CBC Radio’s Metro Morning outside Rogers Centre Friday. His teammate, Gia, said seeing them in the World Series feels like a “once in a lifetime opportunity.”WATCH | Jays to play David to Dodgers’ Goliath in 2025 World Series:Blue Jays enter World Series as underdogs against Ohtani’s DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers and superstar Shohei Ohtani have arrived in Toronto as the favourites ahead of the World Series against the Blue Jays but Jays fans are excited and the team’s players and coaches believe in their chances.Heck, even for people who were around for their last championship, like Raja Oosiar, the wait has been excruciating. “I think I was three years old the last time they went to the Series, my dad carrying me on his shoulders down these halls,” Oosiar said at Rogers Centre after Monday’s pennant-clinching win against Seattle. “So seeing it as a [grown] man is pretty special.” With so many years of anticipation, expect the dome and the rest of the city to be rocking at first pitch.Dodgers looking to repeat as champsLos Angeles, in stark contrast, has seen plenty of World Series action in the past decade. The Dodgers are playing in their fifth Fall Classic in nine seasons, and will be gunning for their own repeat after easily dispatching the New York Yankees in five games last year to become the undisputed kings — or, to most baseball fans, evil emperors — of the big leagues.Led by multi-talented, cannot-be-overhyped phenom Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers have an almost God-like batting lineup and starting rotation.The National League champs have lost only one game in three series this post-season, most recently making this season’s winningest team, the Milwaukee Brewers, look like a speed bump on their flat, paved road to the World Series. Shohei Ohtani, who leads a juggernaut Los Angeles team, takes batting practice at Rogers Centre ahead of the 2025 World Series. He’s coming off a three-home run game in which he also pitched six scoreless innings to clinch the National League pennant for the Dodgers. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)But the Blue Jays didn’t get here by luck. Their bats have been on fire this October, and they won one more game than LA during the regular season. That gives Toronto home-field advantage for the series’ first two games, as well as Games 6 and 7, if necessary. Against a juggernaut like the Dodgers, that small edge could be massive.Jays manager says he’s confident in his team So the Dodgers (with a payroll nearly $100 million higher than Toronto’s) are a formidable opponent, but Blue Jays manager John Schneider hasn’t appeared intimidated this week, saying his club has what it takes to win.”I got all the confidence in the world with my guys,” he said at a media availability Thursday. “I’ll put this group of 26 up against anybody.”Schneider said the Dodgers are “a beatable baseball team.”WATCH | Schneider says Jays can hold their own against Dodgers:’That is a beatable baseball team,’ Blue Jays manager says of DodgersToronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider was asked ahead of the World Series about some people framing the matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers as a David vs. Goliath situation — a categorization he rejects, saying his team is ready to face off against, ‘what is, on paper, the best team in baseball.’ Toronto’s players are gearing up for a battle. George Springer, whose Game 7 blast earlier this week helped catapult the Jays into the World Series, said he hasn’t really had time to reflect on his game-winning home run.“There’s still a job to be done and there’s still a very good baseball team on the other side of the line over there,” he told CBC News on Thursday.The Blue Jays will have help from Bo Bichette for the first time this post-season. The star shortstop, who has been out with a sprained knee since Sept. 6, was placed on the team’s official World Series roster Friday. Bichette led the team in hits this year, but where he’ll fit into the lineup is still a question.Trey Yesavage, 22, who started his professional career this spring and was only called up to the majors last month, will start Game 1 for Toronto. He’ll face left-hander Blake Snell, one of only seven pitchers ever to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues (Jays veteran Max Scherzer is also on that list).Mayors make friendly betIt’s a big moment for Toronto baseball fans. Jays fans flooded downtown Toronto after the team beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 to win the ALCS and qualify for the World Series on Monday night.Blue Jays fans flooded Front Street W. outside Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto after the team beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 Monday night to win the American League pennant. (Jes Mason/CBC)“We’re back, baby!” screamed Leo Bursui after watching Game 7 of the ALCS at a bar downtown.Politicians are getting in on the excitement too. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said Friday she has a World Series bet with L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, whom she says is also a cyclist: loser bikes through their city’s downtown wearing the winning city’s jersey.Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday he’d reached out to U.S. President Donald Trump to try to make his own friendly wager, but he hadn’t heard back. At this point, it seems unlikely he will.Where to watch the gamesFor fans who weren’t able to get through Ticketmaster’s lottery system this week and are now priced out of marked up resale tickets, there are lots of watch parties and events around the city showing Game 1.The City of Toronto will host free public viewing parties at Nathan Phillips Square for all home games during the championship.Fans can watch the games live on a giant screen, accompanied by music from a live DJ and Blue Jays trivia with prizes, starting Friday at 8 p.m. ET.Fans react during the ALCS Game 7 between the Jays and the Mariners at Rogers Centre. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)The Maple Leafs and Raptors will also show the World Series games on the Scotiabank Arena videoboard following their games. Both teams have moved their games start times to accommodate the World Series schedule.Many bars and venues will be hosting watch parties, including the RendezViews, which will have two massive outdoor screenings for the first two home games of the World Series. The University of Toronto will also screen the games on the school’s front campus lawn downtown. WATCH | See how the Jays got ready for the World Series back in ’93:Throwback: How the ’93 Jays got ready for World Series Game 1The last time the Toronto Blue Jays played in the World Series in 1993, they were the defending champions. This time around, some sports betting sites have labelled them the underdogs as they face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.For those lucky enough to have tickets this weekend, Toronto police are asking for patience. They recommend using public transit to get to Rogers Centre, due to road closures and large crowds in the area. Groups with children are asked to decide in advance where to meet if separated.During home games, the city is providing Bike Share valet service outside Rogers Centre and Nathan Phillips Square to ensure people don’t get stuck at a full docking station on their way downtown. There will also be designated pick-up and drop-off spots for ride share outside the dome.Drivers should also be aware some roads around the stadium will be closed on game days.There will be an increased police presence outside the dome on game days, including officers from the mounted unit, to manage crowd control.ABOUT THE AUTHOREthan Lang is a reporter for CBC Toronto. Ethan has also worked in Whitehorse, where he covered the Yukon Legislative Assembly, and Halifax, where he wrote on housing and forestry for the Halifax Examiner.With files from Metro Morning
‘Once in a lifetime’: Blue Jays fans prepare for first Toronto World Series game in decades
