This past October, the Fall Classic found its way back to the Rogers Centre, where the Toronto Blue Jays played in their first World Series in 32 years, against the star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers.

It was a heroic 2025 season that few fans expected. The Blue Jays came last in their division in the 2024 season, no free agents wanted to sign with Toronto, and their franchise star, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., was seemingly on his way out. And yet, the team bounced back by stunning the baseball world with a division title in 2025, then beating the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners in the playoffs en route to the World Series.

For many Canadians, the return of playoff baseball to Toronto could not have come at a more fitting time: the success of the Blue Jays was an assertion of national pride and a rebuke against growing anti-Canadian sentiment from its southern neighbours.

In the wake of repeated tariff threats from Washington and US President Donald Trump’s comments about turning Canada into the 51st state, meetings between Canadian and American sports teams have reached a new level of competitiveness. In February 2025, the Star-Spangled Banner was booed in Montreal ahead of the Four Nations ice hockey tournament. Following Canada’s thrilling overtime win in the finals, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to X, writing, “You can’t take our country—and you can’t take our game,” a quip responding to Trump’s repeated comments attacking Canadian sovereignty.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid after scoring the game-winning goal in the finals of the Four Nations Tournament. “Connor McDavid Game-Winning Goal” by Brian Fluharty is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

It was a sentiment that many Canadians carried into their support for the Toronto Blue Jays. This team was special for Canada because, while there are seven Canadian hockey teams in the National Hockey League, there is only one Canadian baseball team in Major League Baseball. From coast to coast to coast, Canadians began rallying behind the Blue Jays; the team brought on a renewed sense of unity, even among provinces normally divided on political lines.

“You can go from as far east as Nova Scotia and as far west as Vancouver, and it was all about the Blue Jays. It was all about Canada,” former Blue Jays hero Joe Carter commented on the widespreadness of Blue Jays support across the country.

Even people living in parts of the country that traditionally have a bitter disdain for Toronto and its overarching dominance in Canadian politics and culture couldn’t resist jumping on the Blue Jays bandwagon in October.

“It’s pretty rare to meet an Albertan who’d ever root for a team from Toronto, but uncharacteristically, almost every fan I know was cheering for the Blue Jays this year. Even though lots of people from Western Canada can’t stand Toronto, everyone still came together to back Canada’s team,” Sophia Beach, a resident of Camrose, Alberta, told The McGill International Review, reflecting on Albertan sports loyalties during the Blue Jays’ playoff run.

And by the start of the World Series back in Toronto in late October, Blue Jays fever had fully engulfed the city. Anything anyone could ever talk about was the Blue Jays.

“It was such a unique feeling because the energy stretched across Toronto. When I was taking the train downtown, everyone was talking about the game, and walking around before the game, I could feel the buzz everywhere,” Joshua Wttewaall told The McGill International Review, describing his experience before attending Game Seven of the World Series at the Rogers Centre.

But even amid all the passion Canadian sports fans had shown for the Jays, the sourness of Canada-US relations underscored the entire series. During the broadcast of Game One of the World Series, Ontario Premier Doug Ford aired an anti-tariff ad featuring audio excerpts from a speech delivered by former US President Ronald Reagan, despite Prime Minister Carney’s disapproval:

“Over the long run, such [trade] barriers will only hurt American workers and consumers. […] Throughout the world, there’s a growing realization that the way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting free and fair competition,” Reagan warned in a 1987 speech, excerpts of which were featured in Ford’s advertisement.

On live television, the advertisement reached millions of Americans from coast to coast, including US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra and President Donald Trump. Trump promptly cancelled all trade talks with Ottawa following the advertisement’s airing, and Ambassador Hoekstra went on an “expletive-laced tirade” against Ontario’s trade representative.

As Canada-US tensions began to flare up again, the Blue Jays lost two back-to-back games at home in Toronto, losing to the Dodgers in the 11th inning of Game Seven 5-4, despite having the lead for the first ten innings.

It was an outcome no one in Canada wanted.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid reflected on the Blue Jays’ magical 2025 season and commented: “They’ve given Canada a lot to cheer about, and they should be very, very proud.”

Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette, visibly emotional, spoke  to reporters saying: “I wished we could have won it together. I wish we could’ve shared that moment together.”

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith hitting the go-ahead home run in Game 7. “Will Smith of the Dodgers hitting the game-winning home run in the 11th inning.” by Kevin Sousa is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Still, for years to come, Canadians will reminisce about the 2025 Blue Jays with fondness. A team that managed to capture lightning in a bottle and unite a country when political turmoil had threatened its unity most.

As Canwood resident Ryan Peekeekoot puts it: “the world is so divided—it’s times like these that really bring everyone together.”

Even though the 2025 Blue Jays never got to lift the World Series trophy, they still won over the hearts of millions of Canadians. Perhaps that in itself is a victory more sweet and enduring than a championship could ever be.

Edited by Aubrey Nan 

Featured Image: Rogers Centre during Game 2 of the 2025 World Series viewed from above. “Rogers Centre” by Arlyn McAdorey is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.