Blue Jay fever bringing fans in the capital together

Long-time fans of the Toronto Blue Jays say the team’s early playoff success is bringing back strong memories. CTV’s Katelyn Wilson reports.

The Blue Jays are one win away from advancing to their first playoff series victory in nearly a decade and for longtime fans, it’s bringing back big memories.

“It’s Canada’s team and I would argue everyone’s getting on the band wagon in Ottawa,” said Peter Bachelor, long-time fan and former president of the Friends of the Blue Jays club.

According to Bachelor, every baseball in his house tells a story, just like his autographed Blue Jays jersey does.

“We were invited to Rideau Hall to visit the Blue Jays on Dec. 16, 1992, and we met Joe Carter, Ed Sprague, Jack Morris, Cito Gaston, Paul Beeston, the names go on and on, but it was quite the evening,” said Bachelor.

From Joe Carter’s World Series wining homerun to José Bautista’s iconic bat flip and Trey Yesavage’s dominant pitching performance last Sunday, Blue Jay’s fans have lived through some unforgettable moments, and this year is no different.

“It’s a way to bring the country together in a positive situation,” said Bachelor.

Anticipation is building as the Jays head into game three against the Yankees. They’re on the verge of sweeping the series and moving on to the American League Championship Series after two dominant wins at home.

The team’s success is doing more than filling stadiums and sports bars; it’s reigniting a love for the game itself and local teams like the Ottawa Titans are feeling that energy too.

“The more people that get exposed to the sport of baseball and how great it is, I think the more people that will want to play it and then long term, the more people that are playing it, the more people that are going to follow it,” said Titan’s general manager Martin Boyce.

If the Jays beat the Yankees tonight, they’ll be off to the American League finals on Sunday.

Bachelor says the recipe for success is simple.

“We’ll see where we go, one game at a time,” he said.

Bachelor says there will be a watch party at the legion in Manotick and donations will be collected for veterans experiencing homelessness.

The Blue Jays face the Yankees in game three tonight at 8:08 p.m.

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