Penton: Jays struggling during 50th anniversary
By Bruce Penton
Whether the Toronto Blue Jays win the World Series or miss the playoffs altogether, the 2026 season will be remembered for the significance of the team celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Only those of a certain age who were around to watch the Jays’ first-ever game back in April, 1977, will recall that instead of sunshine pouring into Exhibition Stadium, where the Jays played their first few seasons, a fluke spring snowfall soured the day. The average American ball fan whose image of a stereotypical Canadian is someone who resides in a cold country and perhaps lives in an igloo may have had those myths confirmed with video replays of that snowy day, April 7. A Zamboni was even needed to clear snow from the field. Normally, weather that extreme would have caused a postponement of an outdoor baseball game, but there had been so much hype about the Canadian expansion team playing its first game, it was full steam ahead.
Blue Jays won the game, 9-5 over Chicago White Sox, as Doug Ault (career batting average .236 and 17 home runs), banged out two homers.
Wouldn't it be grand if the Blue Jays celebrated their 50th year of existence with a World Series championship? Year 49 produced an American League East title, an AL championship and a near-miss in the World Series against the Dodgers, losing Game 7 in extra innings at home.
Last year’s team was 22-24 in mid-May before manager John Schneider’s players turned the corner. The Jays had a similar start this year, 31-34 after 65 games, so there’s reason to believe a repeat of 2025 is possible. There are a few 'ifs' involved, however: If Vladimir Guerrero Jr., starts swatting home runs like he did last year (he had only three round-trippers after 65 games); if George Springer rebounds from a poor start and starts hitting like the .309 guy from last year; if Addison Barger remembers how he hit 21 home runs last year (injuries have slowed him badly this year); and if the Jays' pitching staff lives up to its pre-season hype as one of the best rotations in baseball.
Catching first-place Tampa Bay Rays will be tough, but the Jays are solidly in the wildcard race and with Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease and Trey Yesavage leading the way on the mound and rookie flash Kazuma Okamoto living up to his pre-season billing (team-leading 13 homers and 35 RBI through 65 games), there’s reason to believe Toronto fans will see some playoff games in Year 50.
Meanwhile, the moment in those 50 years Jays’ fans will never forget will be memorialized in a ceremony on July 18. A statue of Joe Carter’s “touch ‘em all” home run that won the 1993 World Series over Philadelphia Phillies will be unveiled prior to that day’s game against the White Sox.
Blue Jays’ officials would be wise to leave space near the Carter shrine for future statues. The next 50 years is bound produce a couple more heroes.
Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “Andy Reid said he will attend the Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift wedding, but said he would not sing ‘I Am the Walrus’ at the reception.”
Super 70s Sports: “I miss real intentional walks. The crowd booing, the .01 per cent chance something weird would happen, the batter giving off ‘Yeah, I knew you didn’t want any of this’ vibes.”
Headline at theonion.com: “Rawlings Donates 50,000 Baseball Gloves To Ukrainian War Effort”The great WC Fields: “Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people.”
Guardian U.S., on Bluesky: “(New York mayor) Zohran Mamdani’s quest to corner the youth vote has continued with the news that he has repealed bedtime for the city’s children during the NBA finals.”
Another one from Torben Rolfsen: “Chris Pronger confirmed he interviewed for the top Maple Leaf job — Auston Matthews’ psychiatrist.”
One more from Rolfsen: “Three Houston pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter. Apparently, the Astros have figured out a way to tap into the automated balls and strikes system.”
Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, on the difference between San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama at age 22 and Shaquille O'Neal of Orlando Magic at age 22: “Wemby gives the Spurs hope for the future; Shaq took the Magic’s hope to L.A.”
Stan Verrett on X: “If I’m Wembanyama, I’m making one call, with one question. The call is to Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The question is ‘can you teach me the sky hook?’ It would be impossible to block.”
Jack Finarelli on his sportscurmudgeon.com site, after Josh Jacobs of the Packers was arrested for domestic violence, including ‘strangling’: “That is not exactly a ‘judgment call’; ‘strangling’ is never seen as socially acceptable.”
Headline at fark.com: “Stephen A. Smith takes credit for the NY Knicks reaching the NBA final. In other news, rooster takes credit for the sun rising.
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca