I stood among the sea of blue at the Rogers Centre last night, witnessing what many are already calling one of the greatest World Series games in recent memory. The electricity in the air was palpable as Toronto hosted its first World Series game in 31 years.
“This city hasn’t felt this kind of energy since ’93,” remarked longtime fan Dave Wilkins, his voice still hoarse from cheering. “It’s like the whole city is holding its breath with every pitch.”
The Blue Jays, trailing the Dodgers 2-1 in the series, found themselves in a must-win situation. And what a response they delivered. Behind Shane Bieber’s masterful pitching performance, Toronto evened the series with a nail-biting 3-2 victory that had 49,000+ fans on their feet until the final out.
Bieber went seven innings, striking out nine Dodgers and allowing just one earned run. His curveball was particularly devastating, generating 14 swings and misses. “I just tried to stay in the moment,” Bieber told me in the post-game scrum. “The crowd carried us tonight.”
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani continued his remarkable postseason, launching a solo home run in the third inning that momentarily silenced the crowd. The 450-foot blast to right field reminded everyone why he’s considered baseball’s most complete player.
But the night belonged to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose two-run homer in the sixth provided the winning margin. The ball barely cleared the wall in left-center, sending the stadium into absolute bedlam. As Guerrero rounded the bases, the structural engineers at Rogers Centre might have had reason for concern – the concrete was literally shaking beneath our feet.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, watching from a suite behind home plate, called the atmosphere “a beautiful reminder of how sports can unite our diverse city.” The economic impact has been substantial too, with downtown businesses reporting sales increases of 40-60% during home games, according to the Toronto Board of Trade.
The series now stands deadlocked at two games apiece, with Game 5 set for tonight in Toronto before returning to Los Angeles. Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced Kevin Gausman will take the mound, facing Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in what promises to be another classic matchup.
Walking through the concourse after the game, I spoke with families who had driven from as far as Thunder Bay to witness history. “We spent our savings on these tickets,” said mother of two Jennifer Chen. “But seeing my kids’ faces when Guerrero hit that homer? Priceless.”
The broader impact extends beyond baseball. Tourism Toronto estimates an additional $45 million flowing into the local economy for each World Series home game. Hotels are reporting 98% occupancy rates, and restaurants near the stadium have been booked solid for weeks.
For a city whose baseball identity has often lived in the shadow of hockey, this series is redefining Toronto’s sporting landscape. “The Leafs will always be number one, but these Blue Jays are showing there’s room for multiple passions,” noted sports historian Paul Romanuk, whom I interviewed before the game.
As I left the stadium, the celebrations continued on Front Street well past midnight. Strangers embraced, cars honked in rhythm, and impromptu “Let’s Go Blue Jays” chants erupted spontaneously. For one night at least, Toronto felt like the center of the baseball universe.
Game 5 starts in just hours. The question now: can the Blue Jays ride this momentum to take the series lead before heading back to Los Angeles? One thing’s certain – Toronto has fallen in love with baseball all over again.
