An Ode to the '92-'93 Toronto Blue Jays

A feature written by Luke Adams for the now-defunct website Sports-Den.net.

Nineteen ninety-two was a year to remember,

One of the few times the Blue Jays played past September.

The ball team up north had their best year to date,

They circled all the bases, stomped down on home plate.

The Blue Jays stomped on opponents all year.

Winfield, Carter, Gruber, and White.

Were just some of their stars that took the field each night.

Along with Morris, Guzman, and the legendary Henke,

Their team was far better than those free-spending Yankees.

They were destined for greatness this particular year,

For all their opposition, there was plenty to fear.

They cruised through the season, and into the ALCS,

Where they faced the hated A’s, who thought they were best.

After starting off slow, the Jays fought back like a storm

By game five of the series, they were back in top form.

Roberto Alomar (who later spit at an umpire)

Was the MVP of the series; his bat was on fire.

So once the A’s were disposed of, the Jays just kept going,

On to the Fall Classic, the first Canadian showing.

The competition came from way down south in the States,

As the Atlanta Braves challenged, unaware of their fates.

The series began with a rather poor display.

The hero of game one was not a Blue Jay,

But some backup catcher, whom I did not know,

But his three-run homerun was the cruical blow.

The next three games though, were won by the Jays,

They battled adversity, without being fazed.

Not only was a clear triple-play call missed,

But an upside-down flag? Canada had been dissed.

Talk about disrespect.

In the fifth game of the series, they struggled again.

Cito ignored his bullpen, leaving Jack Morris in.

And it cost the Jays, when in the top of the fifth,

Jack was light up for a slam, by one Lonnie Smith.

With a 3-2 lead, and the series back in Georgia,

The Jays headed to the ninth, on the verge of euphoria.

But with two outs, two strikes, and two runners on base,

Henke gave up a hit (I felt like punching his face).

That tied the game, and into extra innings we went,

It was Winfield in the 11th, who down the third-base line sent

A solid line drive with two outs in the inning.

White and Alomar scored; the Blue Jays were winning.

In the bottom of the 11th, they let one run in,

The stage was set and in came Mike Timlin.

Nixon tried to bunt, but Timlin jumped on it,

Calmly threw it to first, and Toronto had won it.

In the offseason, Toronto pondered moves they could make.

Who they could trade, and who they might take.

They lost Winfield, Henke, Cone, and Gruber.

But added Paul Molitor, and pitcher Dave Stewart.

The sub-plots were aplenty as the year went on:

Ricky Henderson was acquired late in the season,

New superstars emerged, like Hengten and Ward,

Not to mention John Olerud’s chase of .400.

The ‘93 Jays were just as good, if not better,

Then their World-Champion ‘92 predecessor.

That they’d return to the playoffs, there was never a doubt,

But who would they face, in their ALCS bout?

The Chicago White Sox were the prey this time ‘round

In game one, the Sox sent Black Jack to the mound.

The Jays roughed him up, as they always have done,

And eventually, in six games, the series they won.

So back to the Series, the Blue Jays did go,

But this year they'd battle a different foe.

The Phillies were the team Toronto would face,

In one year they'd gone from last to first place.

In the SkyDome this time, the series began.

The first game's result was a Toronto win.

The Phillies fought back and took game two.

But the third game went to the boys in Blue.

Then came game four, it was one for the ages.

It seemed on that night that hitting was contagious.

'Twas the top of the eighth, and the Philles still led

By five runs -- the Jays were thought to be dead.

But in came Mitch Williams, the hitter’s dream.

He gave up the lead, and let down his team.

Fifteen to fourteen, was how it all ended,

Since Toronto had won, I thought that game splendid.

The Blue Jays win the best game EVER.

Following one of the great games of all-time,

The series was over, except for the cryin’

The Phillies did win game five at home,

Setting up Toronto to win back at SkyDome.

The finish was great, a storybook closure,

Joe hit a bomb, and they lost their composure.

His three-run shot to bring home the Series,

For the most part left Canada absolutely delirious.

Gruber, Juan Guzman, and Jimmy Key,

Carter, Pat Borders, and Manuel Lee,

Leiter, David Cone, and Tony Castillo,

Molitor, Olerud, and the manager Cito.

The list of legends goes on, it’s quite plain to see

That this Blue Jay squad was a dynasty.

“Winfield wants Noise” and Coke’s ad campaigns,

In Canadians’ memories, will always remain.

Images courtesy my awesome Blue Jays books, “A Series to Remember” and “On Top of the World.”

Site design and content by Luke Adams, unless otherwise indicated.