EDMONTON — I don’t remember a whole lot about 1993. This is pretty much all I know: I was six years old, the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series and I was the happiest kid in the world.
Now it’s 2015. I’m 28 years old, the Blue Jays are finally back in the postseason and I’m the happiest kid in the world.
But, I think I may be tied with a whole lot of other grown up little kids. The Blue Jays of the early 90s inspired an entire generation of fans that not only love the Jays, but love baseball because of them. We sat with our moms and dads, our brothers and sisters; watching on grainy TV screens across the country when the championship flew north of the border and when Joe touched ’em all.
Since then, our love has been tested. The league went on strike, the team was mostly terrible and we endured the longest playoff drought in North American sports. Love endures, though doesn’t it?
As the Blue Jays make their return to glory, those little kids from the early 90s are making sure they have the best seat possible, no matter how far they have to go to get there. I’ve come across of a few people like that.
“This was the year that it all just came together, how could you not go?” said lifelong Blue Jays fan Alfred Holmes.
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He has tickets to games 1 and 2 of the American League Championship Series. Between the tickets and the flight from Edmonton to Toronto, he estimates the trip will cost around $1,400.
“It’s 100 per cent for the little kid. I think about that all the time,” said Holmes.
“I vividly remember the World Series in ’92 and ’93 and I was going crazy. So the little kid in me is very stoked.”
Logan Robicheau says he “paid a little extra” to make his Blue Jays dream come true. Robicheau grew up watching the World Series years too. But, he’s only ever watched them from home in Alberta. He’s never been to a Blue Jays game in person and on Wednesday he landed in Toronto for the first time.
“I’ve been a fan all my life and first time going to a game, might as well make it the postseason,” said Robicheau.
Yep. You might as well. When I talked to Logan, I think I was more excited than he was. I’ve been to Toronto. I’ve seen the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. I’ve seen them with the roof open. I’ve seen them with the roof closed. I’ve seen them on the road. I’ve seen them in spring training.
I have never seen them in the postseason. But I will.
I’ll be there for game 2. I’m taking my little brother, actually he’s taking me. I don’t remember a whole lot about 1993, but I do remember it. He was too young then. But he’s not too young now, and I have a feeling these memories will be even better.
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