A Blue Jays Canada Day VIDEO Journey

Jul 1, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view as a Canadian flag is unfurled across the outfield for Canada Day before the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

Canada Day is always a day of high energy and celebration at Rogers Centre as the Blue Jays play in front of the only MLB crowd in Canada. It is always a good time. Now, their record for Canada Day games is nothing to celebrate (they’re 13-23). But, this year will have a different feel. This year, the Blue Jays will host the Boston Red Sox for the 3rd game in their series. They’ll be sporting the newly designed Canada Day jerseys. They’re white with red lettering.

Aside from the uniforms being different colors, the Blue Jays will enter play on Canada Day in the thick of a playoff race.

Toronto Blue Jays

In order to get ready for the hype that is Canada Day in Canada’s only MLB city, I thought I’d take a look back at the past few years of Canada Day games. There are some pretty cool moments involving first pitches, lineup cards and such. But, there were also some fairly exciting plays and highlights that made these games fun to watch.

While you might notice some familiar names, you’ll also see different lineups and players throughout. For example, remember who started on Canada Day in 2011? He’s no longer with the organization. The way some of the lineups are filled out, it makes sense why this club hasn’t been all that successful over the lats couple years.

Regardless, let’s take a look back at some Canada Day fun with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Next: Canada Day 2011: Rick Hansen & a HoF-er

Jul 1, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view as a Canadian flag is unfurled across the outfield for Canada Day before the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

2011- Philadelphia Phillies- 7  Blue Jays- 6

On July 1st, 2011, Canadian, Rick Hansen threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Brandon Morrow. Hansen is famous for his “Man in Motion” tour that saw him travel around the world in his wheelchair to raise awareness of the potential that those with disabilities have. You can learn more about the Rick Hansen Foundation HERE.

In that same game, Ferguson Jenkins joined the broadcast. Jenkins is the has the most wins of any Canadian pitcher with 284. The Hall of Famer talked about a number of topics including his commemorative stamp and Larry Walker‘s claim to the Hall of Fame.

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In his 19 year career, Jenkins compiled a record of 284-226. He was a 3 time All Star. He finished 3rd in Cy Young Award voting twice in 1970 and 1972, finished 2nd twice in ’67 & ’74 and won the award in 1971. He had 30 (!) complete games that season! 30! In fact, for his career, Jenkins logged 267 complete games.

The game itself saw Roy Halladay return to Toronto to bring out the lineup card. You might recall that the first job GM, Alex Anthopoulos was tasked with in the winter of 2009 was trading arguably the best player ever produced by the Blue Jays. “Doc” was traded to the Phillies, and the rest as they say, is history.

The Blue Jays, still looking for an ace had high hopes for 2011’s Canada Day starter. He’s since declined dramatically and been released. Ricky Romero started this celebratory game against the Phillies. The Blue Jays would go on to lose the game 7-6. Highlights include Jose Bautista and Eric Thames hit home runs. Thames is now hitting bombs in South Korea.

Next: Canada Day 201: Lawrie Chaos

Jul 1, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view as a Canadian flag is unfurled across the outfield for Canada Day before the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

2012- LA Angels- 10  Blue Jays- 6

The Blue Jays lost again on this Canada Day, this time to the Angels by a score of 10-6. It was a game full of excitement. Jose Bautista had just been selected to represent the Blue Jays in the All Star Game. The dome was packed, the sun was shining! Bautista drove in a couple runs off a misplayed grounder to second that led to some chaos. See, Brett Lawrie brought his usual intensity to the game with this collision at the plate:

In hindsight, it was a play that didn’t need to be that aggressive. He actually had to go out of his way to hit the catcher. He would have been better off just sliding home.

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But, that play is the kind of stuff that caused some Blue Jays fans to grow impatient with the young ball of energy. It certainly got the Angels dugout upset. Manager, Mike Scoscia was tossed for arguing the play. Except, he might have had a point. It looks as though Lawrie was tagged during the collision and was out before he raced back to step on home plate.  You be the judge.

It was a game the Blue Jays should have won, but the bullpen wasted a great start by Aaron Laffey (that’s right!). The last anyone heard of Laffey is that he had signed a minor league deal with the Rockies in November of 2014. He is currently listed as a reliever with their minor league club, the Albuquerque Isotopes. The ‘pen gave up 7 runs in the final two innings. Francisco Cordero took the loss. Of note, Colby Rasmus hit a home run as did J.P. Arencibia.

Next: Canada Day 2013: Dickey & DeRosa

Jul 1, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view as a Canadian flag is unfurled across the outfield for Canada Day before the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

2014- Milwaukee Brewers- 1  Blue Jays- 4

One year ago, the Blue Jays took on the Milwaukee Brewers. The home team won by a score of 4-1. Drew Hutchison threw a great game giving up just 3 hits and striking out 10! He was helped out by another Canada Day home run for Jose Bautista, a double from Edwin Encarnacion and a triple from Melky Cabrera.

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The pre-game celebration welcomed back the giant Canadian flag and much more…soulful rendition of “Oh Canada”.

The highlight of the game has to have been the strong outing from Drew Hutchison. He showed the stuff that Blue Jays fans have been getting snippets of over the last couple years. He had it working that day.

Hutchison was also helped out by Edwin Encarnacion who absolutely laid out to make a diving stab at a liner down the first base line to rob Scooter Gennett.

The game could have been much better (if you’re a Blue Jays fan) as they team left 14 runners on base. They’d collected 9 hits against Milwaukee’s starter…Marco Estrada.

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Despite the offense doing well, GM, Alex Anthopoulos must have liked what he saw in Estrada as it was only a few months later that he traded Adam Lind to the Brewers for Estrada. And, with the recent outings from Estrada, we’ve forgotten that that deal was more about getting rid of Lind and his

attitude

salary.

There you have it. A look back at the past few Canada Day games with the Blue Jays. There’s been some ups and downs along the way. The one thing you can bet on is that it will be a great celebration.

Happy Canada Day, everyone!

Next: Aaron Sanchez Making His Way Back to Blue Jays