Who throws out the Blue Jays playoff opener first pitch?

Cito Gaston

Cito lead the Blue Jays into the post sesason 4 times and would manage 2 World Series Championship teams in 1992 and 1993.  He managed one of only 7 teams to ever capture back to back World Series wins.

As the on field general of the Blue Jays brain trust partnered with Pat Gillick and Paul Beeston, they assembled an incredible group of talent.  Cito has been with the Blue Jays his entire managing career which started as the hitting coach in 1982.  He would eventually work with manger Bobby Cox who would elect him to become his successor after he went to the Braves.  With Cito at the helm, the Blue Jays enjoyed their growing dynasty in the late 1980’s.

Gaston led the Jays into the post season after getting the manager job in 1989.  Once he took over the Jays went on a tear and went 77-49 for the remainder of the season.  They would lose to the Oakland A’s in the ALCS but Gaston had proved himself and would remain the Jays coach for years to come.  In 1997, Cito would finish his first final season as the Blue Jays manager and finished with a 683–636 record.

Once Paul Beeston returned to be president of the Blue Jays in 2008 he would fire John Gibbons, who is oddly the Jays current manager, to rehire his friend Cito as the manager.  The team in 2008 would pull a drastic reversal from their 35-39 start to the season and go onto have a 51-37 record to finish the season.  Cito would manage the Jays again until the end of the 2010 season.  His final overall record as the Jays manager would be 894-837.  There is something magic about Cito that brings out the best in players and he has been a huge contributor to the Blue Jays organization.  We would love to have some of that magic on our side as our Blue Jays storm into the post season.

Hey Cito, do any pitchers have a chance against this line up? – “I don’t think so” as he shakes his head no.

#Cito1Pitch

Next: The Doc is in!