Top 5 postseason moments in Toronto Blue Jays history

#5

Ed Sprague– 1992 World Series- Pinch-hit home run off Atlanta Braves Jeff Reardon

The Blue Jays dropped the first game of the 1992 World Series to the Atlanta Braves 3-1, off the heels of a Tom Glavine gem in front of a packed house at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

With the Jays trailing 4-3 in the top of the 9th inning of Game #2, Pat Borders flew out to David Justice in right field to lead off the inning. Manager would opt to go to his bench, pinch hitting for the light hitting Manuel Lee with Derek Bell.

Bell would draw a full-count walk off the 37-year old closer to set the stage for the pinch-hitter, Ed Sprague. Gaston scribbled Sprague’s name on the lineup card to bat for pitcher Duane Ward.

With the tomahawk chop in full effect, pinch hitter Ed Sprague settled into the box. The third-baseman had only seen action in 22 contests during the regular season, batting .234 in limited opportunities.

With a runner on, Sprague took a Jeff Reardon first pitch offering and deposited it over the left-field wall to give the Jays a 5-4 lead.

Tom Henke would come on to save it for the Jays tieing the series heading back to Toronto.

I had the opportunity to interview Ed Sprague a few years back and this was his response about what he remembered from the at-bat: “I remember being very relaxed for that at bat. I thought about taking the first pitch because Derek Bell had just walked in front of me but I decided to go up swinging. I am glad I did.”