Blue Jays announce World Series ceremonial first pitches and they're a dream for fans

The dream of seeing the World Series return to Canada is about to be fulfilled and a new generation of Blue Jays fans will get to see their team play in the Fall Classic.

It's been over three decades since the Toronto Blue Jays were in the World Series. For years, fans would reminisce about the glory days and the stacked rosters of the 1992 and 1993 teams. It was at that time, the pinnacle of Toronto sports, to see one of their franchises bring home titles.

While there are so many names to mention from those years, two men stand tall among the rest, and they'll be recognized this weekend at the World Series against the Dodgers.

Cito Gaston and Joe Carter will throw out the first pitches in Toronto

MLB reporter Keegan Matheson announced Friday morning that Cito Gaston will throw out the first pitch for Game 1, followed by World Series hero Joe Carter the following night. Gaston and Carter are two of the most significant names as to why there are banners hanging in the rafters of the Rogers Centre.

Cito Gaston was initially hired as a hitting coach by the Blue Jays back in 1982. It was thanks to his contributions that Toronto won its first division title in 1985, only to fall to the Kansas City Royals in Game 7 of the 1985 ALCS. Once Manager Jimmy Williams was fired in May of 1989, Gaston took over and never looked back. He would remain manager of the Blue Jays until 1997, and left with many accolades.

Under his wing, Gaston would lead the Blue Jays to three division titles (1991-1993) and to their first World Series appearance in 1992, ultimately winning it and running it back the following year. Gaston also became the first African-American manager in MLB history to win the World Series.

He would eventually return to manage the Blue Jays between 2008 and 2010 before retiring. Gaston would throw out the first pitch before Game 1 of the 2015 ALDS, but that won't compare to the pitch he'll throw Friday night before Game 1 of the World Series.

Joe Carter joined the Blue Jays in December 1990 after a shocking trade that saw him and Roberto Alomar dealt to the San Diego Padres in exchange for fan favorites Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez. To this day, it remains one of the most impactful trades in franchise history.

Carter would spend seven years in Toronto, where he would go on to slash .259/.306/.464 with an OPS of .771 as a Blue Jay. He would also knock out 203 home runs with 736 RBIs. Of course, no home run was bigger than his epic World Series-winning home run in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. He would be the second player in MLB history to win a World Series with a home run.

Since Carter was part of the final plays that secured Toronto's World Series titles and is on the Level of Excellence, it is only fitting that he gets a first-pitch honor on a stage he's remembered for.