Game 7 World Series loss another addition to Toronto's painful sports history

Over the last 30 years the Toronto sports scene seems to be defined by more heartbreak than triumph. Of the three teams within North America's "Big Four" sports, the Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs have provided their fans with more pain than celebration.

They've all been champions at one point their franchises history, but it's also been few and far between. Game 7 of the 2025 World Series looked like a promising opportunity to change some of that narrative.

The Blue Jays were looking to win their first World Series since 1993. The franchise had brutal losses before 2025. ALCS losses in 1985, 1989, 1991, 2015 and 2016. Game 2's infamous 8-1 lead against the Seattle Mariners in the 2022 Wild Card series.

But 2025 felt like it was going to be different as Toronto was electric the entire postseason, culminating in the team clinching the AL Pennant in Game 7 of the 2025 ALCS against the Mariners. But, the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers were waiting.

Through five games, the Blue Jays led 3-2 in the series and they had two games at home to close it out behind a rowdy Rogers Centre crowd. A brutal Game 6 loss still meant a chance to clinch in Game 7. Early on it seemed like the Blue Jays were going to do just that when Bo Bichette hit a three-run home run in the third inning to knock out two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.

Up 4-2 in the eighth inning, six outs away from a championship, Max Muncy of the Dodgers hits a solo home run to make it 4-3. No big deal, the Blue Jays were still up by one with closer Jeff Hoffman on the mound, tasked with getting the final four outs.

He got the first two, ending the eighth and beginning the ninth. But how many people would've predicted Miguel Rojas to be the guy to take Hoffman deep to tie Game 7 of a World Series? Not many. Rojas' blast went to deep left field and the game was back to square one at 4-4. But the Blue Jays still had a chance to win in a walk off to repeat their last World Series title in 1993 when Joe Carter's home run brought Toronto the championship.

Bottom nine. Bases loaded. One out. A ground ball hit to Rojas by Dalton Varsho looked like it could have brought home the winning run. While putting all his weight on his back foot, Rojas made the throw at home to Will Smith to save the run. In the next at-bat by Ernie Clement, he smoked a ball to deep left field. When it appeared a potential run would score, Andy Pages made the catch on the warning track.

In the 11th Smith hit a solo home run with one out off Shane Bieber to give the Dodgers a 5-4 lead and the Blue Jays had gone from two outs away of winning the series to being three outs away from losing it.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lead off the bottom of the 11th with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Addison Barger then walked, bringing Alejandro Kirk to the plate. The Blue Jays just needed to cash Guerrero from third to keep the game going. But a double play ended the game and series.

Losing a 3-2 series lead with the losses in Game 6 and Game 7 is a gut punch for the franchise and the entire city of Toronto. To be so close and have it taken away will be hard to overcome. But it's not the first time this city has gone through this.

The Maple Leafs have seen painful losses. Wayne Gretzky's controversial goal in 1993 lives for ever in the minds of Maple Leafs fans and, ironically, was also a win for LA over Toronto. 2013's Game 7 vs the Boston Bruins collapse when the Leafs led 4-1 in the third period. 2021's 3-1 series collapse against the Montreal Canadiens also stands out, as does David Pasternak's OT winner in Game 7 in 2024.

The Raptors have had their share of painful losses like the Maple Leafs and Blue Jays. Paul Pierce's Game 7 blocked shot against Kyle Lowry in 2014 comes to mind. As does all those playoff loses against LeBron James when he was given the nickname LeBronto as a result. Then there's the 2019 championship title defense happening in the bubble and the Raptors coming up short.

The Blue Jays now have a long and painful winter ahead, and decisions to make in free agency. While 2025 will forever be remembered, it will leave a sour taste with the way that it ended in Game 7.