Reflecting on the best Canada Day games in Toronto Blue Jays history

We're celebrating Canada Day with some memorable Canada Day moments at the ball park!
The Toronto Blue Jays hosted the Houston Astros on Canada Day in 2024
The Toronto Blue Jays hosted the Houston Astros on Canada Day in 2024 | Mark Blinch/GettyImages

Today is Canada's 158th birthday and that means the Toronto Blue Jays will don the red and white for their annual Canada Day game. This year, the Blue Jays will host the New York Yankees in the second game of a four game series, with the two AL East rivals embroiled in a heated battle for division supremacy. While we await the outcome of what could end up being a memorable game, the Blue Jays have produced many other memorable moments over the years while celebrating Canada's Confederation.

Reflecting on the best Canada Day games in Blue Jays history

1. A homecoming against Tampa Bay in 2022
Canada Day in 2022 was a special one for the Blue Jays. It was the first Canada Day game in Toronto since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time in years, the Blue Jays got to celebrate at home, and they did so with a 9-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

The game represented a return to normalcy following the pandemic as well as being a sign of moving forward from the last of their mid 2010's glory years. The Blue Jays honoured former catcher Russell Martin, who had recently retired during a pre-game ceremony and paid tribute to Martin with a video narrated by Jose Bautista, along with video messages by former Blue Jays such as Kevin Pillar and Ryan Goins. These were all teammates of Martin's during the Blue Jays postseason appearances of 2015 and 16.

As for the game, Jose Berrios returned to form after losses in his previous three starts. He pitched five innings, including three strikeouts and Toronto scored five in the third to take control of the game. Canada's own Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was 1-5 but finished with three RBIs. It was a long time coming, but the Jays made it a Canada Day to remember.

2. A marathon against Cleveland in 2016
Although the Jays eventually lost to Cleveland on Canada Day in 2016, it was a very memorable game as it is tied for the longest game in Blue Jays history, lasting 19 innings. The Blue Jays were without slugger Edwin Encarnacion and manager John Gibbons after both were ejected in the first inning for arguing a strike call.

Toronto's only run came off a solo homer by Justin Smoak in the sixth inning to tie the game. The next twelve innings were scoreless. Marcus Stroman pitched seven innings. He gave up one run on five hits and had six strikeouts. By the 19th inning, infielder Darwin Barney was the tenth Blue Jay to take the mound.

Kevin Pillar made one of his classic diving catches to keep the game going in the tenth. Russell Martin joined Encarnacion and Gibbons after being ejected in the 13th. Carlos Santana hit a solo home run off of Barney for the game-winner in the 19th. After six hours and 13 minutes, Toronto fell 2-1 against Cleveland.

3. A blowout against Tampa Bay in 2004
The Blue Jays' largest win on Canada Day came in 2004 when they beat the Tampa Bay Rays 14-0. Unfortunately for Toronto fans, they would have to watch the blowout from their TV screens as the game took place in Florida.

Orlando Hudson
Toronto Blue Jays v Baltimore Orioles | Mitchell Layton/GettyImages

Toronto's bats came to life in the fourth. After giving up three runs and loading the bases, Bartolomé Fortunato replaced starter Mark Hendrickson. After four innings, the Jays led 7-0. By the ninth, the Jays had extended their lead to 10-0, including an RBI triple by Orlando Hudson in the eighth. Toronto finished off the game with four more runs in the ninth. Every player in the lineup recorded a hit. Eric Hinske was the only player not to score, but he did lead the team with three RBIs.

4. Barfield's big day against Oakland in 1984
Canada Day in 1984 did not get off to a good start for the Blue Jays against the Oakland Athletics. Halfway through the second it was 4-0 for Oakland. In his first at-bat, Jesse Barfield hit a single and would later come in to score off a sacrifice fly from Buck Martinez. The Jays cut Oakland's lead in half with two runs in the second.

Jesse Barfield
Sports Contributor Archive 2018 | Ron Vesely/GettyImages

Barfield's next at-bat came in the fourth, where he hit a solo home run to bring the Jays within one. However, Dave Kingman countered with a two-run shot in the fifth to put the A's up by three. In his third at-bat, Barfield doubled but was left stranded. When he went to bat in the seventh, the Jays were down 6-4 with runners on second and third and for the second time that day, Barfield hit it out of the park leading the Blue Jays to a 7-6 victory. Barfield went 4-4 with four RBIs against the A's.