The moment George Springer cemented his name on the Blue Jays’ level of excellence

Has it sunk in yet, Blue Jays fans?

It's been a few days since the Toronto Blue Jays won their first American League pennant in 32 years. The agony of missed playoff runs, ALCS heartbreaks, and Wild Card embarrassments in the last three decades is in the rearview mirror after Canada's team secured the Game 7 win over the Seattle Mariners Monday night.

Of course, there's no talk about the World Series without George Springer, a man who's familiar with giant postseason moments. His three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning will live in the minds of Blue Jays fans for eternity. When it comes to a franchise-defining moment like that, there's only one spot for Springer to go when it's all said and done: The Level of Excellence.

George Springer will go to the Level of Excellence in the forseeable future

In 1996, the Blue Jays introduced The Level of Excellence to honor individuals who have contributed to the franchise's success or achieved personal success in a Blue Jays uniform. It started with Dave Stieb in 1996 and would go on to add George Bell, Cito Gaston, Joe Carter, Tony Fernandez, executive Pat Gillick, broadcaster Tom Cheek, executive Paul Beeston, Carlos Delgado, Roy Halladay, and Jose Bautista.

Without question, those names deserve to be honored by the franchise. With those names, championships were built, legacies were cemented, and memories that'll get you to say, "Yes, that's a Toronto Blue Jay."

What George Springer did Monday Night on that 1-0 count sinker in the seventh inning was nothing short of spectacular. There's no doubt it was the most significant home run of the last 32 years, even surpassing Jose Bautista's legendary 2015 ALDS home run.

And as crucial as Bautista's home run was in helping to reignite the passion for baseball in not only Toronto but all of Canada, it was Springer's home run that ultimately took the Blue Jays to the World Series.

When the Blue Jays signed Springer to a six-year, $150 million contract before the 2021 season, they were hoping to get the George Springer who electrified the Houston Astros in their World Series moments. A former World Series MVP, Springer had one job upon dropping the orange for royal blue: get the job done in October.

Yes, Springer had a rough few years during his time in Toronto, some of them riddled with injuries. However, 2025 was a resurging year for the MLB veteran. His team-leading 32 home runs with 84 RBIs, an OPS+ of 161, and a 4.8 WAR were a big factor for the Blue Jays' return to the postseason. Before playoff baseball was underway, it's safe to say the Blue Jays got the man they signed back in 2021.

Eventually, whatever good or bad Springer did during his Toronto tenure was instantly erased Monday night once that ball went over the left outfield fence. Springer would go on to earn the title of "hero." He ended a drought that Blue Jays fans were desperate to see vanish and will say it's their franchise-defining moment.

For the first time in 32 years, the Toronto Blue Jays will be contending for a World Series championship. That alone deserves a spot in the Level of Excellence.