From free agent frenzy to Jose Bautista's bat flip, Toronto Blue Jays' fans have reason to celebrate. Despite their Game 6 loss to the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series, fans were treated to baseball in October for the first time in 22 years.
While the wait for the Blue Jays' third World Series title will have to wait until 2016, there is reason for optimism. If the club chooses to exercise team options, the core of Toronto's offence, which led the league in runs, (891) home runs, (232) and OPS (.797) are all set to return. Furthermore, young pitching phenoms Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez and Roberto Osuna are all under contract until 2021.
See how fans worldwide are coming together to celebrate the Jays' hard-fought season that saw them become 2015 American League East Division Champions.
The Jays sparked hope, cheer and a strong sense of community in a city whose baseball team hadn't played in the post-season since 1993, when they won the World Series.
#appreciationday #ComeTOgether pic.twitter.com/GE5zao1qAK
— Stumbleweed (@SeeminglyCursed) October 27, 2015
It's @BlueJays appreciation day in #Toronto! https://t.co/Nqh1kQataO #ComeTogether pic.twitter.com/996Zd4Imca
— blogTO (@blogTO) October 27, 2015
Just in time for @BlueJays appreciation day! My #batflip #bautista t-shirt #ComeTogether thanks for a great season pic.twitter.com/aiQERma9Qm
— The Ginger Sting (@djgingersting) October 27, 2015
The mayor is encouraging everyone in Toronto to show off their blue and white in support of the Jays.
Fans even showed their appreciation with book-spine poetry, a technique that librarians in Toronto and Kansas City had been using a week earlier to trash-talk one another's local teams.
"The Blue Jays proved that a passion for baseball is alive and well in the 'Great White North' uniting our country and showing that the Toronto Blue Jays are truly Canada's team," Mr. Tory wrote in his proclamation today.
Best pumpkin hands down #ComeTogether pic.twitter.com/gAUDKi9pSE
— Sandro Rubin (@Sandro_RH7) October 18, 2015