October 27, 2025

How Toronto Blue Jays Became Canada's Team

49 minutes

For the first time in 32 years, the Toronto Blue Jays are back in the World Series, and all of Canada is rallying behind them. In this episode of Sportly, host Kavitha Davidson dives into how the Blue Jays rekindled Canada’s love for baseball, from George Springer’s unforgettable homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s storybook rise.

Guest Zach Vanasse, a lifelong Canadian baseball fan and former Expos devotee, joins to explore how the Blue Jays became Canada’s team, what that means for Quebec, for Toronto, and for a generation that never knew baseball glory north of the border. Find him on Bluesky: @zachvanasse.bsky.social

Follow Sportly on Instagram @sportlypod and Kavitha @kad2105

00:00

03:40 The moment of realisation for fans

07:50 World Series champions in the 90s

11:30 Why the Montreal Expos left

17:00 The rivalry between Toronto and Montreal

20:20 Vladdy Jr stays with the Blue Jays

33:50 Is it a Dodger's game at the World Series?

37:30 Everyone is rooting for the Blue Jays

40:10 Inflated ticket prices

42:10 The legacy of Toronto Blue Jays

Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Paroma Chakravarty I Executive Producer: Saadia Khan | Fact Checking and Research: Paroma Chakravarty I Sound Designer & Editor: Paroma Chakravarty I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art Graphic Designer: Sarah DiMichele

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