Sep 29, 2015
Blue Jays' AL East clinches over the years
The Toronto Blue Jays are AL East champions for the sixth time in franchise history and first since 1993, which was also the last time the Jays made the playoffs. Let's take a look at Toronto's five previous clinching victories and what was happening in the world at that time including No. 1 songs, top movies and other pop culture factoids.
TSN.ca Staff
The Toronto Blue Jays are AL East champions for the sixth time in franchise history and first since 1993, which was also the last time the Jays made the playoffs. Let's take a look at Toronto's five previous clinching victories and what was happening in the world at that time including No. 1 songs, top movies and other pop culture factoids.
October 5, 1985
One of the most memorable images in Blue Jays' history came on Oct 5, 1985 when leftfielder George Bell fell to his knees after catching the final out in the ninth inning to beat the New York Yankees and clinch Toronto's first ever divisional crown. The 5-1 victory came on the second last game of the season after New York had taken the opener to pull within a single game. Doyle Alexander pitched a complete game, allowing just five hits for his 17th win of the season. The Jays had 99 wins that season, but lost to the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS in a tough seven-games series.
No. 1 Song: Dire Straits – Money For Nothing
No. 1 Album: Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
Top Box Office Movie: Back to the Future
Top Movie of that Week: Commando
Academy Award for Best Picture: Amadeus
Canadian Prime Minister: Brian Mulroney
US President: Ronald Reagan
Cover of SI: Michael Spinks defeats Larry Holmes for Heavyweight title
Margaret Atwood releases The Handmaid’s Tale
September 30, 1989
Once again the Blue Jays would clinch the division on the second last game of this season, this time beating the Baltimore Orioles 4-3. The Jays were down 3-1 going into the bottom of the eighth, but scored three runs to take the lead heading into the ninth. Toronto would give the ball to Tom Henke to close it out as "The Terminator" pitched the Jays to their second AL East title in a season that saw manager Cito Gaston join the fray after the firing of Jimy Williams and the SkyDome making its debut as the team's new ballpark. They would go on to lose to the Oakland Athletics in five games in the ALCS.
No. 1 Song: Janet Jackson – Miss You Much
No. 1 Album: Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know it’s True
Top Box Office Movie: Batman
Top Movie of that Week: Black Rain
Academy Award for Best Picture: Rain Man
Canadian Prime Minister: Brian Mulroney
US President: George W. Bush
Cover of SI: San Francisco 49ers QB Joe Montana
Tom Clancy releases Clear and Present Danger
October 2, 1991
The Blue Jays captured their third division championship in 1991 and once again it came at home. The Jays were down 5-4 against the California Angels heading to the bottom of the ninth until Joe Carter drove in Robbie Alomar from third-base to win the game 6-5. Both Carter and Alomar were acquired from the San Diego Padres in the offseason prior. Toronto lost to the Minnesota Twins in the ALCS.
No. 1 Song: Color Me Badd – I Adore Mi Amore
No. 1 Album: Garth Brooks – Ropin’ the Wind
Top Box Office Movie: Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Top Movie of that Week: The Fisher King
Academy Award for Best Picture: Dances with Wolves
Canadian Prime Minister: Brian Mulroney
US President: Bill Clinton
Cover of SI: Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher Ramon Martinez
Douglas Coupland releases Generation X
October 3, 1992
The Jays would win their second consecutive division title in 1992, this time one day later than the year before. The clinching game, on the second last day of the season, came in a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers at SkyDome. Juan Guzman was masterful over his eight innings of work, allowing only one hit and striking out nine Tigers. Duane Ward picked up his 12th save of the season to close it out and send Toronto to the postseason again. This time they would go on to beat the Atlanta Braves in the World Series in six games for their first championship in franchise history.
No. 1 Song: Boys II Men – The End of the Road
No. 1 Album: Billy Ray Cyrus – Some Gave All
Top Box Office Movie: Aladdin
Top Movie of that Week: The Last of the Mohicans
Academy Award for Best Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
Canadian Prime Minister: Brian Mulroney
US President: Bill Clinton
Cover of SI: Green Bay Packers OL Tony Mandarich
John Grisham releases the Pelican Brief
Canadian National Women’s Soccer team player Adriana Leon born
Sinead O’Connor rips up picture of the Pope on SNL
September 27, 1993
This was easily the least dramatic divisional clinch for the Blue Jays, mostly because it was the only one that came on the road. The Jays blanked the Milwaukee Brewers at their home ballpark 2-0 for their third straight, and last, AL East crown. Pat Hentgen pitched 7.2 innings of scoreless baseball to pick up the win while Devon White and Paul Molitor (solo home run) had the RBIs. A few weeks later, Joe Carter would round the bases at the SkyDome after hitting a walk-off home run off Philadelphia Phillies closer Mitch Williams in Game 6 of the World Series to win the Blue Jays their second consecutive championship.
No. 1 Song: Mariah Carey - Dreamlover
No. 1 Album: Garth Brooks – In Pieces
Top Box Office Movie: Jurassic Park
Top Movie of that Week: Striking Distance
Academy Award for Best Picture: Unforgiven
Canadian Prime Minister: Jean Chretien
US President: Bill Clinton
Cover of SI: Boxer Pernell Whitaker
John Grisham releases The Client