
First playoff game in 22 years, and it was a sea of blue.
Canadian baseball fans have been waiting for this day for 22 years.
The Toronto Blue Jays begin their first round playoff series and pursuit of a third World Series title Thursday afternoon at the Rogers Centre, squaring off with the Texas Rangers in the best-of-five American League Divisional Series.
The Jays, who won it all the last time they made the playoffs in 1993, have a star-studded lineup including one of the most potent offences in baseball and an ace pitcher in Game 1 starter David Price. However, the players also know they have a nationwide fanbase, owing to the fact that since 2004 when the Expos moved, they've been Canada's only team.
The 54,000-seat Rogers Centre is sold out throughout the playoffs after every available ticket was snapped up.
Fans without are also expected to gather at Nathan Phillips Square to watch the games on big screens near city hall, where the mayor hoisted a Blue Jays flag on Tuesday.
"We're going to play some Halloween baseball. That's only going to be scary for our opponents," Mayor John Tory said at that event.
Blue Jay fever began with the acquisition of prized pitcher David Price along with Troy Tulowitzki. Josh Donaldson is having his best year ever, Jose Bautista has been amazing both at the plate and in the field, the Jays are fun to watch, once again.
With Marcus Stroman coming back after what many thought was a season ending injury, the Blue Jays blue pen is deeper than it's ever been.
"We don't just play for the city of Toronto, we play for the whole country as well," outfielder Dalton Pompey told CBC News.
Pompey, a Mississauga, Ont., native who will likely be used as a pinch runner in the playoffs, is one of two Canadians on the team's playoff roster, the other being starting catcher Russ Martin, a Montrealer.