Your first Jays game

[Krusty]

Since off day today, just thought it would be a good idea to have a thread where we all talk about seeing the Jays for the first time in person. Now, mine will be a little different as I have never been to see us play at the Rogers Centre (Hope to remedy that this season at some point) but wanted to talk about my first experience anyway.

 

I first saw us play in person back in 2015 when the Jays played at the Nationals. I was visiting a friend in D.C and I remember us getting tickets to go to the game. I had on my classic Olerud jersey lol and it was a great time. We won 8-0 with some timely hitting and even met Bautista after the game; it was a great time.

 

How about y'all?

[Stangstag]

Can’t remember my first game, I was way too young at the time.

 

Although I do have vague memories of being at a game with my Dad and Grandpa when I was young. 1st base coach at the time (idk who) gave us a foul ball. Still have it.

 

Also got to go to a bunch of games with my dad in the box seats when I was young as he was able to get free tix from his work (he works in the financial industry). Nothing better than unlimited free popcorn, and ice cream as a kid with comfy seats. I probably barely watched the actual games.

 

Became heavily invested in the team in 2011 when I was older, and i’ve gone to 50+ games since.

 

I look forward to bringing my future child to their first jays game someday.

[P2F]

Still awaiting my first.

[wilko]

1994 went to see the Jays play the Red Sox at Fenway. Went to the 3 game series. I think the Jays took 2/3.

[John_Havok]

July 7th, 1991 in the Seattle Kingdome. I was 12, visiting my uncle and aunt with my family.

 

Juan Guzman (rookie year) threw 8 innings and the Jays won 5-2. Olerud homered, as did Griffey Jr in the 9th off Duane Ward.

[Sammy225]

92 or 93 in Minnesota I was 6 or 7 and didn’t know who Kirby Pucket was and the crowd obviously loved him. I asked dad what the big deal about this guy was and he went deep on the first pitch and from that point I was hooked on baseball loved the blue jays but do own a Puckett jersey now.

[Omar]

I saw Mark McGuire and the Athletics face the Jays at the old Exhibition Stadium in 1987. Mcguire set the rookie home run record that year but didn't hit one that day. If I recall correctly George Bell hit a couple out that day. Jays won. Oh and, Larussa was old even then. Edited May 30, 2022 by Omar

[L54]

My first games were in Toronto with my dad and both my brothers. Flew into Toronto to watch a 3 game set vs the Rays in 2015.

 

When we were pulling up to our hotel we bumped into Pillar and Goins on their way to the field. They stopped and chatted with us for a few minutes. Good guys

[connorp]

My first games were in Toronto with my dad and both my brothers. Flew into Toronto to watch a 3 game set vs the Rays in 2015.

 

When we were pulling up to our hotel we bumped into Pillar and Goins on their way to the field. They stopped and chatted with us for a few minutes. Good guys

 

I think you have to reach the next couple levels of fame before you’re like gfy lol. Like when you’re out eating and someone comes to your table. I couldn’t deal with that

[Brownie19]

My first game was back in the early 90's with my parents when the dome was full. I would have been like 10 - 12 years old. We got 500 level nose bleeds and were tucked up in the right center field corner where we couldn't see the jumbotron. It must have rained as I remember the dome opening or closing and we were so close to all the mechanicals components. It was really cool.

 

I took my oldest to see his first game v. the Red Sox 6 years (facebook just reminded me). Jays were down late in the game and I showed him how to wear the rally caps....and wouldn't you believe it, they worked. The Jays came storming back late and walked it off with a Devon Travis grounder deep in the 3rd base hole that he beat out for an infield single. It was an incredible first game and memory for us.

 

I took my youngest son to his first game last year (he was 5). Jays were playing the Red Sox and were down 7-2 at one point. They fought back and capped it off when Springer hit the HUGE 3 run dinger off Barnes to win 9-8. It was equally as amazing!

 

I'm pretty sure my middle son's first game was a Canada Day game with the whole family. Nothing overly memorable from that day other than the red Honda Jays hats we got...and the great show they put on for Canada Day.

[Ehjays]

Sept 25 1977 Exhibition Stadium...It was a double header with the Yankees, Jays lost both 15-0 and 2-0

 

Some Names I remember from then are: RonGuidry, Reggie Jackson, Craig Nettles, Willie Randolph, Dave Kingman, Sparky Lyle, Thurman Munson, Cliff Johnson, Lou Piniella, Bucky Dent, Goose Gossage. Manager Billy Martin.

[Olerud363]

Since off day today, just thought it would be a good idea to have a thread where we all talk about seeing the Jays for the first time in person. Now, mine will be a little different as I have never been to see us play at the Rogers Centre (Hope to remedy that this season at some point) but wanted to talk about my first experience anyway.

 

I first saw us play in person back in 2015 when the Jays played at the Nationals. I was visiting a friend in D.C and I remember us getting tickets to go to the game. I had on my classic Olerud jersey lol and it was a great time. We won 8-0 with some timely hitting and even met Bautista after the game; it was a great time.

 

How about y'all?

 

 

First game was summer 1985, don't really remember anything about it. First game I was a true fan August 1988. Fred McGriff hit a 450 foot homer into the end=zone at exhibition stadium.

[Stangstag]

I’m actually quite surprised how many people’s first Jays game was not in Toronto… seems so odd to me growing up and living in the GTA. I guess the Jays truly are a national team.

 

Love reading all these stories.

[Dylan]

I went to a few games when I was young but my first game as a true fan was JP Arencibia's debut in 2010. The jays also hit 8 home runs that game. It was all downhill from there lol

[Spanky99]

My first game was '79 or '80 was a DH with my cousin, uncle and pops... Jays split the DH and that was quite the accomplishment at the time. Can't remember that much as I was 6 or 7 at the time. Went to many games after that, the 2 dollar Dominion seats were boss, went to easily 50+ games a year with my buddies and my older brother and his friends, good times.

[Spanky99]

I saw Mark McGuire and the Athletics face the Jays at the old Exhibition Stadium in 1987. Mcguire set the rookie home run record that year but didn't hit one that day. If I recall correctly George Bell hit a couple out that day. Jays won. Oh and, Larissa was old even then.

 

Sept 25 1977 Exhibition Stadium...It was a double header with the Yankees, Jays lost both 15-0 and 2-0

 

Some Names I remember from then are: RonGuidry, Reggie Jackson, Craig Nettles, Willie Randolph, Dave Kingman, Sparky Lyle, Thurman Munson, Cliff Johnson, Lou Piniella, Bucky Dent, Goose Gossage. Manager Billy Martin.

 

First game was summer 1985, don't really remember anything about it. First game I was a true fan August 1988. Fred McGriff hit a 450 foot homer into the end=zone at exhibition stadium.

 

Hahaha... the ole mistake by the lake. They used to have plenty of DH's back then for the price of one. My favourite game was the 85 clincher and the 4 HR game by Delgado.

[Deadpool]

Some game at The Mistake By The Lake back in probably... 84 or 85? I was pretty young and more interested in the candy that my aunt bought all of us than the game. I don't have a lot of memories of the game, someone from the Jays hit a homer late in the game (I remember being surprised that nobody had hit a home run before that, 'cause I just kind of assumed that happened all the time) and I remember the craptacular metal benches.

[L54]

I went to a few games when I was young but my first game as a true fan was JP Arencibia's debut in 2010. The jays also hit 8 home runs that game. It was all downhill from there lol

 

I watched that game with my buddy in Saskatoon and we still talk about it. We were convinced he was going to be Mike Piazza after that game lol

[L54]

I think you have to reach the next couple levels of fame before you’re like gfy lol. Like when you’re out eating and someone comes to your table. I couldn’t deal with that

 

Goins was awesome. Pillar was less inviting but it was after he had hit two homers off of Scherzer and I mentioned that and he warmed up lol. But you’re right Donny might’ve kept walking but those guys weren’t quite in that position.

[G-Snarls]

I remeber being at the old stadium for a Jays game as a kid but all I remember is a lot of seagulls and so much sun in my eyes out in right field that I could barely see the game.

 

Dad took me mostly to Montreal and Boston for games when I was a kid. FWIW I remember some of those vividly. Got to meet Andre Dawson at Olympic Stadium and was in awe as a 5 year old. Dad had some industry connections with the Expos somehow and we usually had really nice boxed seats and free food. Boston I mostly remember incidents with nearby fans LOL. Dad would have beers and get into (mostly) good-natured trash talk with nearby Sox fans. We always hated the Red Sox but it was the easiest place to get to a major league game from New Brunswick. The drive to Quebec was brutal back then.

Edited May 30, 2022 by G-Snarls

[43211234]

I didn't start watching until 2006.

 

My first game was that summer vs Seattle.

 

Extra inning game. The Blue Jays loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 11th. Frank Catalanotto had a walk-off single after there were two outs.

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR200607160.shtml

 

 

I thought it was Shaun Marcum making his first start after moving from the bullpen. But apparently I'm remembering that wrong. That was a few days later apparently.

[wilko]

I forgot to mention that after the last game we hung out by one of the the exits. Otis Nixon drove out in a huge black hummer smoking a cigar. He stopped for a few seconds to say hello to the people hanging out by the exit. After that Alomar walked over to the exit holding a glass of red wine.

 

I was taller than most of the people there so I snagged a Red Sox ball from a street vendor a few feet away and passed it to him over the fence. He signed it and tossed it to me. I still have it in a case somewhere at my parents house.

[Omar]

Some game at The Mistake By The Lake back in probably... 84 or 85? I was pretty young and more interested in the candy that my aunt bought all of us than the game. I don't have a lot of memories of the game, someone from the Jays hit a homer late in the game (I remember being surprised that nobody had hit a home run before that, 'cause I just kind of assumed that happened all the time) and I remember the craptacular metal benches.

 

Lol, the aluminum benches! Many a hot day sitting down the right field line and toasting my behind.

 

Another thing I remember about going to games at the Ex was I usually saw the same people in the same sections on weekend games. Kind of got to know each other. Remember one old timer who would bring the Saturday Star and read every section. Barely looked up over his paper unless something happened on the field. Those were the days.

[Virgil_Hiltz]

Afternoon game back in the first season vs Boston, phoned in sick into work since a baseball game excuse wouldn't fly with my foreman. Little did I know I would run into

my foreman at the game who legitimately took time off.

Got into work the next day just to "get ripped a new now one"...........the kicker was the game was rained out!

[Krusty]

Thanks for the stories gents! Loving reading them. And oh yeah I forgot to add to mine: When we exited the stadium, my friend and I forgot where we had parked(Yes several beers had been consumed lol) and we walked around for what seemed like hours until we finally found it lol.

[King]

My first game was at the end of the 2007 season. My dad won tickets to that game and we went to the game, and while we were there he entered another contest to win tickets to the home opener in 2008.

 

Somehow won that contest too.

 

It came with I believe $10,000, a new TV and computer, and an all expenses (hotel/flight) paid trip to Toronto for the home opener. Also got to go on the field for batting practice, meet some of the players, on the Jumbotron during the game. The player they got to meet with us was Jeremy Accardo. Trip of a lifetime though for my family and especially a young kid like me not being from Ontario.

[Brycor]

Mid Sept ,1993, Jays in Minnesota. Bunch of loud Canadians drowning out the home fans, Twins were terrible, we were up in the race and pretty much in the playoffs. Rickie Henderson sat with the bat on his shoulder trying to walk all series, only swung when in danger of striking out. Looking back, Jays swept the 3 games and used 6 pitchers in total. Different times.

[GoBlue41]

Been a Blue Jays fan for over 40 years, but I only saw them in person for the first time in April of 1997 at home vs. the Mariners. I live in Oregon but I was going to college in Michigan at the time and took a greyhound bus from Detroit to Toronto to see the Jays live for the first time. It was a fun experience. Lots of open seats so I moved all around the stadium to get different views. Saw Woody Williams pitch Had a nice dinner at the CN Tower the night before as well. I've seen a few games since then when the Jays were visiting Seattle. Will be seeing the Vancouver Canadiens minor league team in person here soon when they come to my home area in Oregon to play.

[harvey16]

My first game was June 28, 1991. Jays lost 3-1 to the Mariners. Kelly Gruber hit a homerun for the Jays, the only run they scored that game. Jay Buhner hit a HR for Seattle. I was 9 at the time and I just remember how huge I thought the stadium was. We were in the 500 level and I remember thinking it was the longest hike ever up the ramps all the way to the 500s.

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR199106280.shtml

[Ryu In My House]

Since off day today, just thought it would be a good idea to have a thread where we all talk about seeing the Jays for the first time in person. Now, mine will be a little different as I have never been to see us play at the Rogers Centre (Hope to remedy that this season at some point) but wanted to talk about my first experience anyway.

 

I first saw us play in person back in 2015 when the Jays played at the Nationals. I was visiting a friend in D.C and I remember us getting tickets to go to the game. I had on my classic Olerud jersey lol and it was a great time. We won 8-0 with some timely hitting and even met Bautista after the game; it was a great time.

 

How about y'all?

 

Mine is probably a lot different than all of you. I first saw the Jays in Regina, SK when they played the Canadian National Baseball Institute in 1989 at a CFL stadium.

 

I remember being 5' away from Tom Henke as he warmed up, and I could not believe how fast he threw. I pitched for years, but never topped 85 mph. He was throwing 93 mph with EASE. And CONTROL lol.

 

It was pretty exciting, and a life changer for me.

 

I do remember that I was still angry that Barfield, my favorite player at the time, has just been traded. Like, I couldn't f***ing believe it. So that took the wind out of my sails a bit for this matchup.

 

https://leaderpost.com/sports/baseball/home-runs-and-hash-marks-the-toronto-blue-jays-visit-taylor-field