The Toronto Blue Jays are making a return to the World Series after more than thirty years, reshaping the world, the city, and the sports viewing experience in significant ways since their last appearance. Hosting the formidable Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre, this marks the team’s first World Series play since their victorious back-to-back wins against the Atlanta Braves in 1992 and the Philadelphia Phillies in 1993.
For many devoted fans and even current players such as Trey Yesavage, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Shane Bieber, the last time Toronto reached the Fall Classic predates their birth. Reflecting on Toronto’s demeanor and festivities during the Jays’ previous World Series appearance offers a nostalgic glimpse into the past.
During the early 1990s, the Blue Jays soared to success, notably clinching the 1993 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6. Joe Carter’s iconic home run in that game, accompanied by Tom Cheek’s famous call, “Touch ’em all, Joe,” etched itself as a monumental moment in Canadian sports history.
In 2025, George Springer’s monumental home run securing Game 7 of the American League Championship Series echoed the thrill of victory, hinting at more excitement to unfold in the series against the Dodgers. However, the same triumph did not extend to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who faced an early exit from the playoffs in 1993 against Wayne Gretzky’s Los Angeles Kings.
Moreover, 1993 marked the last time a Canadian team, the Montreal Canadiens, lifted the Stanley Cup by defeating the Kings in the final. The Toronto Argonauts’ lackluster performance in the CFL’s East Division, finishing fourth with a 3-15 record and missing the playoffs, contrasted with the establishment of the Toronto Raptors as the NBA’s first Canadian team in 1995.
The cultural landscape of 1993 showcased the dominance of grunge music, with Nirvana’s final Toronto concert headlining the In Utero tour. Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” dominated the music charts, while TV hits like Seinfeld and Home Improvement captivated audiences. Notable film releases like Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List captivated moviegoers.
In the political arena, June Rowlands served as Toronto’s first female mayor amid the city’s participation in the Metropolitan Toronto system. Kim Campbell’s tenure as Canada’s first female prime minister in 1993 was short-lived, leading to the Progressive Conservatives’ significant electoral setback later that year.
Structural developments in the city included the reopening of the Hockey Hall of Fame at Brookfield Place, the inception of Medieval Times at Exhibition Place, and the debut of The Princess of Wales Theatre. Notable absences in 1993 were Vaughan Mills, The Shops at Don Mills, Scotiabank Arena, and BMO Field, which now stand as prominent landmarks in Toronto.
The closure of the iconic A&A Records chain and the TTC’s transition from trolley to diesel buses in 1993 marked significant shifts in Toronto’s retail and transportation landscapes.