Baseball
Toronto Blue Jays

50 Greatest Moments in Blue Jays History, Ranked

Sam Cox Mar 26, 2026, 2:09 PM
min read
In this Oct. 23, 1993, file photo, Toronto Blue Jays' Joe Carter celebrates his game-winning, three-run home run in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the World Series in Toronto.
(AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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The Toronto Blue Jays are nearing their 50th anniversary. There have been years where Blue Jays World Series odds have been among the shortest, and there have been prolonged periods without playoff appearances. 

This is an opportune time to reflect on the best moments since the Jays were founded, from days where baseball odds were defied to remarkable individual achievements. 

Here are the 50 best moments in Jays history.

50 Top Moments in Toronto Blue Jays History

50. Melky Cabrera Reaches Base Eight Times

Facing the Detroit Tigers in 2014, Melky Cabrera had three hits and five walks to set the franchise record by reaching base eight times in a game. Toronto won the game 6-5 on a 19th-inning walk-off.

49. Kevin Gausman Signs Five-Year Deal

Until Dylan Cease signed for $210 million in the 2025-26 offseason, Kevin Gausman’s five years and $110 million was the largest free agent contract the Jays had given to a pitcher. Through the first four years of his deal, Gausman has been incredibly reliable, posting a 119 ERA+. 

48. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Signs Mega Extension

Amid trade speculation and rumours about free-agent suitors, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s time in Toronto seemed like it could be coming to an end when his self-imposed extension deadline passed. Thankfully for Jays fans, Guerrero signed a 14-year, $500 million extension a matter of days later. 

47. Steve Pearce’s Pair of Walk-Off Slams

In a disappointing 2017 season, Steve Pearce provided some joy for Jays fans with two walk-off grand slams in a week. The second of which completed an epic ninth-inning comeback. 

46. Orioles Sent Home

With the Baltimore Orioles curiously opting to use Ubaldo Jiménez instead of Zach Britton, the Jays managed to get a pair of runners on base for Edwin Encarnación in extra innings of the 2016 wild card game. The DH delivered to send Baltimore home.

45. Kendrys Morales’ Home Run Streak

Kendrys Morales homered in seven consecutive games in 2018. It is the joint-second-longest home run streak in MLB history. 

44. Rangers Eliminated in ALDS in 2016

This wasn’t a normal playoff series. The rivalry between the teams was fierce, and the atmosphere was hostile following a brawl in May of the same season.

43. Edwin Encarnación’s Spectacular May

After a slow start to the 2014 season, Encarnación got red-hot at the plate in May. The slugger hit 16 home runs in the month to earn AL Player of the Month honours.

42. J.P. Arencibia’s Remarkable Debut

J.P. Arencibia hit two home runs and had four hits in his MLB debut in 2010. He was the first player since 1900 to achieve that feat. 

41. Reed Johnson Leads Off and Walks Off

Playing only his 28th big-league game in 2003, Reed Johnson became only the fourth player in MLB history to hit a walk-off home run and a lead-off home run in the same game.

40. Frank Thomas Crushes 500th Bomb

On June 28, 2007, Frank Thomas hit his 500th career home run off Minnesota Twins starter Carlos Silva. Thomas became only the 21st player to hit 500 home runs. 

39. Alomar’s ALCS Shot

In Game 4 of the 1992 ALCS, Roberto Alomar hit a game-tying home run off Dennis Eckersley. Toronto went on to win the game in extra innings and progressed to the World Series with a Game 6 win a few days later. 

38. Brandon Morrow Strikes Out 17

Striking out 17 in a shutout is impressive. This start was also agonising for Brandon Morrow, however, as he was only one out shy of a no-hitter.

37. Trey Yesavage Sets Rookie World Series Strikeout Record

Trey Yesavage broke a 77-year record when he struck out 12 Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the 2025 World Series. 

36. Three Jays Earn Silver Sluggers in 1992

In 1992, Dave Winfield, Joe Carter, and Roberto Alomar earned Silver Slugger awards. This was the first time in franchise history that three Jays had claimed Silver Sluggers.

35. Max Scherzer Convinces John Schneider To Keep Him In

In a pivotal Game 4 of the 2025 ALCS, John Schneider tried to remove Max Scherzer in the fifth inning. Scherzer pleaded with his manager to keep him in the game. Schneider obliged, and Scherzer got out of the inning unscathed and recorded two outs in the following frame. 

34. 28 Runs Scored Against Red Sox

On July 22, 2022, the Blue Jays scored 28 runs against the Boston Red Sox. They became only the sixth team to reach that mark, with Matt Chapman, Raimel Tapia, Danny Jansen, and Teoscar Hernández going yard.

33. All-in Trade for Josh Donaldson

After winning 83 games in 2014, the Blue Jays made an aggressive trade for All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson. Brett Lawrie, Kendall Graveman, Franklin Barreto, and Sean Nolin were sent out in the trade.

32. Vlad. Jr Leads Majors in Home Runs

In 2021, Guerrero hit 48 home runs to lead the majors. The superstar first baseman finished second in AL MVP voting. 

31. Ernie Clement Sets Record for Hits in Single Postseason

Ernie Clement’s 30 hits in the 2025 postseason broke the record set by Randy Arozarena in 2020. Clement, who had a career 87 OPS+ entering the playoffs, slashed .411/.416/.562 in the Jays’ run to Game 7 of the World Series. 

30. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Registers Six-Hit Game

In the aforementioned 28-run eruption against the Red Sox, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. joined an exclusive club of players with six hits in a nine-inning game. Only two players in MLB history have had more hits in a nine-inning contest. 

29. Returning Bo Bichette Homers Off Shohei Ohtani

Hobbled with a left knee injury, Bo Bichette stepped to the plate in the third inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. Two runners were on base. Shohei Ohtani was on the mound. Bichette hit a mammoth 442-foot home run to give the Jays a 3-0 lead and chase Ohtani out of the game. 

28. Edwin Encarnación’s Double Blast

Only 64 MLB players have hit two home runs in an inning. Encarnación is one of them – the DH homered off Héctor Ambriz and Paul Clemens in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros in 2013. 

27. Marcus Semien Sets MLB Home Run Record at Position

The sportsbook betting markets didn’t predict Marcus Semien would break an MLB record when he signed with the Jays following an 89 OPS+ in 2020. Semien hit 45 home runs in 2021, setting the big-league record for homers in a season by a second baseman. 

26. Josh Donaldson Pips Mike Trout to MVP

After arriving in a blockbuster trade during the previous offseason, Donaldson made an immediate impact in Toronto by leading the Jays to the postseason and beating Mike Trout to the AL MVP award. 

25. Kelly Gruber Registers First Jays Cycle

Kelly Gruber became the first Jay to hit for the cycle in April 1989. Gruber got things started with a home run and double in the first two innings before adding a triple in the seventh and a single in the eighth. 

24. Addison Barger’s World Series Grand Slam

Addison Barger came off the bench as a pinch-hitter in Game 1 of the World Series. With the bases loaded, he became the first player in Fall Classic history to hit a pinch-hit grand slam. 

23. Ten Jays Homers in a Single Game

With 10 home runs in a game against the Orioles in September 1987, the Jays set an MLB record. Ernie Whitt (three), Rance Mulliniks (two), George Bell (two), Rob Ducey, Fred McGriff, and Lloyd Moseby were responsible for an outrageous offensive performance. 

22. George Bell Wins First Jays MVP

Despite ranking 10th in bWAR, George Bell pipped Alan Trammell to AL MVP in 1987. Bell was the first Jay to win MVP behind a .957 OPS and an AL-leading 134 RBIs.

21. Roy Halladay Flirts With History

In September 1998, a 21-year-old Roy Halladay was called up to give Roger Clemens a rest. Halladay took full advantage of his opportunity, holding a no-hitter into the ninth inning. The Hall of Famer conceded a home run in the ninth, but still notched a complete game on 95 pitches. 

20. Stieb’s No-Hitter Near-Misses

Dave Stieb, in consecutive starts in September 1988, got to within one out of a no-hitter. First, Julio Franco broke it up on Sept. 24, then Jim Traber of the Orioles prevented Stieb from registering a no-no on Sept. 30. 

19. Resilience Shown in Game 4

After losing an epic Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, the Blue Jays showed immense determination to win Game 4 of the World Series. Their efforts were led by Guerrero’s home run off Ohtani and a strong start from Shane Bieber.

18. Paul Molitor Signed as a Free Agent

The Blue Jays went all-out to sign Paul Molitor in the 1992-93 offseason. He was more than worth his three-year, $13 million deal – Molitor was World Series MVP and runner-up for regular-season MVP in his first season in Toronto. 

17. Roger Clemens Wins Consecutive Triple Crowns

In 1998, Roger Clemens became only the fourth pitcher to win back-to-back Triple Crowns. It didn’t end in a playoff appearance, but Jays fans got to witness Clemens at the peak of his powers. 

16. Nine-Run Sixth-Inning in Fall Classic

Featuring Barger’s grand slam and Alejandro Kirk’s two-run bomb, the Blue Jays scored nine runs in the bottom of the sixth in Game 1 of the 2025 World Series. Only two teams have ever scored more runs in a World Series inning.

15. Roy Halladay’s Majestic Cy Young Campaign

Roy Halladay led the majors in bWAR, innings, and complete games in 2003. He threw nine complete games and was deservedly named the AL Cy Young Award winner. 

14. Frank Catalanotto’s Six Hits

On May 1, 2004, against the Chicago White Sox, Frank Catalanotto became the first Jay to have six hits in a game. Catalanotto did so in just six at-bats. 

13. Roger Clemens Becomes First Pitcher With Five Cy Young Awards

Clemens won the fourth and fifth of his seven Cy Young Awards in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Winning his fifth made Clemens the most successful pitcher in the award’s history, breaking a tie with Greg Maddux and Steve Carlton. 

12. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s First-Inning Blast Off Luis Gil

In the opening game of the 2025 ALDS against the New York Yankees, Rogers Centre was ground-shakingly loud. Guerrero was yet to win a playoff game in his career, but he quickly made an impact in Game 1 of the ALDS, crushing a Luis Gil changeup over the fence. 

It was the start of a blowout win for the Jays and the beginning of Guerrero’s spectacular playoff run. 

11. José Bautista Hits 50th Home Run Off Félix Hernández 

José Bautista became the first Jay to hit 50 home runs in a season by taking Félix Hernández yard. It was Joey Bats’ first career hit against Hernández and ended up being the only run of the game. 

10. José Bautista Acquired for Robinzon Díaz

There hasn’t been a more significant trade in Jays history than José Bautista for a player to be named later. The player was Robinzon Díaz, who went on to play just 43 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

9. George Springer’s ALCS Game 7 Go-Ahead Homer

The Jays trailed the Seattle Mariners 3-1 in the seventh inning of Game 7 of the 2025 ALCS. With two runners on, George Springer came to the plate and delivered a game-changing blast. It was the first go-ahead home run when trailing by multiple runs in the seventh inning or later in Game 7 history. 

8. 2015 Season Ends Playoff Drought

After going back-to-back in 1992 and 1993, the Blue Jays had a long wait for their next playoff appearance. The drought came to an end in 2015 after a 93-win regular season. 

7. Ed Sprague Goes Yard in Game 2

Ed Sprague had played in 22 regular-season games in 1992. He was a lesser-known piece of the World Series team, but had his own magical moment when he hit a two-run home run off Jeff Reardon in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the World Series.

6. Dave Winfield’s Game 6 Double

With Game 6 of the 1992 World Series tied at 2-2, Dave Winfield hit a ball between the third baseman and the bag. The double scored Devon White and Roberto Alomar, setting the Jays up for a win.

5. Dave Stieb’s No-No

Stieb had taken a no-hitter into the ninth on four occasions before he finally completed a no-no in 1990. The achievement came against Cleveland and remains the only no-hitter in Toronto’s history. 

4. Carlos Delgado Goes Yard Four Times

Facing the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Sept. 25, 2003, Carlos Delgado became only the 15th player ever to hit four home runs in a game. Solo shots followed a three-run homer in the first inning in the fourth, sixth, and eighth frames.

3. José Bautista’s Iconic Bat Flip

In Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS, Bautista crushed a go-ahead home run off Sam Dyson. What followed was a moment of raw emotion that has been etched into the minds of every MLB fan. 

Bautista’s bat flip directly led to the benches clearing twice in the game and contributed to a rivalry between the Jays and Rangers. 

2. Joe Carter’s Walk-Off Shot

Joe Carter’s walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1993 World Series is one of the most incredible moments in baseball history. The “Touch ‘em all, Joe!” commentary is ingrained in the memory of Jays fans.

1. Jays Win 1992 Fall Classic

The first title is always the best. It might not have ended in as dramatic a fashion as the 1993 season did, but the Jays winning their first World Series in 1992 is their greatest ever moment. 

 

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