Blue Jays: CP Team of the Year 2023

A feeling of uncertainty loomed over Toronto Blue Jays training camp last February, as the team began its preparation for the 2025 season.

The club was coming off a last place finish in the standings, the face of the franchise trained internally was still not under long-term contract, and the chances of making the playoffs seemed shaky at best.

A year later, the contrast is striking.

The Blue Jays completed a dramatic turnaround from last to first, before riding that momentum into the playoffs, reaching Game 7 of the World Series in a memorable run.

On Sunday, this exceptional season was rewarded: the Blue Jays were named Canadian team of the year by The Canadian Press, following a vote conducted among editors, journalists and broadcasters from one end of the country to the other.

Toronto received 29 of 53 votes (55%), well ahead of the women’s curling team led by Rachel Homan (10 votes). The Canadian women’s rugby team took third place with five votes.

One of the things that made this journey so special was seeing how it touched, ignited and carried the entire countryunderlined Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro. Every player and every member of the organization felt it and took immense pride in it.

The Blue Jays’ fan base was already reinvigorated in April, when the team awarded a 14-year, US$500 million contract extension to its star first baseman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a record contract for the organization.

After an uneven start to the season, Toronto really found its rhythm at the end of June. Another bold move came at the trade deadline in late July, when general manager Ross Atkins acquired star pitcher Shane Bieber, who played a key role late in the season and in the playoffs.

The Blue Jays held the lead in the American League East for much of the second half of the season, resisting pressure from New York to secure the title.

Toronto had made the playoffs three times since 2020, without winning a single game since 2016. This time, the Division Series victory against the New York Yankees made an impression. In the Championship Series, the Blue Jays bounced back after losing the first two games against the Seattle Mariners, going on to win the series.

Springer hit the game-clinching home run in Game 7 to send Toronto to the World Series for the first time since 1993.

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They constantly faced one-sided matchesShapiro recalled. They had to win the last four games of the season after losing one of their best players in September, and they always responded.

Baseball fever has gripped Toronto, and the entire country. Ratings exploded, and a new generation of baseball fans rallied around the team.

They captivated the whole country. I’ve never seen teammates so invested in each otherwrote the columnist of Toronto StarRosie DiManno, in her ballot.

In the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers, favorites led by versatile star Shohei Ohtani, were pushed to their limits in a confrontation already described as an instant classic.

After splitting the first two games in Toronto, the Blue Jays overcame an 18-inning road loss in Game 3, before returning to the Rogers Center with a 3-2 lead. The Dodgers forced a decisive 7th game, which they ultimately won in 11 innings in a duel loaded with twists and turns.

It was the sixth time in 59 years that the Blue Jays were named Canadian Team of the Year.

I have never seen a group speak so unanimously about the trust and appreciation they had for each other Shapiro concludes. This is a competitive advantage in a sport where we play 162 matches.

The Canadian men’s 4x100m relay team that won Olympic gold at the Paris Games has been named The Canadian Press Team of the Year for 2024.

Earlier this week, swimmer Summer McIntosh was named female athlete of the year, while NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received the honor on the men’s side.

The Canadian Press has presented its Athlete of the Year awards since 1932.