The 2015 Toronto Blue Jays have earned a permanent place in franchise lore. Short of a third-ever World Series appearance, it’s tough to imagine a more memorable season.
Following an exceptionally active trade deadline, Toronto seemed unbeatable. Once they started winning, they didn’t stop until they ran into the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS.
It won’t come as a surprise that the Blue Jays figure prominently on our list of the top 10 baseball stories of 2015…
10. Blue Jays struggle early
The Jays were 23-30 in early June, at which point some critics started calling for a managerial change. Even with a deep and talented lineup the Blue Jays were losing all kinds of one-run games due to shaky defence and questionable pitching.
Jeff Blair: Firing Gibbons won’t solve Blue Jays’ problems
Ben Nicholson-Smith: Blue Jays need to find answers on pitching staff
9. GM Alex Anthopoulos leaves Blue Jays
In a year full of surprises, this one ranks pretty high. Fresh off an AL East title, Alex Anthopoulos declined an extension offer from the Blue Jays, citing concerns over ‘fit’ with incoming president Mark Shapiro.
Shi Davidi: Alex Anthopoulos leaving Blue Jays after rejecting extension
8. A-Rod back with Yankees
Alex Rodriguez returned from the suspension that cost him the 2014 season by combining contrition and production like never before. At season’s end, he had re-established himself as a fixture in the Yankees’ lineup with 33 home runs.
Shannon Proudfoot: Yankees fans struggle to forgive A-Rod
Jeff Blair: Better for both parties for A-Rod to play again
7. Marcus Stroman tears ACL but completes comeback
When Stroman tore his ACL in Spring Training his teammates were visibly shaken and the Blue Jays’ rotation took a major step back. When Stroman vowed to return in 2015, few believed he’d pull it off. In the end he did just that, returning in time to start four regular season games and contribute in the playoffs.
Arden Zwelling: The Inside Story of Marcus Stroman’s Comeback
6. Josh Donaldson named AL MVP
The ‘Bringer of Rain’ put together a season for the ages in Toronto, hitting 41 home runs with a .939 OPS and 8.8 wins above replacement. It was enough to unseat Mike Trout as the AL’s top player and join George Bell as just the second MVP in Blue Jays history. Safe to say he’s also the ‘Bringer of Game.’
Shi Davidi: Value beyond the numbers earned Josh Donaldson AL MVP
5. Royals eliminate Blue Jays in Game 6 of ALCS
Despite more heroics from Bautista, the Blue Jays’ season ended with a tough ALCS loss to the Kansas City Royals. Toronto went 0-12 with runners in scoring position in Game 6, as the Royals advanced to the World Series for the second year in a row.
Shi Davidi: Blue Jays’ brilliant season ends by tiniest of margins
Ben Nicholson-Smith: Bautista’s October performance adds to Jays legacy
Arden Zwelling: Jays’ run now over, Tulowitzki opens up
4. Blue Jays bolster roster at trade deadline
On July 28, the Blue Jays stunned the baseball world by acquiring Troy Tulowitzki, but the trade didn’t address their biggest need: starting pitching. Within days, Alex Anthopoulos had acquired David Price, Ben Revere and Mark Lowe to cap off the busiest trade deadline in franchise history.
Arden Zwelling: Inside the 48 hours that transformed the Blue Jays
Michael Grange: Blue Jays fans get the gift of a pennant race
3. Blue Jays end MLB’s longest playoff drought
After 22 years of watching October baseball, the Jays finally earned a post-season berth of their own. They’d later clinch the AL East in Baltimore, officially unseating the Orioles as division champs.
Mike Wilner: ‘Next year’ has finally arrived for the Blue Jays
Shi Davidi: Bigger celebrations await playoff-bound Blue Jays
2. Royals win World Series
The Royals outplayed the Mets on the way to their first World Series title in three decades. The Royals were able to overcome New York’s elite young arms with impressive pitching of their own and first-rate defence.
Ben Nicholson-Smith: Mets, Royals have sneaky‐good lineups
1. Jose Bautista’s bat flip caps off epic Game 5 win
There’s Joe Carter’s World Series-winning home run. There’s Roberto Alomar’s ALCS shot against Dennis Eckersley. And, now, there’s Jose Bautista’s Game 5 ALDS winner. Not only were the circumstances surrounding the home run exceptional—an elimination game, a controversial run by Rougned Odor, a disorderly crowd, three Rangers errors—the bat flip that followed punctuated the moment perfectly.
Shi Davidi: Bautista’s ‘Grade A’ bat flip puts exclamation point on ALDS
Mike Wilner: Historic Blue Jays win one of the craziest in franchise history
