“The 1-1 from Dyson. Bautista with a drive. Deep left field. No doubt about it!”
There are certain moments for Blue Jays fans from coast to coast that are remembered like they happened yesterday.
Joe Carter’s World Series winning home run. Dave Stieb finally achieving his elusive no-hitter. Edwin Encarnacion’s extra-inning blast to send Toronto to the ALCS.
But perhaps none are more memorable than Jose Bautista’s go-ahead home run in the 2015 ALDS, capped off with an exclamation-point bat flip that still appears on highlight reels today.
“It felt like the stadium was coming down. It felt like the Earth was shaking,” said Bautista, reflecting on the moment during his appearance Wednesday on The FAN Morning Show. “To be able to create that type of memory for the fans in the stadium and whoever was tuned in … that’s the biggest prize of all.”
Despite how fondly it’s remembered by fans, at the time the celebration caused waves within the baseball community. Hall of Famer Goose Gossage was notably outspoken against the bat flip, calling it a “disgrace” to the game.
Oh Goose, if only you knew.
Flash forward to today, and the ripple effects of Bautista’s iconic celebration can be seen across all levels of baseball. From Randy Arozarena folding his arms with a mean-mug after a clutch hit, to Jazz Chisholm Jr. euro-stepping his way around third base, the Jays slugger helped pave the way for a more fun-loving version of the game.
“I think it played out that way – not that I set out to do that,” Bautista continued. “I think that moment just helped open the floodgates when it comes to celebration.”
Even though the bat flip might be front of mind for many fans when asked about Jose’s 10 seasons in Toronto, his tenure in Canada was so much more than that.
His rise to stardom in 2010 was fueled with a new-found surge of power, leading the league in home runs with 54. Now for most, this would be quite the tough act to follow. But Bautista stepped up to the plate in 2011 and reclaimed his title once again, cementing his place among the top sluggers in the Majors.
With all that power, his reliable glove and cannon for an arm in right field could often be an afterthought. But Bautista’s defence proved to be just as electric as his plate presence, searing worry into the back of baserunners’ minds. Who could blame them – it’s not every day you see someone turn a routine single into a 9-3 putout at first (cheers, Billy Butler).
But perhaps most importantly, Bautista helped bring the excitement and passion of baseball back to not only an organization, but an entire country.
On Aug. 12, Jose Bautista’s name will be added to Rogers Centre Level of Excellence, alongside other Blue Jays legends.
“It’s obviously a great honour, I’m extremely happy to forever be enshrined on the Level of Excellence with all the other great names,” said Bautista. “I couldn’t be more excited.”
Catch The FAN Morning Show Monday to Friday, from 6-9 a.m. ET.