How Toronto Blue Jays Became Canada's Team episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 27, 2025 · 49 MIN

How Toronto Blue Jays Became Canada's Team

from Sportly · host Immigrantly Media

For the first time in 32 years, the Toronto Blue Jays are back in the World Series, and all of Canada is rallying behind them. In this episode of Sportly, host Kavitha Davidson dives into how the Blue Jays rekindled Canada’s love for baseball, from George Springer’s unforgettable homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s storybook rise. Guest Zach Vanasse, a lifelong Canadian baseball fan and former Expos devotee, joins to explore how the Blue Jays became Canada’s team, what that means for Quebec, for Toronto, and for a generation that never knew baseball glory north of the border. Find him on Bluesky: @zachvanasse.bsky.social Follow Sportly on Instagram @sportlypod and Kavitha @kad2105 00:00 03:40 The moment of realisation for fans 07:50 World Series champions in the 90s 11:30 Why the Montreal Expos left 17:00 The rivalry between Toronto and Montreal 20:20 Vladdy Jr stays with the Blue Jays 33:50 Is it a Dodger's game at the World Series? 37:30 Everyone is rooting for the Blue Jays 40:10 Inflated ticket prices 42:10 The legacy of Toronto Blue Jays Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Paroma Chakravarty I Executive Producer: Saadia Khan | Fact Checking and Research: Paroma Chakravarty I Sound Designer & Editor: Paroma Chakravarty I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art Graphic Designer: Sarah DiMichele Join us as we create new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can get more information at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://immigrantlypod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help more people find us!  Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for insightful podcasts.  You can reach the host, Kavitha, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok @immigrantly  Sportly is an Immigrantly Media Production For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time in 32 years, the Toronto Blue Jays are back in the World Series, and all of Canada is rallying behind them. In this episode of Sportly, host Kavitha Davidson dives into how the Blue Jays rekindled Canada’s love for baseball, from George Springer’s unforgettable homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s storybook rise. Guest Zach Vanasse, a lifelong Canadian baseball fan and former Expos devotee, joins to explore how the Blue Jays became Canada’s team, what that means for Quebec, for Toronto, and for a generation that never knew baseball glory north of the border. Find him on Bluesky: @zachvanasse.bsky.social Follow Sportly on Instagram @sportlypod and Kavitha @kad2105 00:00 03:40 The moment of realisation for fans 07:50 World Series champions in the 90s 11:30 Why the Montreal Expos left 17:00 The rivalry between Toronto and Montreal 20:20 Vladdy Jr stays with the Blue Jays 33:50 Is it a Dodger's game at the World Series? 37:30 Everyone is rooting for the Blue Jays 40:10 Inflated ticket prices 42:10 The legacy of Toronto Blue Jays Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Paroma Chakravarty I Executive Producer: Saadia Khan | Fact Checking and Research: Paroma Chakravarty I Sound Designer & Editor: Paroma Chakravarty I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art Graphic Designer: Sarah DiMichele Join us as we create new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can get more information at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://immigrantlypod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help more people find us!  Remember to subscribe to our Apple podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for insightful podcasts.  You can reach the host, Kavitha, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on TikTok @immigrantly  Sportly is an Immigrantly Media Production For advertising inquiries, you can contact us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOW PLAYING

How Toronto Blue Jays Became Canada's Team

0:00 49:13

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Sportly?

This episode is 49 minutes long.

When was this Sportly episode published?

This episode was published on October 27, 2025.

What is this episode about?

For the first time in 32 years, the Toronto Blue Jays are back in the World Series, and all of Canada is rallying behind them. In this episode of Sportly, host Kavitha Davidson dives into how the Blue Jays rekindled Canada’s love for baseball, from...

Can I download this Sportly episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!