It was a significant moment for a Blue Jays franchise that hadn’t been to the playoffs in 22 years, but it was also an important milestone for a Canadian baseball team that hasn’t won a World Series championship since 1993.
Despite their long drought, the Blue Jays have actually been one of the most successful teams in baseball over the past two decades. They’ve made the playoffs six times since 1995 and have won more regular season games than any other team during that span.
So how do the Blue Jays stack up against the teams that have won the World Series over the past 20 years Let’s take a look at some moments.
1995: The Blue Jays were compared to the Atlanta Braves, who won the World Series that year. The Braves were a dominant team during the ’90s, winning five division titles in a row from 1991 to 1995.
The Blue Jays had a very similar run during that same span, winning five division titles in a row from 1985 to 1989. Both teams were led by star hitters (the Blue Jays had Joe Carter and the Braves had David Justice) and dominant pitchers (the Blue Jays had Roger Clemens and the Braves had Greg Maddux).
1996: The Blue Jays were compared to the New York Yankees, who won the World Series that year. The Yankees were a powerhouse team in the ’90s, winning four World Series titles.
The Blue Jays had a star-studded lineup in 1996, which included future Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar and John Olerud. The team also had a strong pitching staff, led by Curt Schilling.
1997: The Blue Jays were compared to the Florida Marlins, who won the World Series that year. The Marlins were a expansion team in 1993 and had only been in existence for four years when they won the World Series.
The Blue Jays were a much more experienced team in 1997, but they were still a relatively young team. Their core group of players was still in their 20s, including Roberto Alomar, Shawn Green, Randy Myers, and Curt Schilling.
1998: The Blue Jays were compared to the New York Yankees, who won the World Series that year. The Yankees were a dominant team throughout the ’90s, winning three World Series titles.
The Blue Jays had a very similar team to the Yankees in 1998, with a star-studded lineup and a strong pitching staff. The Blue Jays also had the advantage of playing in a weaker division, which helped them win their second consecutive division title.