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Based in Toronto , Ontario , Canada , the Toronto Blue Jays are members of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Founded in 1977, they are the first and only team outside the United States to win a World Series, the first team to win a World Series in Canada , and the fastest American League expansion team to win a World Series when they won in their 16th year. The Blue Jays are currently the only MLB team outside the United States .
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The Toronto 's first solid season came in 1982 when they finished 78-84 and the following season in 1982 was the first season they finished outside the bottom, as they finished sixth in the East. Then in 1983, the Blue Jays had their first winning record, 89-73, finishing in fourth place. Their first championship came in 1985 when they won their first of five American League East division titles. Their next big year was in 1992 when won the ALCS and went on to face the Atlanta Braves in the World Series which they one in game six. The Blue Jays became the first team based outside of the United States to win the World Series. In 1993, the Jays won their third straight division title in the ALCS and won the World Series again when they faced the Philadelphia Phillies. The Blue Jays were unable to maintain that level of success over the next several seasons until 1998 when they posted their first winning season in five years. The closest they returned to championship form was in 2003 when after stunning turnaround in May 2003, they managed to get just a few games behind the leading Boston Red Sox
Over the next several years the Blue Jays suffered from a long list of injuries. On July 28, 2005 Toronto played their longest game in franchise history (innings-wise) at 18 innings against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and won 2-1, after nearly five hours of play. Despite their problems on and off the field in 2005, the Blue Jays managed to get to second place in the American League East by the end of the season which marked the first time that they had finished above third place in their division since their World Championship season in 1993, and with the most wins since the 1998 season.
On December 18, 2006 the Blue Jays had announced that they re-signed center fielder Vernon Wells to a seven year contract at $126 million which is the largest contract in club history. The Blue Jays also saw the 2007 season shattered by relentless injuries, with 12 players on the injured list. By the end of the 2008 season, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that former president and CEO Paul Beeston, will assist in the daily operations for the ball club, with the support of Paul Godfrey, who will be stepping down as president and CEO at the end of the year. His successor will be named before the start of the 2009 season.
Toronto Blue Jays Stadium Information:
The Toronto Blue Jays home stadium in Rogers Centre, formerly known as SkyDome, is located in Toronto , Ontario , Canada . Opened in 1989, the stadium was noted for being the first stadium to have a fully-retractable motorized roof, as well as a large hotel attached to it, with 70 rooms overlooking the field. It is also the most recent North American major league stadium built to contain both football as well as baseball. The stadium is one of Toronto 's top three tourist attractions and is the model for architects of other domed stadiums being built around the world.
Over 2,000 events have been held at Rogers Centre and more than 50 million people visited. From 1996 to 1998, the stadium received the prestigious 'Prime Site of the Year Award' from Facilities Magazine and recently won the Toronto Tourism Award for 'Employer of the Year.' For four successive years, the stadium also received the "Stadium of the Year Award" voted by Billboard, Amusement Business and Performance Magazine. A unique feature of the Rogers Centre is its Videoboard, one of the world's largest, measuring 110 feet wide by 33 feet high - bringing everyone even closer to the action.
Toronto Blue Jays Driving Directions:
To get to Rogers Centre
By Subway :
From Union Station - Follow the SkyWalk west or walk west on the south side of Front Street
From St. Andrews Station - Walk west on King Street to John Street and follow John Street south
By Streetcar :
From the King Street route - Get off at Peter Street or John Street and walk south
From the Spadina Avenue route - Get off at Bremner Boulevard and walk east
From the LRT (Light Rail Transit) line - Get off at Rees Street and walk north
By Go Train / Go Bus :
From Union Station - Follow the SkyWalk west or walk west on the south side of Front Street
From the east of Toronto:
Take Highway 401 (MacDonald Cartier Freeway) to the Don Valley Parkway
Go south on the D.V.P. to the Gardiner Expressway
Go west on the Gardiner to the Spadina Ave. exit
From the west of Toronto :
Take Highway 401 (MacDonald Cartier Freeway) to Highway 427
Go south on the 427 to the Gardiner Expressway
Go east on the Gardiner to the Spadina Ave. exit
OR
Take the Queen Elizabeth Way to the Gardiner Expressway
Continue traveling east on the Gardiner to the Spadina Ave. exit
From the north of Toronto :
Take Highway 404 until it becomes the Don Valley Parkway
Continue south on the D.V.P. to the Gardiner Expressway
Go west on the Gardiner to the Spadina Ave. exit
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