The Toronto Blue Jays were the first Canadian team admitted to baseball's American League. The franchise was awarded to Toronto in 1976 and the Blue Jays began play in 1977 at Exhibition Stadium. They achieved their first winning season in 1983. The Jays proved to be one of baseball's best organizations during the 1980s and 1990s. They won Eastern Division pennants in 1985, 1989 and 1991, each time losing in the championship round.
In 1992 the Blue Jays won their first American League championship, defeating the Oakland A's. They then became the first team based outside the United States to capture the World Series, defeating the Atlanta Braves in a memorable 6-game series. Dave Winfield drove in the winning runs in the 11th inning of the sixth game. Catcher Pat Borders won the series MVP award. The Blue Jays repeated as American League champions in 1993, despite numerous changes in personnel. John Olerud became the first Blue Jay to win a batting championship. The Jays defeated the Chicago White Sox in the American League championship series in 6 games. Pitcher Dave Stewart, whom the team had signed as a free agent in the off-season, won 2 games and was series MVP.
The Jays went on to become the first team since the 1977-78 New York Yankees to repeat as World Series champions, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in 6 games. Joe Carter hit a dramatic home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to drive in the winning runs. It was only the second time in World Series history that a series ended on a home run, and it was the first time that the series was clinched in Canada. Paul Molitor, also new to the team in 1993, was voted MVP. Since their move into SkyDome in 1989, the Blue Jays have proven one of the most successful franchises in baseball. In 1990 they set a major league record for attendance, the first baseball team ever to reach the 4 million mark in attendance.
