David Cone to Yankees for Marty Janzsen, Jason Jarvis and Mike Gordon

Tippy Martinez.
Rickey Henderson's torture of Ernie Whitt in '89.
Pat Borders, the least likely hero.
Dave Winfield and the seagull.
No beer at the ballpark.
Bill Caudill, the ultimate disappointment. The definition of disappointment. The stats won't tell you why...
Doyle Freakin' Alexander.
Tim Johnson, war hero.
Damo burning his uniform.
Barfield's incredible arm.
"The World's Greatest Entertainment Centre"
Noisy crowds once packed the park.

Lining up to get into the North Grandstand.
Freezing our butts off during April home games at the Ex.
WAMCO!
Jays it felt weird to root for: Jack Morris, Rickey Henderson, Dave Parker, Lance Parrish.
Ward and then Henke: after the 7th, it was game over.
The Showdown Series: Baltimore v Toronto, 1989.
Lloyd Moseby dropping a fly ball during the 1985 runup.
George Bell catching the fly ball that clinched it during the 1985 runup.
Jim Sundberg, who broke our hearts.
Stieb slamming the rosin bag after a base hit.
Hearing that the Jays had traded for David Cone in 1992.
Thousands of fans celebrating on Yonge Street in 1992. (I exchanged roughly 500 high-fives in the space of one hour.)
Devon White covering all of center field. (Even more range than Wells, who is pretty darn good.)
Don Chevrier and Tony Kubek; Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez.
The additional verses to "Okay Blue Jays".

For me, the early "sluggers" - John Mayberry, Otto Velez, and of course, Doug Ault on Opening Day '77.
Hector Torres with the club's first grand slam.
Roy Howell's 9 RBI in the 19-3 drubbing of the Yankees in the inaugural season, and the Jays following that up with a 24-10 pounding of Baltimore the next season (all the runs scoring over a span of 4 innings)
Phil Roof winning a cow-milking contest before a game
Sitting in Section 50 (out of 51) in the EX Grandstand to see a Jays-Yankees double-header in August of '83 - and Garth Iorg (I believe, it's been 20 years!) running through Jimy 'One-M' Williams' stop sign to score from second in the bottom of the 10th to win the opener 10-9. Absolutely the most electric atmosphere I have ever felt in a ball game (mind you, I moved away from Toronto in 1990 and missed the championship years)
Lost in the '87 collapse was the fact that the Brewers killed the Jays that season (and most every other season)

Shawn Green's uniform making its ML debut before Green himself did?

(I did a quick web search to verify that this actually did happen, and that I was remembering it correctly, including just who it was that was wearing Green's uni... is what happened to this guy common knowledge? I hadn't heard about it before today)

Did somebody say Jim Sundberg?

http://www.torontobaseballguys.com
- Felt pretty weird to root for Jose Canseco, too
- Fergie Oliver: "How about those Toronto Blue Jays!" *shudder*
- "Maldonado's throw is... over everything!" - to be redeemed by Winfield in the 11th
- The Stottlemyre Slam - take THAT Mitch Webster!
- Brian Williams' voice cracking with school girl glee at a "Long Fly Ball!" as the opposing shortstop backpeddles under it.
- Stieb and the near no-nos. Damn you Julio Franco. And Jim Traber. And Roberto Kelly...
- 50,000 people sitting on their hands throughout a game, then freaking out during the Canadian Airlines plane race on the Jumbotron
- Duane Ward, Tom Henke and 7 inning games
- George Bell teaches Bruce Kison karate
- 10 home runs vs. Baltimore
- 10 run comeback in Boston
- the triple play that wasn't - No Tag??? Gruber frikkin' tripped him, Mr. Bigglesworth
- Kelly's water skiing adventure
- Quantrill's tobogganing adventure
- The Mask of O'Brien
- Winfield said Let There Be Noise, and there was Noise
- Tony's flip from the deep hole at short - How'd he do that?
- Buck's broken leg double play

Tony Fernandez's flip throws to first.

Canseco's monster shot into the 5th deck.

Henke's pennant clinching save in 1989.

The first time the retractable roof closed during a game.

Mike Maksudian of insect-eating fame.

"The Baby Elephant": nickname given to Cecil Fielder by the bleacher regulars at the Ex.

Buck Martinez trying to beat out a double play grounder.

Junior Felix's "stance" in the outfield.

The world's fastest grounds crew.

Is what happened to this guy common knowledge? I hadn't heard about it before today

That would be one Huck Flener, called up in a hurry in 1993 from the minors and forced to wear Shawn Green's uniform in his first appearance. He pitched twice more for the Jays in '96 and '97, finishing his big-league "career" with 29 appearances and a sparkling 5.51 ERA.

50,000 people sitting on their hands throughout a game, then freaking out during the Canadian Airlines plane race on the Jumbotron.

Too funny.

10 run comeback in Boston

Say what you will about Junior Felix, but that 9th-inning game-tying grand slam was one of the best single moments in team history.

May I also add:

- Kelly Gruber's popup in a fog-shrouded centerfield that turned into the cheapest inside-the-park homer ever.

- Cecil Fielder ending a crucial September game against the Tigers by being thrown out on a botched hit-and-run. Yes, that Cecil Fielder.

- The Jays' first appearance on Monday Night Baseball in 1984, also against the Tigers, when the two teams had by far the best records in baseball, and Dave Bergman's three-run 10th-inning moon shot into the night off Roy Lee Jackson.

- Roy Lee Jackson.

- On a happier note, the McGriff/Fernandez - Carter/Alomar trade that shook the team to its foundations.

- Otis Nixon's bunt.

- "Touch 'em all, Joe!"

Exhibition Park, its the bottom of the 7th and the seagulls have arrived

Re: Huck Flener.

By "what happened to him", I was referring to an incident that happened long after he'd left the Jays. I tried putting a link to the article, but apparently it didn't work. I'll try again (if this doesn't work, can someone please help?):

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/bbw/2001-02-07/2001-02-07-majors.htm



Certainly not a happy story...

- Kenny Williams' wild ride in which he bowled over Rich Hacker (I think it was Hack).

- Rick Leach disappearing.

- Home runs to right at the Ex: Just sailing into nothingness.

- Tom Filer and Dennis Lamp.

- Mark Eichhorn's rookie-year windup and follow-through.

- Those annoying Red Sox players from '86, '88 and '90.

- Mookie Magic!

- Ed Sprague, Derek Bell and Candy Maldonado: Part of Jeff Reardon's 1992 tour de force.

- BJ Birdy hanging out on the field and high-fiving hitters *as they rounded third base* (can anyone believe this happened regularly?)

- Labatt's commercials with vignettes from Baltimore, Boston, etc. showing people on the street expressing frustration with the Blue Jays

- The upside-down Canadian flag, and the Marines redeeming themselves alongside the Mounties in Game 3.

- Anne Murray's Game 3 anthem, 1992. Who would have thought that it would be perfect?

- Kelly Gruber's cycle.

- Devon White's braces.

- Johnny O's swing.

- Rance Mulliniks coming off the bench.

- Randy Myers: Bill Caudill for a new generation.

- Paul Molitor crying his eyes out.

Never mind the seagulls, here's the airshow.

Another Howarthism: "The Blue Jays are in flight!" when they score their first run.

Shaker Mo stealing 2nd, 1st and 2nd on the same play!

Dennis Lamp's ill-conceived LAMP licence plate, parked at the Ex.

Alomar vs. Eck: the real defining moment in team history.

I'm almost sure it was John McLaren that Kenny Williams bowled over ...

The first time the retractable roof closed during a game.

Especially if you were near the dugouts and got drenched. It was surreal.

Others have recalled my favourites: (Sigh) Sundberg. Seagulls. Buck's double play. TOROTNO. The flag snafu. Barfield's throws to third and home. Ward setting up Henke.

How about Stottlemyre's faceplant slide, a few feet short of the bag? The SkyDome crowd has always been embarrassing, but I fondly remember the noise small groups of "real" fans used to make in Tiger Stadium. Marvin the Martian would also have to be told about the genius architect and motivator Gillick, and how replacing Gord Ash with J.P. Ricciardi was a landmark Blue Jays moment that signified the end of the dark ages.

While part of the reason Toronto fans are so quiet is cultural, another reason is because the Dome is so cavernous. People who make noise feel exposed, and any noise we do make doesn't travel very far.

I think some fans may worry that if they yell something, one of the army of ushers and security personnel will descend on them and tell them to be quiet. (And add any infractions to their Permanent Record.)

In Exhibition Stadium, the north grandstand was, by far, the noisiest part of the ballpark because it was roofed. Noise was contained and amplified, which encouraged fans to yell more.

I think some fans may worry that if they yell something, one of the army of ushers and security personnel will descend on them and tell them to be quiet.

You think? Considering every time I go with a group that is making noise contrary to OFFICIAL CHEERING POLICY (as directed by the scoreboard) someone complains to the usher and we are threatened with getting kicked out... I'd say not only is it a possible worry, it's a definite worry. I've seen someone "talked to" for trying to start the wave... they were "bothering the other customers". By the way, that's the best way to irritate me at the ballpark... call me a "patron" or a "customer".

Anyone who would be liable to go to the game to make some noise, maybe get on an opposition player a little bit (nothing profane), and generally add to the atmosphere, has already been made to feel unwelcome at the Dome. 5,000 fans in Montreal are noisier and livelier than 20,000+ in the Dome... not because of the size of the stadium, but because the ushers don't have a hissy fit when the patrons bang those awesome Big O seats to make noise.

I go to games now by myself, or with just a couple of others, so the opportunities for organized cheering are fewer. I won't even begin to talk about how unfriendly the fans are in Toronto. At other parks, you can go by yourself and by the third inning you're in conversation with everyone around you. In Toronto, try saying something to the person next to you and you get a sour look (not just at the Dome... same goes for Leafs games).

The Jumbotron and the music has sucked the life right out of the crowds. Before all that crap, there was a chance for cheers to begin, and build... something that takes a minute or two. Now twenty seconds can't go by without the Jumbotron parroting out something, or the music starts - at least once a minute - and drowns out any noise the fans are making.

More reminiscenses:

Otto the Swatto's four homers in a doubleheader

Doubleheaders

Brian Milner's first game

Arte Johnson (from Laugh-In) explaining pitching in Labatt commercials (das kanookleball!)

The Beeg Mon

The wind blowing Jim Clancy off the mound against Texas

Randy Bush

Shaker stealing second, then getting suckered into going back to first, then back to second on the throw.

Endless rain delays at the Ex

Devon White making the catch over the fence at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore

Henke making his debut at the same stadium. Ripken almost taking him over the wall.

"Bottom of the filth"