We all know the story. It has been 32 long years since the Toronto Blue Jays won the World Series. But Friday night (or Saturday), that could all come to an end. The Jays are one win away from completing one of the most improbable feats I can remember. They are this close to pulling off the last-to-first miracle, and all that stands between them is an LA Dodgers team that looks shell-shocked. But enough about that. What I want to share with you is my memories of the last time the Jays won it all and Joe Carter became a living legend in the process.
The day was October 23, 1993. That was the day the Blue Jays won their second straight World Series, beating the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 at SkyDome (back before we called it Rogers Centre, because everything now has to sound like a telecom bill).
Before I get to how I spent the evening, here’s the rundown of that glorious night in baseball and Canadian history:
The game
- Date: Saturday, October 23, 1993
- Location: SkyDome, Toronto
- Attendance: 52,195 delirious fans who probably didn’t stop cheering until Monday
- Matchup: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Game 6
- Final score: Jays 8, Phillies 6
- Winning run: Joe Carter’s legendary walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the 9th off Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams
The moment
- The Jays were down 6–5 heading into the bottom of the 9th.
- Rickey Henderson walked, Paul Molitor singled, and Joe Carter came up with runners on first and second.
- On a 2–2 count, Carter launched one into the left-field stands. The immortal call by Tom Cheek: “Touch ’em all, Joe! You’ll never hit a bigger home run in your life!”
- Carter’s jump around the bases became instant Canadian folklore.
Series facts
- Toronto won the series 4–2.
- Paul Molitor was named World Series MVP, hitting .500 with two homers and eight RBIs.
- The Jays became the first team since the 1977–78 Yankees to win back-to-back World Series titles.
- They were also the first non-U.S. team to win the World Series — twice, for emphasis.
Pop Culture
Music (when people still bought CDs)
- Top Billboard hits in October 1993:
- Dreamlover – Mariah Carey (every mall in North America was playing this)
- Right Here (Human Nature Mix) – SWV
- Just Kickin’ It – Xscape
- Whoomp! (There It Is) – Tag Team
- I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) – Meat Loaf (hit #1 just after the Jays’ win, fittingly dramatic)
- Grunge was still the cool kid: Nirvana had just released “In Utero” in September, and Pearl Jam’s “Vs.” dropped in late October — an album that sold almost a million copies in its first week.
- On the pop side, Ace of Base’s “All That She Wants” was everywhere, proof that Europe had cornered the market on catchy weirdness.
Movies
- In theatres:
- The Fugitive (Harrison Ford at peak “I didn’t kill my wife!” intensity)
- Demolition Man (Stallone vs. Wesley Snipes, plus weird Taco Bell future)
- Cool Runnings (Jamaican bobsled team, mandatory feel-good film in every Canadian school for years)
- Judgment Night (criminally underrated thriller with a killer soundtrack)
- Rudy (for people who needed their sports inspiration slightly less dramatic than Joe Carter’s homer)
- Coming soon: Mrs. Doubtfire and Schindler’s List, meaning the emotional whiplash of late 1993 was real.
TV
- Big shows in October 1993:
- Seinfeld (Season 5, “The Puffy Shirt” aired in September)
- The X-Files had just premiered a few weeks earlier — aliens, paranoia, trench coats.
- Home Improvement and Frasier were dominating the sitcom circuit.
- Friends wouldn’t show up until the next year, so the cast of Cheers was still hanging around syndication.
- Beverly Hills, 90210 was the teen religion of choice.
- In Canada, The Kids in the Hall was still running, and CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes had just launched that fall — meaning the Jays’ win was probably their first big target.
My Experience
Okay, now for what I remember. I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t a huge baseball fan at the time. I had grown up a huge Detroit Tigers fan, then I switched to the Bash Brothers of the Oakland A’s. I really never connected with the Jays even though I was a Southwestern Ontario kid.
It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s and living in Toronto, that I really joined the Blue Jays fan club.
What I do remember about the Jays winning was this. I was in my first year at University of Windsor. Two months into school life and I was living in residence. As the Jays moved to Game 6 in meant if the Jays won it would be a huge celebration in the dorm. Easily the party of the year to date. But, I had to miss it due to a family wedding in the city. My family was down and that meant it was a busy weekend. The game would be on during the wedding reception and I was kind of grumpy to be possibly missing the big party.
I don’t really remember much about the wedding, but I do remember the “Joe Carter moment” later in the evening. There was a little TV behind the bar that had the game on and there were huddles of mostly guys around the TV at all times.
I remember my Dad had asked if I knew what the score was. I didn’t. I walked towards the huddle of people at the bar just as the home run was hit. Because everyone jumped in the air screaming just as I got there. I missed it live.
Of course my first thought was of what I was missing back at the dorm. There was no texting, IM’s or cell phones for that matter. So I had no way of even checking in.
The moment of the Jays winning really came and went in a matter of minutes for me. Certainly not like what it would be in 2025.
The night went on, people moved forward and I am sure the city of Toronto went crazy.
I had practically missed it all.
When I got back to the dorm on Sunday afternoon, as expected it looked like a great party happened. I caught up on stories and it didn’t make me feel any better about missing it.
Not to worry I figured. The Jays had won back to back World Series. I bet they will win again in the coming years right??
Fast Forward to 2025
So now that the trophy is in the building so to speak, I once again have a chance to experience a World Series clinching game. There are no weddings planned. In fact tonight and tomorrow, nothing is planned other than sitting on the couch and watching the Blue Jays try to lock this thing down.
The series has been somewhat relaxing so far besides the 18 inning game. I suspect there will be a few more heart attack moments to come , but I feel pretty confident the Jays can get it done.
For the record, I did pick them to win in six.
The bigger question for me? Do I make up for missing out 32 years ago and go celebrate with the masses? Probably not. It will be quite late ha ha.
Your Memories?
For those who were alive, what do you remember from 32 years ago when Joe Carter hit the homer heard around the baseball world? Would love to read about it in the comments.
