July 29, 2015
O, Canada! After an amazing time in Cooperstown, New York exploring the Baseball Hall of Fame and a quick stop at the stunning Niagara Falls, we crossed the border north into the land of maple leafs and Celine Dion. We checked into our downtown hotel and were able to walk to Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The lack of air condition around the stadium, even in the team store, required some getting used to for us Texans. We watched batting practice from the outfield and then made it up to our seats in the upper deck but right behind home, providing the perfect view of an open Rogers Centre with the CN Tower leaning over the stadium, which was truly an incredible sight.
Tonight’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Blue Jays wasn’t just any other game. The Blue Jays had, just yesterday, acquired Star Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies in a blockbuster trade. It was a stunning move and one that energized the Toronto fanbase tremendously. We were lucky enough (is lucky the right word if I was very upset at the trade as an O’s fan) to see Tulo’s debut with the Jays, and the stadium was buzzing. There simply isn’t another word for it. Fans were beside themselves to get such a star and hopefully prepare to make a run at the division. In the 3rd inning of his debut, Tulo hit a home run, sending the fans into a frenzy! While I didn’t want the Jays to succeed, it was definitely special to witness such a unique moment.
The Blue Jays powered on with an 8-2 victory, but not before we met some super nice workers and also went down to the lower deck for the end of the game. There’s nothing like finally hearing the ominous Toronto home run horn in person and enjoying America’s Pastime in Canada.
