OK Blue Jays: The Emergence of a franchise

Episode Eight: Forty years later

Looking back at the ’85 season, most Jays’ fans will remember how it ended rather than how the team got to the brink of their first World Series. A special team… led by extraordinary coaches and an equally impressive front office. Together, that team and in particular that season would galvanize a city. The players, some with big personalities and some with small, would find a commonality and connection that would propel the team to its best ever regular season. 40-years later, the team has cemented its place in the legacy of the franchise. Where are they today? We check in with Pat Gillick, Cito Gaston, Rance Mulliniks, Ernie Whitt, Tom Henke and Steve Balboni. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okbluejays.substack.com [https://okbluejays.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode Seven: Just one more

Toronto sports fans love the Jays, and they love a winner. In the franchise’s first ten years, only four times was their attendance below the league average. 1985 was the first year that the Jays average more than 30-thousand fans per game. For the season, the team saw attendance soar to nearly 2.5 million (the league average was 1.75 million). 37,557 were in attendance on Tuesday October 15th when the Royals and Jays took to the field at Exhibition Stadium for game 6. Jays were up in the series 3 games to 1. Needing only one win to get to the World Series. Episode includes Pat Gillick, Cito Gaston, Rance Mulliniks, Ernie Whitt, Tom Henke and Steve Balboni. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okbluejays.substack.com [https://okbluejays.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode Six: Finally at the top

It was the moment that Jays’ fans had dreamed about. A roster that had the right pieces, but there was some doubt. Despite winning 99 games, the team had gone 1-5 in the final six games of the regular season. They were favourites but were playing one of two teams that seemed to have their number in ’85. This is episode six: Finally at the top Episode includes Pat Gillick, Cito Gaston, Rance Mulliniks, Ernie Whitt, Tom Henke and Steve Balboni. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okbluejays.substack.com [https://okbluejays.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode Five: Two all-stars at the helm

This is episode five: two all-stars at the helm. While the roster of the ’85 Jays were special, it was the front office that assembled the team and the coaching staff that played a role getting them to gel. There have been 14 different managers for the Blue Jays over their history to date. A handful of them served at the helm more than once. When the Blue Jays hired Bobby Cox, their fortunes quickly turned. Episode includes Pat Gillick, Cito Gaston, Rance Mulliniks, Ernie Whitt, Tom Henke and Steve Balboni. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okbluejays.substack.com [https://okbluejays.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode Four: Down the stretch

The Jays would head in early August winning 16 of 19 including a 9-game winning streak. Winning 99 games requires a team to be consistent. The Jays only lost two head-to-head series the entire season. The Red Sox won nine of their 13 match-ups, and the Royals won seven of their 12 regular season games. Episode includes the “botched” exchange at second against the Yankees, and how the Jays were able to hold on to win the division for the first time. Episode includes Pat Gillick, Cito Gaston, Rance Mulliniks, Ernie Whitt, Tom Henke and Steve Balboni. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okbluejays.substack.com [https://okbluejays.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]