The Blue Jays on Canada Day: Records, memories and standout performances

Canada Day has a different feel this year for many reasons. Regardless of what’s happening outside the baseball realm, there are important implications for the Blue Jays‘ Canada Day game and their four-game set against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre.

For the first time in forever, the Blue Jays have a legitimate shot at closing the gap in the AL East. Taking three of four, or heck, even sweeping the entire series, could thrust Toronto back into the division race. So not only is there national pride on the line in this game and series, but so too is the division.

Just like the Opening Day game, the Canada Day game is always a spectacle. Nearly 40,000 fans donned red jerseys, and the giant Canada flag unfurled onto the field. This is what Blue Jays fans love to see year after year. Win or lose, it always tends to be a fun experience at the ballpark, but overall, Canada Day has not been kind to the Blue Jays.

Here’s a look at their overall record on Canada Day, some standout Canada Day game memories over the years, clutch performers, and the Blue Jays’ best and worst Canada Day performances.

Overall record

The Blue Jays have played 45 games on Canada Day since their inception in 1977. The Blue Jays did not play on July 1st in 1981 (MLB lockout), 1992 (off day) and 2020 (COVID). Overall, they have a 16-29 record, which is a .355 winning percentage. The Blue Jays are 14-9 at home on Canada Day and 2-10 on the road.

Due to the nature of scheduling (or perhaps a lack of importance in the past), it was fairly common for the Blue Jays to play on the road on July 1st. But they’ve spent the last 14 consecutive Canada Days at home in the Rogers Centre.

Most common opponents

It’s to be expected that the Blue Jays would run into divisional foes most commonly throughout the schedule. The Blue Jays have faced the Boston Red Sox (eight times), Baltimore Orioles (six times), and, surprisingly, the Seattle Mariners (six times). Toronto is 2-6 lifetime on Canada Day against the Red Sox, 1-5 against the Orioles and 1-5 against the Mariners.

The 19-inning marathon (2016)

For six hours and 13 minutes, the Blue Jays and Cleveland Guardians had fans on the edges of their seats. This was the longest game in franchise history, spanning 19 innings before famed Blue Jays killer Carlos Santana hit the go-ahead home run in the top of the 19th inning.

In total, both teams combined to use 19 pitchers, and the Blue Jays paraded two of their position players – Darwin Barney and Ryan Goins – with no more pitchers left in Toronto’s bullpen. Goins landed on the injured list after this game. This was also the game when Edwin Encarnacion and John Gibbons were ejected in the first inning after arguing balls and strikes.

Incredibly, this was one of two 19-inning games played by the Blue Jays. The other was their 6-5 walk-off win against the Detroit Tigers at home on August 10, 2014.

Justin Smoak: Captain Canada in disguise?

Justin Smoak is a South Carolina native, but he loved himself some home cookin’ on Canada Day. In 2015, he demolished this pitch from Robbie Ross. This was a 474-foot home run, which still stands as the longest home run hit by a Blue Jay in the Statcast era. This was the first of his two home runs on the day, one from each side of the plate.