Blue Jays baseball, Truth and Reconciliation, and playoffs ahead

I don’t post about sports very often (unless you count running, that is), and I’m not sure I’ve ever posted two days in a row, but last night’s Blue Jays game was too much fun not to share.

Maybe I should first provide some context for those of you who don’t follow baseball and/or don’t understand the significance of the Toronto Blue Jays for Canadians (or the Toronto Raptors when basketball season begins). The first MLB (major league baseball) team to arrive in Canada was the Montreal Expos, back in 1969. We were HUGE fans, especially being former Montrealers. Then, in 1977 Canada got its second major league baseball team in the Toronto Blue Jays. I continued to be an Expos fan, but sadly they eventually were taken south of the border and became the Washington Nationals, just as the beloved Brooklyn Dodgers of my childhood were stolen away to Los Angeles.  So Canada has one major league baseball team – the Blue Jays – and one NBA basketball team – the Raptors. These teams aren’t just Toronto teams, they’re Canada’s teams!

Take me out to the ballgame …

The Blue Jays have made 8 playoff seasons in their 45-year history, and this year is going to make it 9. In two of those playoff years, back to back 1992 and 1993, the Blue Jays – that team north of the border – won the World Series. Needless to say, that’s what we’re hoping for this year as well.

Last night’s game sealed the deal for the Blue Jays making it to the playoff season that starts October 7, well, that game and the Orioles’ loss to the Red Sox the night before. So last night’s game was celebratory before it even began. However, the care and attention the Blue Jays organization paid to honouring the spirit of yesterday’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Orange Shirt Day – made the night particularly meaningful.

The pre-game ceremonies began with a reminder of why we have Orange Shirt Day and why it is so important that we all acknowledge and help in the healing of the victims of decades of abuse and self-loathing instilled by the Residential Schools. The announcer reminded the audience and viewers that the game was being played on land that had historically belonged to the several First Nations in the greater Toronto and southern Ontario area. Following that there was 1 minute of silence to reflect on the thousands of children who died while in the ‘care’ of the Residential Schools.

Observing 1 minute of silent reflection …

And then came the singing of the national anthem. Following a lovely rendition of the American anthem for the visiting Boston Red Sox, Tsuaki Marule, a professor at Red Crow Community College in Alberta, sang O Canada.  She sang it in 3 languages: English, French, and Blackfoot. I have to say that, for me, it was extremely moving to watch and hear this young woman from the Blood Tribe sing our national anthem in 3 languages, representing the original peoples of our land plus the 2 original settler groups. A young woman who has many relatives who were victims of the Residential School system.

Tsuaki Marule singing O Canada …

Then it was time for a special guest to throw out the first pitch. And this was a very special guest.  I can’t remember ever seeing a woman throw out the first pitch before, although I’m sure it’s happened. But this may be the first 72-year old woman to throw out the first pitch. And most definitely the first residential school survivor to do so. But Dolores Naponse was up to the task.  It was joyful to watch. She was joined on the field by her 2 young grandsons, who play in Jays Care Indigenous Rookie League programs in northern Ontario. They were beside themselves with excitement, especially the younger one. And after her very credible throw, she was also joined on the field by the Jays mascot and the Jays catcher, Gabriel Moreno. So many messages wrapped up together; it was very special.

Residential school survivor Dolores Naponse throws the first pitch …

After this moving pre-game ceremony, the game proceeded just as everyone in the stadium hoped, with 3 home runs and a 9-0 romp over the Red Sox. A celebration of the post-season to come followed. All in all, it was a night to remember. Thanks, Blue Jays! You’ve got this!!

The team celebrating making it to the Playoffs …