Over the span of nearly 50 years, the Blue Jays have reached the postseason 11 times, including this year.
This Sunday marks the beginning of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) for the Blue Jays, who last reached this stage in 2016. They will face the Seattle Mariners, who recently eliminated the Detroit Tigers.
The Jays advanced to this round after defeating the Yankees in the American League Division Series (ALDS).
In their history, the Blue Jays have made seven appearances in the ALCS, specifically in 1985, 1989, 1991 to 1993, and again in 2015 and 2016.
The First Appearance
In 1985, the Blue Jays won 99 games during the regular season, a milestone that has yet to be matched. They finished the season with the fourth-highest runs scored and had six players with double-digit home runs. The team was directly placed in the ALCS due to shorter playoff formats.
They faced the Kansas City Royals in a series that extended to seven games, but ultimately the Royals came out on top, going on to win the World Series.
89 Wins in 1989
The Blue Jays secured 89 victories in 1989, capturing the division title. In the ALCS against the Oakland Athletics, however, they managed to win only one game.
The A’s proceeded to sweep the San Francisco Giants in the World Series that year.
Fall to the Twins
By 1991, the Jays notched a 91-win season, marking their third division championship. However, they faltered again in the ALCS, winning only one game against the Minnesota Twins, who went on to win the World Series.
Back-to-Back Champs
The Blue Jays experienced back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. In 1992, with a team boasting significant power and a formidable pitching staff, the Jays won the ALCS in six games and clinched their first-ever World Series against the Atlanta Braves.
The following year, the roster was enhanced with new players, and they repeated their ALCS and World Series victories, defeating the Chicago White Sox in the ALCS and the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.
A Long Wait
After a 22-year absence from postseason play, the Blue Jays returned in 2015, led by José Bautista, winning 93 games. They claimed the division title, defeating Texas in the ALDS before facing Kansas City in the ALCS where they lost, similar to the 1985 defeat.
A Renewed Opportunity
In 2016, with 89 regular-season wins, the Blue Jays secured their spot in the playoffs through a wildcard game, sweeping the Texas Rangers to reach the ALCS. Unfortunately, they fell to Cleveland in five games, who later finished as World Series runners-up.
