Epilogue: 1992 Blue Jays Feted at White House and Rideau Hall

Many Blue Jays fans will forever remember the television play-by-play call after the final out of the 1992 World Series: “For the first time in history, the World Championship banner will fly north of the border. The Toronto Blue Jays are baseball’s best in 1992.”1 In defeating the Atlanta Braves and becoming the first Canada- (and non-American) based team to win the World Series, the Blue Jays not only made baseball headlines, they also added a new chapter to America’s and Canada’s political histories.

The day after the win, manager Cito Gaston received the customary congratulatory phone call from President George H.W. Bush, along with an invitation for his team to attend a celebratory reception at the White House.2 For the first time in World Series history, the winning manager received a second congratulatory message from another world leader, the prime minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney.3 This message was followed by an invitation from Ray Hnatyshyn, the governor general of Canada (the Queen’s representative), to a reception in the team’s honor at his official residence at Rideau Hall in the Canadian capital, Ottawa.4

Perhaps it was fitting that the Blue Jays were hosted by President Bush and Prime Minister Mulroney on the same day, December 16, 1992. The two leaders enjoyed a close relationship during President Bush’s term in office and achieved many accomplishments, most notably the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).5 Bush and Mulroney also shared a common interest in major-league baseball. During his time as prime minister, Mulroney invited Bush to Toronto’s SkyDome twice for baseball-related events: The pair threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Blue Jays’ home opener against the Texas Rangers in 1990, and Bush was Mulroney’s guest at the 1991 All-Star Game.6

It is perhaps also ironic that although Bush and Mulroney enjoyed many successes, they also suffered similar career-ending electoral defeats around the same time as the Blue Jays’ historic win. On November 3, 1992, Bush lost his race for reelection to Bill Clinton.7 Earlier, on October 26, Canadians voted a resounding “No” in a national referendum on constitutional reform. Mulroney’s popularity, already at historic lows, plummeted even further in light of this defeat, which led him to announce his intention to resign from office in February 1993.8

Members of the World Series champions assembled at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington on the afternoon of December 15. There were 21 players, including Jack Morris, Joe Carter, and Mike Timlin. Representing the coaching staff were Cito Gaston and first-base coach Bob Bailor, who was the first Blue Jay selected in the 1976 major-league expansion draft. Also present were Blue Jays President Paul Beeston and general manager Pat Gillick. The group also featured several recently departed and longtime Blue Jays including Kelly Gruber, who had been traded to the California Angels, and Dave Stieb, who had signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox. Notable players absent included World Series MVP Pat Borders, who was unable to attend due to the imminent birth of his second child,9 and Dave Winfield, who declined the invitation after failing to negotiate a two-year contract extension with the club.10 That evening, the Canadian ambassador to the United States hosted the team at a reception in their honor at the Canadian embassy on Pennsylvania Avenue, a few blocks from the US Capitol.11

The next morning the Blue Jays arrived at the White House for a public reception with President Bush in the Old Executive Building. Representing Major-League Baseball were American League President Bobby Brown, Deputy Commissioner Steve Greenberg, and umpires Mike Reilly and Joe West. Also in attendance were four national Little League championship teams, including the 6-12-year-old division champions from Lexington, Kentucky, who surprised the press pool by claiming they were more excited to meet the Blue Jays than the president. “We just like baseball better,” one boy explained.12

The president began his remarks by poking fun at his government’s NAFTA negotiators, quipping, “Our free trade agreement with Canada did not mean that the United States would trade away the world’s championship.”13 Bush commended the Atlanta Braves and the Blue Jays for a hard-fought World Series, saying they “staged a fall classic that even Ripley wouldn’t believe.”14 He congratulated the Blue Jays on their accomplishment, saying that although he had rooted for the Braves, he was proud of Cito Gaston and his team. “By winning Canada’s first World Series … you did it with class … and class, of course, has marked the entire Blue Jays history. In 16 years, you’ve gone from the doghouse to the penthouse.”15 Acknowledging that the reception was “about as much fun as I’ve had since the election,” Bush concluded his remarks by presenting Gaston with a baseball card from his playing days at Yale University, noting, “This is a rookie ballplayer who needs a job.”16 Before Bush departed, Beeston and Carter presented the president with a customized white home jersey.17

After the White House visit, the Blue Jays flew north to Ottawa. Upon arrival, the team briefly chatted and signed autographs for a small group of fans at the airport before proceeding to Rideau Hall. Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn led the welcoming delegation that also included the prime minister and two Canadian Supreme Court justices.18 In addition to the team, the official guest list also included patients and staff from the local children’s hospital, members of a local Little League team, and students from a local high school who earned their invitation by collecting the most items for the Ottawa food bank.19

Hnatyshyn began by welcoming “Canada’s team” to Ottawa. He referred to the Blue Jays as “the greatest group ever to come out on a baseball field,” and shared his belief that the team’s success would inspire more Canadian youth to pursue professional baseball.20 Hnatyshyn also made reference to Mulroney’s low popularity among Canadians, claiming that unlike Mulroney, he was an appointed official and thus had a “no-cut contract.”21 The prime minister commented that “the Blue Jays have finished off what the Expos began,” a reference to the major leagues’ Canadian debut in Montreal in 1969.22 Mulroney also quipped that he would likely soon be available to be drafted, should the Blue Jays be interested.23 The team each presented Hnatyshyn and Mulroney customized white home jerseys, both bearing the number 1.24

While the Blue Jays’ World Series victory no doubt helped to promote baseball in Canada, it could also be argued that their whirlwind celebration on December 16, 1992, helped to recognize major-league baseball as a truly international league. As an article in the Chicago Tribune noted the day after the Blue Jays became champions, “Finally, the World in baseball’s Series is more than a meaningless adjective.”25

Born and raised in Newfoundland, MARK DAVIS developed a youthful passion for baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays that continues to this day. A lifelong learner, he holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in economics, as well as a PhD in public policy. Mark is a published academic author and relatively new SABR member. He enjoys researching baseball history and recently gave a presentation on the connection between Freemasonry and baseball at his local Masonic lodge. He currently resides in Ottawa with his wife, Melissa, and their young daughter, Felicity.

 

Notes

1 MLB Vault, “1992 World Series, Game 6: Blue Jays @ Braves,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKwinmoAR2w (accessed February 14, 2022).

2 Canadian Press, “Series Notes: On to White House,” Ottawa Citizen, October 26, 1992: C2.

3 Nicolaas van Rijn, “Jubilant Jay Fans Pack Yonge St. in Delirium of Joy,” Toronto Star, October 25, 1992: A1.

4 “Series Champs to Visit Ottawa,” Ottawa Citizen, December 15, 1992: C1.

5 Laura Macdonald, “Canada and NAFTA,” https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/north-american-free-trade-agreement-nafta (accessed February 7, 2022).

6 Stephen Dame, “First Base Among Equals: Prime Ministers and Canada’s National Game,” Baseball Research Journal 49, no. 1 (2020), 57-61.

7 Michael Levy, “United States Presidential Election of 1992,” https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1992 (accessed February 7, 2022).

8 Norman Hillmer, “Brian Mulroney,” https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/brian-mulroney (accessed February 7, 2022).

9 George H.W. Bush, “Public Papers: Remarks Honoring the World Series Champion Toronto Blue Jays,” https://bush41library.tamu.edu/archives/public-papers/5119 (accessed February 7, 2022).

10 Associated Press, “Blue Jays Land Stewart,” Ottawa Citizen, December 9, 1992: E1.

11 Jim Byers, “Gruber Won’t Retaliate Against Critical Ex-Mates,” Ottawa Citizen, December 16, 1992: D2.

12 Mary Ann Roser, “Blue Jays Bigger Hit Than Bush with Bambinos,” Lexington (Kentucky) Herald-Leader, December 17, 1992: 27.

13 Bush.

14 Bush.

15 Bush.

16 Bush.

17 “Mulroney, Bush Say They’re Ready to Play Ball as the Popular Blue Jays Meet the Leaders,” Edmonton Journal, December 17, 1992: 2.

18 Jeffrey Simpson, “Some Jays Finally Visit Bush, Mulroney/Winfield, Key, Cone, Henke Among No-Shows as 21 Players from World Series Team Make Trip,” Globe and Mail (Toronto), December 17, 1992: C8.

19 Ottawa Citizen.

20 Simpson.

21 Edmonton Journal.

22 Ken Warren, “PM Delivers Blue Jays,” Ottawa Citizen, December 17: D1.

23 Edmonton Journal.

24 Edmonton Journal.

25 “What They Said About Jays Win,” Toronto Star, October 26, 1992: D4.