And then there was the Friday night in 1992 when an early order of a bottle of champagne jinxed the Blue Jays … for a day.

October 1, 2023

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

The Toronto Blue Jays lost 7-5 to the Tampa Bay Rays in 10 innings Saturday afternoon at the Rogers Centre.

At 6 p.m, Blue Jays centre fielder Kevin Kiermaier faced Chris Devenski and grounded to second ending Game 161.

The Jays turned their lonely eyes to T-Mobile Park. A win for the Texas Rangers and the Jays were back in post-season play.

And at 10:27, the Rangers José Leclerc struck out Josh Rojas to wrap up a 6-1 win. And the Jays were in.

We remember a weekend series in 1992. The Blue Jays edged the Detroit Tigers 8-7 as Robbie Alomar, Candy Maldonado and Pat Borders each homered in an 8-7 decision on Oct. 2, 1992. Morris pitched six innings allowing six runs -- four earned -- for his 21st win before 50,418.

Toronto’s Magic Number was one. With an Oakland win, Milwaukee would be eliminated.

There is a time and a place for everything. But that night, as the Milwaukee Brewers and the Oakland A’s battled on the west coast with the Jays’ title hopes in their hands, Toronto learned that their time hadn’t come -- yet.

Players headed to Don Cherry’s restaurant to watch the second-place Brewers play the A’s at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Writers were there, too, to get reaction for their stories.

Ken Fidlin and I were packing up when Ken noticed that the lights were still on in Beeston’s box on the 300 Level. Away we went. That was the place to be.

* * *

(Originally published Oct. 3, 1992.

Heard about the Curse of The Great Bambino and how much bad luck it is to put the bats in the bat bag away in the top of the ninth?

Now draw near and hear about the Curse of Michael Firestone.

Firestone, former pilot of the Blue Jays’ plane, is a close friend of Blue Jays president Paul Beeston. The two, along with Jays VP Pat Gillick and manager Cito Gaston watched the ESPN feed of Oakland-Milwaukee finish together last night and early this morning.

This is what went down after Tom Henke threw strike three past Detroit’s Mickey Tettleton to end last night’s Toronto-Detroit game at 10:46.

11:01: ‘’Sure, throw a one-hitter against us and give those guys a run,’’ reliever Mike Timlin yelled at the TV monitor in the Jays’ clubhouse as the Brewers went ahead 1-0 in the second against Ron Darling.

11:17: ‘’Throw Catfish a fat one and he’ll get us back into this one,’’ said Gaston to the TV in the manager’s office. Dave Henderson singled. A’s quickly tied the score in the bottom of the second.

11:50: Argos running back Pinball Clemons entered Gaston’s office wearing a Robbie Alomar jersey. “One more Cito, one more,’’ said Clemons. “Last time I wore a Joe Carter jersey he went deep. Tonight it was Robbie. I guess the next game I’m at I’ll have to wear two jerseys. That will be rough.’’

12:17 a.m.: ESPN announcer Joe Morgan says David Cone will start for the Jays on Sunday “if necessary.” “If necessary - NOT!’’ said Joe Carter.

12:40: Beeston, Gillick, Gaston and Firestone are seated in a Skybox. Ruben Sierra is the hitter for Oakland. “C’mon Ruben, hit it out,’’ commands Gillick. Sierra is leading off the bottom of the eighth against Jaime Navarro. Sierra singles.

12:45: A Dave Henderson grounder goes through the legs of Kevin Seitzer. Sierra scores to put the A’s up 2-1. Beeston jumps out of his seat to high five Gaston.

12:46: “I’d really hate to win this way ... on an error,” says Beeston with a only a touch of sarcasm. “C’mon Eck,’’ says Gillick.

12:52: Darryl Hamilton leads off the top of the ninth with a single against Eckersley. “No problem, no problem,’’ says Firestone. ‘’Good omen for the playoffs.’’

12:54: The door opens and a waiter from the Founder’s Club arrives with a bottle of champagne and four glasses. Somewhere in the book it is written: Never bring out the champagne before the third out.

“Firestone you jerk,’’ says Beeston.

Gaston and Gillick sounded like a chorus as they said at the same time “Oh, noooo!” The curse is now in effect.

1:01: After failing to sacrifice, Paul Molitor doubles to score Hamilton tying the score. “Michael,’’ says Beeston, “your thought was good, your execution was bad.’’

1:03: Firestone begins to pace. Molitor is now on third. “It’s not the end of the world, Michael,’’ says Gaston.

1:06: Eckersley strikes out Greg Vaughn and B.J. Surhoff grounds out. Eckersley escapes keeping the score tied 2-2.

1:15: Lance Blankenship draws a lead-off walk against Mike Fetters and is bunted to second by Eric Fox. Now, with Blankenship on second, Willie Wilson pinch hits against Dan Plesac. “C’mon Willie,’’ says Gaston. “Flare one to right.’’ Gaston called it right. But here comes Robin Yount spring into shallow right centre. Yount dives and makes a highlight film catch for the second out. Darren Holmes gets Mark McGwire to fly out to left.

1:18: Yount’s catch is so good it is shown for a seventh time on replay. Yells Firestone: “Let’s watch it again, maybe he’ll drop it.’’

1:25: Milwaukee’s Kevin Seitzer singles off Jim Corsi. “I take full blame,’’ said Firestone.

1:26: Scott Fletcher hits a routine fly to centre. ‘’Think they’ll show that eight times?’’ asks Firestone.

1:37: Dave Henderson walks and Rickey Henderson pinch runs. Jamie Quirk bunts him to second. He had the base stolen.

1:39: “Never thought I’d be cheering for Rickey,’’ said Beeston hoping for a steal of third. The steal comes the run does not.

1:46: Following a Pat Listach single off Corsi, Hamilton swings at a pitch out and his bat hits Quirk’s glove. “He’s out, they’re both out. Call all three men out,’’ says Firestone. Problem is it’s interference on Quirk and now there now are runners at first and second.

1:49: With one out and the bases loaded, Greg Vaughn bounces to third baseman Scott Broisus. Instead of throwing home he throws high to second. No double play. Listach scores, Brewers lead 3-2.

1:57: Doug Henry gets the third out. The Brewers live. The magic number remains at one.

Firestone: ‘’I’ll be in Syracuse next year.’’

Said Beeston: ‘’Not that high.’’

The champagne remained on the table … unopened

* * *

(In those days our final, final deadline was 2 AM. I called the office once reaching the hallway and asked we could hold ... “give me 20 minutes ... please.” Night editor Donald Duench said he’d try and would call back. Donald used his magic and what you just read was written in 20 minutes after I ran from the Beeston box to the press box. (I had more speed back then.)

The next day Duane Ward relieved Tom Henke, who allowed two singles, two walks and a run, needed only two pitches to secure a 3-1 win over the Tigers and clinch post-season spot for the Jays.

Next, the Blue Jays beat the Oakland A’s in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series in six games as Alomar earned MVP honours (two homers, four RBIs, .423 average). Wins went to Juan Guzman (two), David Cone and Ward, while Henke had three saves. Jays had home runs from Candy Maldonado (two), Dave Winfield, Pat Borders, Joe Carter, Kelly Gruber, John Olerud and Alomar (two).

After not getting a start in the ALCS against the Oakland A’s, Jimmy Key won Game 4 of the World Series 2-1 … and then picked up the win in relief in Game 6.

And then came the first World Series title awarded outside the United States as Toronto beat the Atlanta Braves in six games. Borders won the MVP batting .450 with a homer and three RBIs. They had homers from Ed Sprague, Carter, Gruber, Maldonado and Borders. The victories went to Jimmy Key and Ward, two apiece, while Henke had two saves and Mike Timlin, one -- his only save of the year as he retired Otis Nixon on the final out of the 11th. )