On today’s date in 1991, the Toronto Blue Jays clinched the American League (AL) East title while becoming the first team in baseball history to draw four million fans in one season.
In 1991, the Blue Jays became the first baseball team to reach the four million mark in attendance; however, 1993 saw the team’s best attendance record with more than 50,000 fans attending each game. The Blue Jays held the home attendance record from 1990-92.
On Oct. 2, 1991, the Blue Jays clinched their third AL East division title after a 6-5 victory over the California Angels. The Jays would go on to lose the AL Championship Series to the eventual World Series champions, the Minnesota Twins.
DEVOTED FANBASE
The following year, on Oct. 4, the Jays surpassed the four-million mark in home attendance for the second straight season, setting a new MLB attendance record.
In 1992 and ’93, the Blue Jays treated their devoted fanbase to back-to-back World Series Championships.
RCM COINS
In 2001, the Royal Canadian Mint and Canada Post issued a commemorative medallion and stamp set celebrating the Blue Jays’ 25th season.
Included in this set was a Mint-struck nickel medallion with blue accents; a 47-cent stamp; and a four-fold pamphlet detailing the greatest years in Blue Jays history. A total of 15,000 sets were produced.
More recently, in 2016, the Mint issued a $20 silver coin in honour of the Blue Jays’ 40th season.
Designed by Canadian artist Joel Kimmel, this pure silver coin depicts the team’s official colours set against the silhouette of a player who just hit the ball—a reminder of the many home-runs throughout Jays’ history. Next to the player is a large engraved “40,” which commemorates the 40th season of play since Toronto was granted its MLB franchise in 1976. To the right of the player is the team’s official logo.