In his illustrious career, retired slugger Jose Bautista considers the 2015 and 2016 Toronto Blue Jays seasons as the most joyous. However, the way the 2015 American League Championship Series ended against the Kansas City Royals still lingers in his mind.
During a media conference call, Bautista reflected on his 10-year journey in Toronto as he prepares to be added to the Blue Jays’ level of excellence this weekend. He admitted, “When I look back, 2015 is the one that kind of slipped away.” Bautista, now 42 and residing in his Tampa Bay-area home, dedicates his time to being a devoted full-time father to his four daughters.
“In 2016, we had a lot of guys banged up. In having conversations with guys in the past, we had a better chance [in 2015]. So that’s the one everybody was a little more disappointed at the end. But we enjoyed it. Those were the two most fun years of playing baseball in my whole life.”
Trailing 3 games to 2 in the ALCS, Bautista’s two-run homer in the eighth inning of Game 6 tied the game 3-3. But the Royals ultimately scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning.
In the ninth, the Blue Jays had runners on first and third with none out, but they failed to cash in the tying run, resulting in a game-ending Josh Donaldson groundout to third base.
In the previous series against the Texas Rangers, Bautista made his mark with a memorable three-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 6, securing a 6-3 lead for Toronto. Before his trot around the bases, he infamously flipped his bat, much to the dismay of the Rangers.
On Saturday, fans entering Rogers Centre will be presented with a Bautista bobblehead figure, commemorating this iconic moment in Blue Jays history. Bautista is proud of the memories he created through the entertainment the sport provides. He stated, “It’s a great memory. It’s a great moment, and ultimately, I think that’s why we play the sport, to create great memories through the entertainment that we provide as a form of entertainment.”
Bautista’s trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Blue Jays, which occurred almost 10 years ago, is still celebrated. The deal, meant to replace injured star Scott Rolen, brought Bautista to Toronto. Throughout his career, Bautista represented the Blue Jays in six All-Star games. He set the single-season franchise record with 54 home runs in 2010, leading the Major League Baseball, and followed up with an MLB-leading 43 homers in 2011.
In Blue Jays history, only Hall of Famer Carlos Delgado has hit more home runs (336) than Bautista’s 288. Over his 15-year career, which spanned from 2004 to 2018 and included stints with various teams, Bautista belted a total of 344 home runs, 975 runs batted in, and 1,496 hits.
Bautista’s proudest achievement is being part of the group that revived the love for the Blue Jays, reestablishing the franchise as a contender. Prior to 2015, Toronto had not reached the postseason since their consecutive World Series championships in 1993. Bautista expressed his satisfaction, saying, “We were able as a group to revive the love for the franchise that exists not only in Toronto but all throughout Canada. At the time of my exit, 10 years later, it had, in my view, grown significantly.”
As of August 8, 2023, this report by The Canadian Press was first published.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
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