Mariners vs. Blue Jays: The 1977 Expansion Rivals Clash That Shaped History and Ignites a 2025 ALCS Rematch!

Mariners vs. Blue Jays: The 1977 Expansion Rivals

Mariners vs. Blue Jays: The 1977 Expansion Rivals Clash That Shaped History and Ignites a 2025 ALCS Rematch!

By MuchoFlo | October 12, 2025

Picture this: The air buzzes with playoff fever, 40,000 fans poised to erupt, and two expansion-era titans—born in 1977 as baseball’s wide-eyed newcomers—prepare for a showdown at Rogers Centre. This isn’t just about today’s 2025 ALCS opener; it’s a flashback to the legacies of the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, rival siblings forged in the same year. Their pasts are packed with heartbreak and triumph, setting the stage for this epic match up.

The Setup: 1977 Expansion Dreams Take Flight

In 1977, the American League expanded with the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, two teams starting from scratch. The Mariners debuted at the Kingdome, stumbling to a 64-98 record, but their spirit was born.

By 1995, they ignited with Ken Griffey Jr.’s 17 homers in a pennant race and Randy Johnson’s 2.48 ERA, forcing a playoff birth and saving baseball in Seattle with a dramatic ALDS win over the Yankees.

Fast forward to 2001, a 116-win season led by Ichiro Suzuki’s 206-hit rookie campaign and a pitching staff that shut down the Cleveland Indians 3-2 in the ALDS showcased their growth.

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, launched at Exhibition Stadium, floundering to a 54-107 mark in 1977.

Their turnaround began with Dave Stieb’s 1980s dominance (3.41 ERA over 289 starts) and the “Killer B’s”—Tony Fernández and Roberto Alomar—driving the lineup. The 1992 ALCS victory over Oakland (4-2) and Joe Carter’s 1993 World Series walk-off homer against the Phillies marked their golden era, back-to-back titles from their 1977 foundation.

In 2001, though 74-88 and out of the playoffs, Roy Halladay (10-5, 3.16 ERA) and Shannon Stewart (.327/.407/.526) signaled a resurgence.xc

The Turning Point: Rival Grit Tested

At Yankee Stadium for Games 2 and 3, the Mariners faced their nemesis. Game 2: Yankees 5, Mariners 2. Clemens outpitched Garcia, challenging Seattle’s expansion resolve. Game 3: Mariners 3, Yankees 2. Boone’s eighth-inning homer revived 1995’s magic.

For the Jays, 1992’s ALCS saw them edge Oakland with Jack Morris’s 10-inning shutout in Game 4, a testament to their 1977 grit. By 1993, they crushed the White Sox 4-2 in the ALCS, with Carter and Alomar leading the charge. In 2001, though sidelined, their SkyDome faithful dreamed of Halladay’s potential mirroring Morris’s heroics.

Back in Seattle for Game 4: Mariners 14, Yankees 3. Moyer and a barrage of hits echoed 1995’s playoff fire. But Game 5, October 17, 2001: Yankees 5, Mariners 4. Rivera’s cutter stranded Ichiro, tying the series 3-2.

The Climax: Heartbreak and Glory

October 20, 2001, Yankee Stadium. Sele vs. Pettitte. A 5-4 Yankees win, O’Neill’s homer the decider, tested the Mariners’ 1977 legacy. Game 7, October 22: Mariners up 5-2 in the sixth with Boone’s blast, but a four-run seventh and Rivera’s save sealed a 4-3 Yankees win. A 1-for-8-with-RISP collapse ended their 116-win dream.

The Jays’ 1992 ALCS featured Dave Winfield’s clutch hits and a 9-2 Game 6 rout, while 1993 saw a 6-3 Game 6 clincher over the Philles, after a rebuild, the team achieved its best record of the decade in 2006 with an 87-75 record, finishing second in their division. This period also featured the return of manager Cito Gaston in 2008, who led the team to a 10-game winning streak and a 51-37 record for the rest of the season. The team made significant strides with a competitive roster and made the playoffs in 2015 and 2016. The Blue Jays have continued to build on their recent success, with the 2025 season being a notable high point. 

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