Just call this Christmas Eve in October.
T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for the hard-working Toronto Blue Jays game staff putting the final touches on the Rogers Centre field in anticipation of Game 1 of the World Series.
But it sure won’t be quiet Friday night when just shy of 50,000 fans pile into the stadium to get this show started between the Los Angeles Dodgers and hometown American League champs.
As crews put the finishing touches on the World Series logo on the field and Prime Minister Mark Carney visited with manager John Schneider and President Mark Shapiro, the reality of what is coming – now just hours away – has started to set in.
Painting the town blue — @BlueJays #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/HwWDnD5OXp
— Joe Warmington (@joe_warmington) October 23, 2025
Toronto and Canada are pumped for this.
There’s no question this is the hottest ticket not only in town but perhaps ever in this town – or at least since 1992 and 1993 when the Jays won the series back-to-back.
HOTTEST TICKET AND HOTTEST ITEMS IN TOWN
There’s been lots of talk about the price of tickets on the secondary market and the demand for them, but down at the Dome on the eve of The Fall Classic, there was just as much of a run on World Series memorabilia at the Jays Shop at Gate 5.
The lineup snaked all around the stadium.
The most coveted item was the special Blue Jays championship caps the team wore after beating out the Seattle Mariners, but anything and everything with World Series on it was selling fast on Thursday.
Some people were buying ten hats at a time and putting them up for sale online. There was so much demand for them that the staff kept coming in with a fresh box only to have them gobbled up in seconds.
Joseph Khargie took no chances and came down to the shop the day after they clinched their birth into the final series. Then on Thursday, he was back buying stuff for his one-year-old son Maximus, who he is taking to Game 1.
It actually won’t be Maximus’s first game. He and Max’s mom Vanessa are big fans and regular attendees.
“I went to about 52 games plus almost every playoff game,” Joseph said.
But this one will be special because of the “memories” he will be creating “with my son when he gets older.”
WORLD SERIES TIME IS FAMILY TIME
One of the great things about Blue Jays baseball is how it brings families together.
One example is Bridget Girard who was down for Game 6 of the ALCS and brought a picture of her late dad and Blue Jays amateur scout and superfan, as well as Canadian acting legend, Sean McCann for good luck.
It worked.
@joe_warmington, we were able to get game 6 tickets and brought a picture of my Dad for good luck. He delivered! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/zi4hSi3UJI
— Bridget Girard (@bgirard_liberal) October 23, 2025
FORMER PLAYERS GETTING IN ON THE FANDEMONIUM
People are starving for some good news and time to share that good news with family. That moment between Joseph and his son will be special, the same way the moments have been this postseason between Vladimer Guerrero Sr. And Vladdy Jr.
“You’re a great son,” the former Montreal Expos great said. “I have seen every sacrifice.”
The Blue Jays organization is like one big family. Once a Blue Jay, always a Blue Jay. And we are seeing that with the kind of support former players are expressing online.
Congratulations to the Blue Jays for winning the ALCS. Very exciting time for us Jay fans!! I have felt that if the Jays won the ALCS that they will win the World Series. The Dodgers are a great team, but I just have that gut feeling.
— Rance Mulliniks (@RanceBlueJay5) October 23, 2025
Former Jay’s third baseman Rance Mulliniks is one example. In his very first X post, he predicated the Jays are going to win this thing.
“I have felt if the Jays won the ALCS that they will win the World Series,” he posted. “The Dodgers are a great team but I just have that gut feeling.”
You never know. That’s why they play the games. If the Jays are wise, they might want to approach Game 1 as a Game 7 and try to win the first two games at home to gain the momentum and put pressure on the Dodgers of potentially going back to LA down two instead of the other way around.
For the third time, I get to watch you in the World Series. Is this real life? pic.twitter.com/Nm3Qjrtkhq
— Lena Springer (@LenaSpringer) October 21, 2025
The oddsmakers like the Dodgers more in this – citing pitching as a key reason.
However, legendary Jays outfielder Jesse Barfield reminded on X that “good pitching doesn’t necessarily stop good hitting” and that the Jays hitters are “built for this.”
One of those hitters is George Springer whose sister Lena Springer, a great softball player and coach herself, posts many fun messages on social media, such as: “For the third time, I get to watch you in the World Series. Is this real life.”
Calm before the storm. pic.twitter.com/mFQchIKTut
— Joe Warmington (@joe_warmington) October 23, 2025
A lot of people are pinching themselves right now.
But this thing is just getting started. And Jays fans, while happy to be here, always want more. They want it all.
Christmas morning starts with the first pitch at 8:08 p.m.
