Joe Carter Soaks Up Toronto Love 32 Years After Epic Blue Jays Homer

Joe Carter’s Legendary Return to Rogers Centre

Yo, Toronto’s still got mad love for Joe Carter, and it’s been 32 years since he smashed that game-changing home run for the Blue Jays in the 1993 World Series. The man who made history stepped back onto the field at Rogers Centre on Saturday, October 25, 2025, to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. And let me tell you, the crowd went absolutely wild - think Hollywood premiere energy but with maple syrup on top.

Carter, looking like he still owns the 6ix, handed the ball to all-star shortstop Bo Bichette, rocking the Blue Jays’ signature home run jacket. As he jogged through the home dugout, the packed stadium erupted, giving him the kind of ovation you’d expect for a true T.O. legend. It’s clear the city hasn’t forgotten his clutch three-run homer that clinched the title all those years ago.

A Hero’s Welcome and Reflections on Glory Days

Carter’s no stranger to Toronto’s embrace - he’s been feeling the fan love for over three decades. “Every time I roll back into this city, it’s like I never left,” he shared with a grin during a pre-game chat. “The way they show appreciation for what I did back in ’93, it just hits different.”

“I didn’t win that championship solo - I was just the dude up to bat when the moment came. It’s all about the team,” Carter said, reflecting on that iconic swing.

The five-time all-star, who also played for big-name squads like the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, and San Francisco Giants, knows his legacy is forever tied to that Game 6 stunner. With a career boasting a .259 batting average, 396 homers, and 1,445 RBIs over 16 MLB seasons, Carter’s resume is stacked - but it’s that one swing in Toronto that keeps his name in lights.

Game Day Vibes and Nostalgia with the Blue Jays

Carter hyped up the electric atmosphere before the game, predicting a “ruckus crowd” louder than a Santa Monica Boulevard party. At 65, he joked about skipping any Ozzie Smith-style backflips for his walk to the mound, but the fun was still all there. “It’s just gonna be a chill stroll out there, but I’m hyped,” he laughed during a press conference an hour before the pitch.

He wasn’t just there for Game 2 either - Carter rolled through for Toronto’s 11-4 smackdown of the Dodgers in Game 1 on Friday. Post-game, he kicked it with Blue Jays manager John Schneider and the coaching crew in the clubhouse, swapping stories and insights. Schneider couldn’t help but geek out over Carter’s larger-than-life presence, noting, “You forget how big these legends are in person - that swing is the most iconic in our franchise history.”

Connecting Past and Present Blue Jays Greatness

Carter also got to chop it up with former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston, who threw the first pitch for Game 1, making it a full-on nostalgia fest at Rogers Centre. Schneider called it a privilege to pick the brains of two titans of Toronto baseball. It’s like getting a masterclass in winning right in your own backyard - or, well, dugout.

Reflecting on the parallels between the championship teams of ’92 and ’93 and the 2025 squad, Carter pointed out the tight-knit vibe as the secret sauce. “We had crazy talent back then, but it was all about playing as one unit - everybody hyped each other up. This year’s team has that same fire, with every spot in the lineup stepping up,” he said, drawing a line from his era to today’s Blue Jays.

From the streets of Toronto to the beaches of SoCal, the clash of the Blue Jays and Dodgers brought out the best of both worlds - and having Joe Carter in the house just made it a straight-up West Coast-meets-North classic. Here’s to more moments that keep the 6ix buzzing for decades to come.