May 28 will mark the 25th anniversary of the final game the Blue Jays ever played at Exhibition Stadium and there really couldnt have been a more dramatic finish to that first chapter in Blue Jays history. There were 46,120 on hand to watch the Blue Jays play the Chicago White Sox, the same team they defeated on that snowy day in April of 1977 in the first Major League game ever played in Toronto. Things got a little dicey in the top of the eighth when Chicago scored three runs off Dave Stieb and Duane Ward to tie the score at five and ultimately send the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th, with nobody out, George Bell slugged a game winning two-run homer off Bobby Thigpen that touched off a wild celebration and brought down the curtain on the Exhibition Stadium era of Blue Jays Baseball. Tom Henke got the victory with 1 1/3 innings of relief including three strikeouts and Kelly Gruber went 4-for-4 with an RBI. What many may forget is that after that victory, the Blue Jays record was only 20-28. Granted, they were 8-4 since Cito Gaston replaced the fired Jimy Williams, but the Jays still had a long way to come back to get into the playoff race. After that pulse pounding win to close the Ex, the Jays went on a six-game road swing through Cleveland and Boston. The Jays were swept at Cleveland to fall back to 20-31, just one loss shy of where they were at 12 under when Williams was cut loose. Then the season began to turn. They swept the Red Sox, including a wild 13-11, 12-inning victory in the finale. Ernie Whitt slugging a grand slam in the top of the ninth off Lee Smith as part of a five-run rally that put the Jays ahead 11-10, but Boston clawed back with a run off Henke in the bottom of the ninth that sent the game into extras. Then in the top of the 12th, Junior Felix belted what proved to be the game-winning two run shot off Dennis Lamp. Duane Ward getting the victory with three near-perfect innings of relief, including three strikeouts. That win came on Sunday, June 4, the day after the official gala opening Ceremony at SkyDome. The Blue Jays went right home to get ready for their first ever game at their new home on June 5 against Milwaukee. Unfortunately this one didnt have the happy ending for Blue Jays fans. The Brewers won 5-3. The story though, was the magnificent, awe-inspiring structure that was SkyDome - complete with a fully retractable roof and the sellout crowd of 48,378 who paid more attention to the building than the game at times. Fred McGriff hit the first home run ever at SkyDome - a two-run shot off Don August in the second inning and Jimmy Key pitched the 1st complete game, giving up five runs on nine hits to fall to 6-4. The Jays didnt fair any better the second night. The bullpen combo of David Wells and Duane Ward gave up five runs over the final two innings to spoil an excellent seven-inning outing from starter Frank Wills. The Brewers winning again 6-4. Finally in the series finale, the Blue Jays finally christened SkyDome with a victory. The late John Cerutti went all the way on an 11-hitter, if you can believe it. In fact, he had a shutout going until Rob Deer touched him for a two-run homer in the top of the ninth. Cerutti closed it out though, and the Jays won 4-2. Cerutti didnt walk a single batter and struck out just one. I guess that defines pitching to contact! Two nights later, the Jays had their first shutout at SkyDome as Dave Stieb and David Wells combined on a 2-0 white wash of Detroit. So oddly in a building that would later be known as a home run haven, the Blue Jays had two complete games and a combined shutout in their first three games at their new home. The Blue Jays would go on to win their division, but ultimately lose the American League Championship to the powerhouse Oakland As - who went on to beat the Giants in the World Series. The point of all of this is that the Blue Jays have played all or parts (1989) of 25 seasons at the SkyDome/Rogers Centre. But June 5 of 2014 will be the official 25th anniversary of the first game ever played at SkyDome. One problem - the Blue Jays arent home on June 5. Theyre playing at Comerica Park in Detroit. But they will be home on the anniversary of the first victory on Saturday, June 7 against St. Louis. So let the planning begin. The years have just flown by and their have been so many incredible memories. Lets hope the Blue Jays do something special.
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Jesus Molina Mexico Jersey .C. -- Theyll remember the OT from the first Syracuse-Duke game -- and the Ts that decided Round 2.Coming off the first Major League Soccer playoff appearance in team history, The Montreal Impact have a new head coach, a new captain and are looking to build on their success. TSN soccer analyst Noel Butler tells you everything you need to know about the 2014 Impact, while TSN soccer analyst Jason deVos tells you how they will succeed or fail during the new campaign. Noel Butler: Even with little turnover to the playing squad the off-season was far from quiet down Saputo Stadium way. In mid-December the Impact finally announced it had not exercised Marco Schällibaums option and that ex-Fire head coach, Frank Klopas would take over. Klopas inherited a squad of 21 returning players and by the time camp opened in late January that numbered had been enlarged to 28. Those additions included defender Eric Miller, who was selected 5th in this years SuperDraft. Then came the news Nelson Rivas had signed a new contract - the Columbian missed the entire 2013 campaign. Just before the club departed for the Disney Classic two more recruits were added. Attacking midfielder Andrés Romero, a player who showed much promise in early 2013, returned on another season long loan. Plus the club announced the signing of 21-year old Uruguayan striker, Santiago González. Bonus to those off-season moves evolves round two signings from last July. Hernán Bernadello, the clubs second designated player, was limited to only eight MLS appearances last season. Disrupting and orchestrating as he goes, Bernadello will sit in front of a defense which looked far from sure of itself during the pre-season. The other is central defender Adrián López, who is yet to feature in a league match. A torn ACL, occurring during a collision in training, ended the 27-year old Spaniards season. A fully fit López will feel like a new signing for the club. The move to hire as an assistant coach a defensive specialist, in Nikolaos Kounenakis was further enhanced with the announcement Alessandro Nesta had been added to the backroom staff. Nesta has officially joined as a consultant, tasked to analyze video. Much has been made of the fact Marco Di Vaio will miss the opening three matches. It could have been far worse. For most of last summer it seemed one of the leagues best performers in 2013 would not return for 2014 at all. Di Vaio will not score as freely as he did in 2013. Someone then who must shoulder more responsibility and finally return the faith shown in him by the club, is Andrew Wenger. Appearing in 24 league matches in his second season as a professional it still remains a complete mystery how the first overall pick in 2012s SuperDraft only tallied a solitary goal over that span. The 23-year old must display a more ruthless streak in front of goal. Berniers appointment as captain is the greatest testament any MLS club could make. A local product who commands the respect of teammate and opponent alike, Bernier reflects the very best for an organization entering its 21st seaason as a professional soccer club.dddddddddddd When appointed, Klopas stated his philosophy has always been to look at the long run. Even in a league where parity prevails, only the most optimistic of the Impact faithful can realistically expect an immediate return to the playoffs this season. In a conference which includes the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup winners, then factor in the wholesale changes and upgrades in Toronto, there can be no denying Klopas has his work cut out to build on 2013s achievements. TSN Soccer analyst Jason deVos weighs in on how the Impact will succeed or fail during the 2014 season. Jason deVos: Montreal Impact will succeed if… …they find a partner for Matteo Ferrari at the back, and get goals from anyone not named Di Vaio. With the retirement of Alessandro Nesta (who has moved into a consultancy role with the club), Montreal need to find a starting centre back to partner Ferrari. Every indication was that this player would be Nelson Rivas, but his horrendous injury history has continued this season, and he looks unlikely to be fit to start the season. Wandrille Lefèvre has looked capable in pre-season, and he will likely get the first opportunity. If that fails, expect right fullback Hassoun Camara to slide inside. Up front, Marco Di Vaio is suspended for the first three games, due to his red card in the 2013 MLS Cup playoff loss to the Houston Dynamo. He will continue to score goals for the Impact, but it is supplemental scoring that is a concern for new head coach, Frank Klopas. No other player came close to hitting double digits last season, and unless that is rectified in 2014, Di Vaio will come under immense pressure to continue finding the back of the net. Montreal Impact will fail if… …any of their key players go down with lengthy injuries or suffer a poor run of form. The likes of Ferrari, Di Vaio, Hernan Bernardello and new skipper, Patrice Bernier must remain fit and available if the Impact are to succeed this season. The Impact have problem areas in their team - their entire left flank being one of them - and they simply cannot afford to have the spine of their team go missing. If any of their key players struggles with injury or form, there are very few like-for-like options available. The one with the most pressure on his shoulders is last years leading scorer, Di Vaio, whose 20 goals were the reason that Montreal made the playoffs. If anyone can handle that pressure, though, it is the Italian. If only the Impact could find another like him. 2013 finish: 14-13-7 (fifth in Eastern Conference). Lost to Houston in Knockout Round. Whos In?: F Santiago Gonzalez (transfer from Sud America). Whos Out: M Davy Arnaud (traded to D.C. United), M Paolo DelPiccolo (option declined), D Alessandro Nesta (retired), M Maximiliano Rodriguez (option declined), M Sinisa Ubiparipovic (option declined), D Zarek Valentin (transfer to Bodo/Glimt). SuperDraft: D Eric Miller (1-5), MF George Maliki (2-37). ' ' '
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