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Toronto Blue Jays have two legendary World Series winners coming to throw out first pitches

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Oct 24 2025, 4:08 pm
Toronto Blue Jays have two legendary World Series winners coming to throw out first pitches
Tom Szczerbowski/Imagn Images

The Toronto Blue Jays will have two former World Series champions throwing out the pitches for Games 1 and 2 versus the LA Dodgers.

The Blue Jays have had some legendary first pitches throughout this playoff run, paying homage to their great rosters in 2015 and 2016. The likes of Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Josh Donaldson, Kevin Pillar, Marco Estrada, and Russell Martin have all thrown first pitches.

Now in the World Series, the Jays are opting for more of a throwback approach.

Throwing the first pitch ahead of Game 1 on Friday night will be former Jays manager Cito Gaston. The 81-year-old managed both of the Jays’ World Series-winning rosters in 1992 and 1993, and came back with the organization as their manager once again from 2008 to 2010. His 894 wins during his time as the Jays manager rank first in franchise history.

As for Game 2, it will be Joe Carter throwing out the first pitch. The five-time All-Star is known for hitting the biggest home run in franchise history, a walk-off which resulted in their 1993 championship.

Given that it is the World Series, there will also be some serious star power singing the national anthems. Pharrell Williams and the Voices of Fire choir, accompanied by a “local Canadian ensemble,” will get the call for Game 1. For Game 2, it will be Bebe Rexha and Canadian popstar Alessia Cara.

Following Game 2, this series will head to LA for Games 3, 4, and 5. Should it be necessary, both Game 6 and Game 7 will be back in Toronto at Rogers Centre, where fans will once again be making predictions as to who will be throwing out the first pitch.

With Gaston for Game 1, followed up by Carter for Game 2, the crowd at Rogers Centre is certain to be filled with energy in what is the first World Series appearance for the Blue Jays since 1993.

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