For the first time in 32 years, the Toronto Blue Jays are <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2025/10/20/instant-reaction-the-toronto-blue-jays-are-heading-to-the-world-series/">heading to the World Series</a>, and they&#8217;re going to be getting a boost by one of the most famous players in franchise history: <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2025/05/22/throwback-thursday-looking-at-the-trade-that-brought-toronto-blue-jays-hero-joe-carter-from-padres/">Joe Carter</a>.

A key cog in the franchise&#8217;s back-to-back World Series titles in <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/the-party-finished-blue-jays-enjoy-first-world-series-appearance-1993">1992 and 1993</a> — known famously for his three-run home run in the sixth inning to secure the second title hit 32 years to the day of George Springer&#8217;s Game 6 moonshot to win the ALCS — Carter will make the pilgrimage to Toronto to see David vs. Goliath.
But that&#8217;s not all Carter will be doing, telling <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2025/10/21/joe-carter-home-run-blue-jays-world-series/86811611007/">USA Today&#8217;s</a> Bob Nightengale he&#8217;ll be throwing a ceremonial first pitch at one of the games against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
&#8220;They’ve saved me for the last 32 years, I’m due,&#8221; Carter told Nightengale.
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Carter will be the third Blue Jay with notable three-run home runs in the playoffs to throw a first pitch — Edwin Encarnacion threw the first pitch ahead of Game 1 of the ALCS, while Jose Bautista threw the first pitch ahead of Monday&#8217;s Game 7.
Back at his home in Leawood, Kansas, Carter&#8217;s kept cheering for the Blue Jays, he told Nightengale, saying how his heart was &#8220;beating 10,000 beats a second, and I’m not even playing. It’s hard on a 65-year-old man.&#8221;
<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-george-springer-gets-the-last-laugh-in-the-alcs-showdown">Springer&#8217;s home run</a> was &#8220;poetic justice,&#8221; Carter said, after swaths of Seattle Mariners fans booed Springer when a Bryan Woo pitch got away from him in Game 5, catching the Jays slugger flush on the knee.
“I was so happy for him,&#8221; Carter told Nightengale. “It was like poetic justice. The guy gets hit in the knee and the fans are booing him. You kidding me? Well, now those fans in Seattle will have a lot to boo George Springer about, he’ll be remembered in their history.&#8221;
Carter remains a familiar face in the streets of Toronto, not only for his seven years and back-to-back titles with the team, but for the celebrity golf tournament he&#8217;s hosted for the last 15 years.
And while just getting to the World Series is a massive accomplishment in and of itself, Carter wants to see them finish the job.
“It’s fun getting there, but you just didn’t get there to get there, you got to win the whole thing,&#8221; Carter told Nightengale. “Don’t be happy just getting there, let’s win it. I know you’re the underdog. You’re going against the $1 billion payroll and the super-human guy in Shohei Ohtani. Those guys are a first-class organization with their arms and Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
“The Dodgers are good, but the Blue Jays have that championship pedigree&#8230; This is going to be a classic.&#8221;
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Zach Laing is The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasy/streams">Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report</a>. He can be followed on X at <a href="http://www.x.com/zjlaing">@zjlaing</a>, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.
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For the first time in 32 years, the Toronto Blue Jays are <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2025/10/20/instant-reaction-the-toronto-blue-jays-are-heading-to-the-world-series/">heading to the World Series</a>, and they're going to be getting a boost by one of the most famous players in franchise history: <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/2025/05/22/throwback-thursday-looking-at-the-trade-that-brought-toronto-blue-jays-hero-joe-carter-from-padres/">Joe Carter</a>.



A key cog in the franchise's back-to-back World Series titles in <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/the-party-finished-blue-jays-enjoy-first-world-series-appearance-1993">1992 and 1993</a> — known famously for his three-run home run in the sixth inning to secure the second title hit 32 years to the day of George Springer's Game 6 moonshot to win the ALCS — Carter will make the pilgrimage to Toronto to see David vs. Goliath.

But that's not all Carter will be doing, telling <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2025/10/21/joe-carter-home-run-blue-jays-world-series/86811611007/">USA Today's</a> Bob Nightengale he'll be throwing a ceremonial first pitch at one of the games against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"They’ve saved me for the last 32 years, I’m due," Carter told Nightengale.
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Carter will be the third Blue Jay with notable three-run home runs in the playoffs to throw a first pitch — Edwin Encarnacion threw the first pitch ahead of Game 1 of the ALCS, while Jose Bautista threw the first pitch ahead of Monday's Game 7.

Back at his home in Leawood, Kansas, Carter's kept cheering for the Blue Jays, he told Nightengale, saying how his heart was "beating 10,000 beats a second, and I’m not even playing. It’s hard on a 65-year-old man."

<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-george-springer-gets-the-last-laugh-in-the-alcs-showdown">Springer's home run</a> was "poetic justice," Carter said, after swaths of Seattle Mariners fans booed Springer when a Bryan Woo pitch got away from him in Game 5, catching the Jays slugger flush on the knee.

“I was so happy for him," Carter told Nightengale. “It was like poetic justice. The guy gets hit in the knee and the fans are booing him. You kidding me? Well, now those fans in Seattle will have a lot to boo George Springer about, he’ll be remembered in their history."

Carter remains a familiar face in the streets of Toronto, not only for his seven years and back-to-back titles with the team, but for the celebrity golf tournament he's hosted for the last 15 years.

And while just getting to the World Series is a massive accomplishment in and of itself, Carter wants to see them finish the job.

“It’s fun getting there, but you just didn’t get there to get there, you got to win the whole thing," Carter told Nightengale. “Don’t be happy just getting there, let’s win it. I know you’re the underdog. You’re going against the $1 billion payroll and the super-human guy in Shohei Ohtani. Those guys are a first-class organization with their arms and Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

“The Dodgers are good, but the Blue Jays have that championship pedigree... This is going to be a classic."

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Zach Laing is The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasy/streams">Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report</a>. He can be followed on X at <a href="http://www.x.com/zjlaing">@zjlaing</a>, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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