This Day in History: Exhibition Stadium Closes its Doors
In the heart of Toronto, the Exhibition Stadium played host to the Blue Jays for their first 12 seasons. It was home to countless memories, and the final game on May 28, 1989, holds a special place in the hearts of many Blue Jays fans. The game was against the Chicago White Sox, and it ended with a walk-off homerun by George Bell. This momentous occasion marked the end of an era, and we're here to take a walk down memory lane and relive this iconic game.
The game itself was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading leads. The White Sox took an early lead in the second inning off of starter Dave Stieb, but the Blue Jays answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the third. The White Sox regained the one-run lead the next inning, and the Jays put four on the board in the sixth, which was then answered in the top of the eighth by Chicago to tie it up 5-5.
The game remained tied at 5-5 heading into the bottom of the tenth, and the excitement in the stadium was palpable. George Bell stepped up to the plate and hit a towering home run into the left-field stands, sending the crowd into a frenzy. It was the perfect way to end the game and say goodbye to Exhibition Stadium.
Looking back, it's incredible to see how far the Blue Jays have come since that final game at Exhibition Stadium. Soon after moving to the Skydome, the Jays were the team to beat in the early '90s, winning back-to-back World Series Championships in 1992 and 1993. But that final game at Exhibition Stadium will always hold a special place in the hearts of fans who had the pleasure of witnessing it.
Exhibition Stadium may no longer stand, but its legacy lives on and continues to inspire generations of Blue Jays fans. That home run by George Bell on May 28, 1989, was a fitting end to the stadium's tenure as the Blue Jays' home, and it will always be remembered as a historic moment in Toronto sports history.
The final Blue Jays game at Exhibition Stadium was a bittersweet moment for fans and players alike. It was the end of an era, but it was also a moment to reflect on the memories that had been made in that stadium. George Bell's walk-off homerun was the perfect ending to the game and a fitting tribute to the stadium that had been the Blue Jays' home for 12 years. It's a moment that will forever be etched in Blue Jays history, and one that we'll always look back on with fondness and nostalgia.