The Drive of '85 Was a Quarter Century Ago? Really?

Published by Toronto Mike on October 17, 2010 @ 13:29 in Memories, Toronto Blue Jays

I don't want to let the 2010 baseball season end without paying tribute to The Drive of '85. Twenty-five years ago, our Blue Jays won their first divisional pennant and got their first taste of post-season play. Can you believe that was twenty-five years ago?

In 1983, my first full season as a die hard Jays fan, we had a good young team that made some noise in the American League East. In 1984 the Detroit Tigers got off to a torrid start and practically buried all others in the East but the Jays clawed back to make it interesting, finishing only four games back. Then, it was 1985, and our turn to shine. The Toronto Star, my primary source for sports news as a ten and eleven year old, referred to it as The Drive of '85. It was a magical season.

When I went through a couple of old boxes a few years ago, I found a few memories stashed away. Between my stamp collection and old Maple Leafs programs were a series of newspaper clippings from The Drive of '85...

At Last! - From the next day's Toronto Star

A Salute to the Blue Jays by The Toronto Star - a commemorative book released following the season and detailing The Drive of '85

George and Doyle - Celebrating in the Blue Jays locker room following the win

Quotes From Happy Blue Jays - What the Jays had to say upon clinching the AL East

Off And Flying! - From the Toronto Star following our win in Game 1 of the ALCS against Kansas City

Only 1 To Go! - From the Toronto Star following our win in Game 4 of the ALCS putting us ahead 3 games to 1

I still can't believe that was twenty-five years ago. I remember that entire season as if it was last year. We were one win away from the World Series before the Royals beat us three straight to win it in seven. George Brett found an extra gear and the rest is history.

There's only one fitting way for me to end this entry recalling The Drive of '85. Here's Tom Cheek calling the final out in the clinching game.

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8 comments

8 Responses to "The Drive of '85 Was a Quarter Century Ago? Really?"

dale
October 17, 2010 / 17:30

I was at the deciding game & cannot believe they lost after being up on the series.
Still have ticket stub.

Mike, don't write anything about the Leafs until they lose - YOU have power to keep the streak alive as you used to blog after every Leaf game.

Toronto Mike
October 17, 2010 / 17:49

It's true, I used to write about every game. Every Leaf game recapped in an entry...

I even recapped St. Johns Maple Leaf games during the lockout.

It seems I was the jinx.

Steve
October 17, 2010 / 18:04

Love that Tom Cheek call. He really was one of the best ever.

I can't believe this was that long ago. I was only 5 years old in 1985, and it wasn't long after this that I started listening to Jays games on the radio.

Buffalo Boy Mike
October 17, 2010 / 19:15

I miss Tom Cheek, he really was a great broadcaster, George Bell was entering his prime that year.

Down Goes Brown
October 17, 2010 / 22:48

Really? 25 years ago? Jesus.

(And I also own that book to this day, along with most of the newspaper coverage. I also had a book by Sun columnist John Robertson that I think was about the '83 team. This was what passed as literature when I was 8.)

James
October 18, 2010 / 01:07

Love the clippings.

The first Jays season I can clearly remember is 1989 (when I was about 7). Been a big fan ever since.

I still have a VHS video from 1989 called 'Sky High: The story of the 1989 Toronto Blue Jays' narrated by Tom Cheek.

Romy
October 18, 2010 / 11:00

Remember it fondly - I was a stringer for BN, just out of Rye High, sitting in the press box and getting set to rush down to use a "tape" recorder to collect post-game comments. 25 years? Wow.

Neal
July 8, 2011 / 02:52

...and that began my love affair with the Jays. Have been a fan ever since - win, lose or draw. What a great team that was led by a legend of a manager.

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