More than a decade has passed since an American League franchise was awarded to a Toronto business consortium consisting of The Labatt Brewing Company Limited, The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, and Mr. R. Howard Webster of Montreal. Dubbed the "Blue Jays" after a "Name the Team" contest drawing some 30,000 entries, The Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club has dramatically made its mark on baseball history, and has substantially made Toronto a world class sports entertainment centre.

It was April 10, 1976 that the franchise was awarded to Toronto, with the first game played April 7, 1977. Its huge impact on the community today is felt partly because its owners have always believed that the team is not just a business, but a vehicle enriching the culture of Ontario's provincial capital.

In the sports field, the Club has become daily news—part of everyday life. It has also been active in the field of charitable assistance, a factor not as well-known as the Club's rise to fame.

"There is virtually no charitable organization in the community in which either the team, or its individual players, have not been involved," reports Paul Beeston, Blue Jays Executive VicePresident, Business.

Locally, nationally, and even internationally, the team's success has generated loyal support. Drawing 1,701,052 fans to Exhibition Stadium in its inaugural season, by 1987, it led the American League in attendance, pulling 2,778,429 fans, almost the entire population of Metropolitan Toronto, to watch it play championship quality baseball. In 1985 The Blue Jays captured its firstdivision title (American League East), and by its 10th anniversary season (1986) the only American League franchise in Canada has established itself as a team to be reckoned with in the baseball community.

The future looks even better. Beginning in 1989, the new home of the Blue Jays will be the SkyDome, located near Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto. It's probably no exaggeration to say that The Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club played a major role in the decision to construct the SkyDome—a revolutionary entertainment complex. Attracting 4 million spectators annually, the SkyDome is the world's first multi-purpose stadium with a retractable roof.

Under the guidance of Peter Hardy, Chief Executive Officer, Pat Gillick, Executive Vice President, Baseball, and Paul Beeston, Executive Vice President, Business, if the desire of the team's owners to "give something back to the community" is at least as important as business success—The Toronto Blue Jays Club can be said to have succeeded magnificently in its first twelve years.

Toronto's biggest hit in 1989 will be the SkyDome. With the Toronto Blue Jays playing in it, it will be a grand slam year!
 

1. Peter Hardy, Chief Executive Officer. 2. Pat Gillick, Executive Vice-President, Baseball.
3. SkyDome, Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario. 4. Paul Beeston, Executive Vice-President, Business.