Few people live and breathe sports with the kind of passion exhibited by the citizens of Toronto. Of course, it helps that the city has no shortage of professional teams, including everything from baseball and football to rugby and lacrosse.
Looking to learn more about Hogtown’s sports scene. Here’s a quick rundown of the four biggest and most visible pro teams in Toronto…
The Toronto Blue Jays
Established in 1977, the Blue Jays are Toronto’s representatives in the MLB. The team’s championship record includes two World Series titles (back to back in 1992 and 1993), two American League pennant wins (also in ‘92 and ‘93), and six East Divisions titles (in ‘85, ‘89, ‘91, ‘92, ‘93, and 2015).
The Blue Jays make their nest in Rogers Centre (formerly known as the SkyDome). Located on a prime piece of downtown real estate in Toronto, the Centre can hold a capacity crowd of 49, 282 for baseball games, and is known for being the first stadium with a fully retractable motorized roof.
The Toronto Raptors
Though one of Toronto’s youngest teams, having been founded in 2995, the Scotiabank Arena-based Raptors are nevertheless stars on the rise in the NBA. After stumbling through the first few years, the Raptors has earned seven division titles since 2007, as well as a conference title and the championship in 2019.
The Raptors, however, are focused on more than just making a name for themselves. That’s why the team started the Raptors Foundation, which merged with a number of other Torontonian sports-related charities to form the Team Up Foundation. Together, these organizations strive to raise money and awareness in support programs benefiting at-risk children and youth.l
The Toronto Maple Leafs
When the Raptors aren’t using the Scotiabank Arena, it becomes the home arena for the Maple Leafs, who in recent years have earned a reputation as one of the roughest, toughest teams in the entire NHL. They’re also one of the most decorated and reverse, establishing not one by two NHL dynasties, the first from ‘47 to ‘51 and the second from ‘62 to ‘67.
Even the best teams have their low points, though, and Maple Leafs are no different. The team’s last Stanley Cup championship was in ‘67, making for one of the longest current droughts in the entire NHL. Fortunately, the team has no shortage of die-hard fans who know that the legendary Leafs will someday rise again.
The Toronto Argonauts
Founded in 1873, the Argonauts are the oldest surviving football team not only in the East Division, but in the entire modern CFL. Named for the legendary heroes of Greek myth, the Argonauts are known affectionately by fans as simply “the Argos.” Other common nicknames for the team include “boatmen” or “scullers,” due to the Argonauts originally being founded by members of an amateur rowing squad.
In their many years in the CFL, the Argonauts have earned a record-setting 17 Grey Cup wins, spanning all the way from 1914 to present day, with their most recent being in 2017. Additionally, the team has appeared in the final a total of 23 times.
