When the Blue Jays' season ended in heartbreak on Saturday, Kera McQuilling was surprised to find herself sobbing outside a Toronto bar.
The 30-year-old web designer started watching the playoffs to bond with her baseball-loving partner, but along the way she fell in love with the game and the nightly ritual that brought them closer together.
When the Los Angeles Dodgers won 5-4 in 11 overtimes to take Game 7 of the World Series against the Jays, Ms. Makiling watched from the Drake Hotel with her boyfriend, caught up in the anguish that rippled through the city. The game drew an average of 10.9 million viewers on Sportsnet.
“I immediately started crying and was shocked at myself, because up until that moment I had never thought of myself as an athlete,” the Toronto resident recalls.
“And my boyfriend turns to me and says, 'I'm so grateful to have been able to experience this postseason with you,'” she added, her voice breaking.
The loss was especially bittersweet since her partner will soon be relocating to Switzerland for work, and watching the Jays' playoff appearances has become an important part of her daily routine.
“I keep watching videos of Vladi (Guerrero Jr.) looking sad after the game, so it wasn't a very smart move.”
For many Toronto fans, the Jays postseason was about more than baseball, it was a reason to gather with friends, family, and partners night after night. Now that the season ended in a blowout, fans like Makiling are left wandering in silence, reflecting on their shared experiences and wondering how to fill the sudden void.
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For Guy Felicera, a 56-year-old father of two from Vancouver, the postseason has become a multigenerational ritual that has sparked a new love for the game in his youngest son, 5-year-old Leo.
“He became totally enthusiastic. He loves Bo Bichette. He started asking all sorts of questions about how to play the game. It was a really good bonding experience for me,” the speaker says.
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Felicella watched the entire game with Leo and his 11-year-old brother Noah, who stayed awake for 16 of the 18 innings of the thrilling Game 3 against the Dodgers.
When the Jays lost Game 7, Felicera said he was “devastated.”
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“I just turned off the TV. I didn't want to watch anything.”
Thankfully, his sons took the Jays' loss well. They've filled that void by watching NHL games. But Felicella says there's nothing that makes him more passionate about sports than baseball. “There are 162 regular season games a year, but hockey only has about 82 games. Being stuck there takes a toll on you physically and mentally.”
Meanwhile, Leo is optimistic about next season. He's looking forward to going to his first Jays game.
“After the loss, I tucked him into bed and he still had his Jays hat on. He told me he loved me. I mean, that's it. He'll be a Jays fan for the rest of his life. But most importantly, it brought us so close.”
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Leo has just discovered the thrill of the baseball playoffs, and Cecilia Reyes has been there to help him through it all. The 94-year-old has followed the Jays for decades, attending every game she can and watching every postseason since moving to Canada in 1973. She watched the Jays win back-to-back World Series in 1992 and 1993 and was hopeful they could recreate that magic.
“I've been watching the game for a long time and I love the Jays, but I'm very disappointed in the loss,” said Reyes, a Trinidad native.
She watched every playoff game with her daughter and son-in-law, cheering when the Jays hit a dinger and quietly mourning when the team trailed.
“Every time we won, we laughed, jumped up and clapped,” she says.
“I was very, very sad when I lost. But I told my family, 'That's how the game is. There are losers and winners.'”
Reyes said he plans to spend his time cheering on the Toronto Raptors and Maple Leafs.
“I love sports. Whenever there's a game on TV, I always watch it.”
Still, the Jays hold a special place in her heart. She's already counting down the days until spring training.
“I hope the good Lord gives me life to see them play again next year,” she says.
“If they keep practicing, learn from their losses and give their best effort, I think good things will happen.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press