When Joe Carter hit his walk-off home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1993 World Series, it became a day that would live in the memories of Toronto sports fans.
This included then 10-year-old Mimico native and now 40-year-old veteran big leaguer, Joey Votto.
Votto said as a Blue Jays fan growing up, he remembers the Blue Jays back-to-back World Series wins in 1992 and 1993 fondly.
“Those were the most exciting moments of my childhood,” Votto said in a media conference on March 10.
Connorvale Park is one the home ballparks of the Etobicoke Rangers, who Joey Votto played his junior baseball with. Photo credit: Caleb Moody
Votto now has a chance to potentially create memories for the next generation of Blue Jays fans, as the team signed the former National League MVP first baseman to a minor league contract.
Votto said he is excited to be part of the organization and take on the challenge of competing for a spot at the major league level.
While Votto said he is confident in his ability, he understands the situation he is in, as a non-roster invitee to big-league spring training on a minor-league contract.
“As far as expectations I have none,” he said.
“The idea that I’m going to come in and presume anything is a disconnect from reality,” he said.
Before signing with the Blue Jays, Votto had an illustrious 17-year career with the Cincinnati Reds that saw him take home NL MVP honours in 2010, along with a Golden Glove in 2011 and making six all-star appearances.
Canadian Joey Votto spent 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds before officially becoming a member of Blue Jays on March 10. Photo credit: Flickr/Hayden Schiff
Votto has struggled in recent years to stay on the field because of health issues.
The past two seasons also saw Votto produce the lowest batting averages of his career, .205 and .202 respectively.
Votto said his goal is to rebound from the poor output the past few seasons now that he is healthy and has had a full offseason to prepare.
“I’m trying to prove I’m still a capable player and that the last couple seasons were not real,” he said. “And I have confidence that will be the case.”
Blue Jays Manager John Schnieder said in a media conference he is excited to have someone with a previous track record of success, like Votto, in the clubhouse.
Schneider said signing Votto can have a two-fold effect.
“You look at the effect [Votto] could have around the community…even the effect that he could have on our team with his experiences,” Schneider said.
“It’s really cool to have a borderline hall-of-famer come to his hometown team that he grew up cheering for,” he said.
Jays fan Nick Lucyshyn shares the excitement that Schneider had when speaking to Humber News about Votto’s potential homecoming.
Lucyshyn, a Burlington native, said if Votto were to make the Jays’ major league roster it would be pretty special to the locals to have a hometown guy play for the hometown team.
While he said this type of signing would have had more of an impact on the organization during the prime years of his career, he said Votto could still have an effect.
“I mean [it’s] still exciting, I think he’ll help draw crowds and everything at first especially,” Lucyshyn said.
Growing up playing baseball in the GTA and surrounding regions, Lucyshyn said Votto inspired young players like himself.
“It’s more inspirational to see that someone in the same position you were made it,” he said.
“Growing up, our age group was kind of in [Votto’s] prime…if you’re looking at a Canadian baseball player as a role model or anything like that, he would be the guy,” he said.
Votto said he’s excited about this opportunity but also said “if” a lot in his first media availability as Blue Jay.
He said he is fully aware of the work required and some factors are beyond his control to make this potential homecoming a reality.
“I believe in myself, but I’m only one part of the equation,” Votto said.