Rowdy Toronto Opening Day

On April 14, 1986, the Toronto Blue Jays‘ Opening Day at Exhibition Stadium was marred by chaos, as 2,000 unruly fans disrupted the game. The 43,587 spectators were overshadowed by a rowdy mob in the cheap seats, causing one of the most disorderly home openers in history. Fans repeatedly rushed onto the field, evading security and groundskeepers, leading to 35 arrests and 126 ejections. Despite warnings of a possible forfeit, the disruptions continued, interrupting a solid pitching duel between Doyle Alexander and Mike Boddicker. By the seventh inning, Baltimore’s Earl Weaver protested the game, comparing the scene to Yankee Stadium’s notorious Bronx Zoo. “I’ve never seen that many fans take to the field during a game,” Weaver said. “Why they do it, I don’t know. But to jump on the field, get tackled and whacked like some of them did, and then get hit for a $100 fine, it’s crazy.” Jays players were surprised because they had never witnessed anything like this before in Toronto. “The people have always acted real civil here,” said veteran designated hitter Cliff Johnson of the Blue Jays. “I was surprised. But who’s to say those guys were real fans. Real fans would have been watching the game.” Toronto third baseman Garth Iorg was a little more blunt. “I wish I was a security guard,” he said. “I could have gone out and nailed some of those suckers.” Toronto center fielder Lloyd Moseby was almost struck by a bottle thrown from the bleachers. “It was a total embarrassment,” he said. “”That wasn’t the real Toronto.” The fans weren’t the only ones to louse up Opening Day for the Blue Jays. The Orioles did their part, toc, beating Toronto 2-1.

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