The Toronto Blue Jays are focused on their American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners, but their rivalry with the New York Yankees is still very much alive. After the Yankees’ elimination in the Division Series, tensions between the two fan bases have been reignited, especially after a controversial episode at Yankee Stadium and the viralization of a video on social media.
During the series, several Yankees fans booed the Canadian national anthem, a gesture that outraged Toronto fans. Since then, the verbal exchanges between the two sets of fans have intensified, adding a new chapter to one of the American League’s fiercest rivalries.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and David Ortiz star in the new chapter
Dominican slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a key figure for the Blue Jays and a well-known detractor of the Yankees, once again sparked controversy by publicly mocking New York alongside former player David Ortiz
Ortiz, a Boston Red Sox legend and eternal Yankees rival, is famous for his iconic chant “Daaaaaaa Yankees lose!” every time the New Yorkers are defeated. After the victory that qualified Toronto to the Championship Series, Guerrero Jr. joined the former designated hitter to sing the famous chant together in a live broadcast.
The video quickly went viral on social media and sparked a wave of reactions: from laughter among Toronto fans to fury in the Yankees community. Comments were quick to be divided, with many New York fans calling the moment “disrespectful” and “embarrassing”.
Tension off the field
The rivalry became even more bitter when Yankees fans threw bottles at Guerrero Jr.’s family during a game at Yankee Stadium. The incident sparked condemnation on social media and revived the debate about the limits of passion in professional baseball.
In response, Blue Jays fans doubled down by creating a mocking song with the phrase “Da Yankees Lose”, which has been widely circulated on platforms such as TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).
The sporting present
While social media is abuzz, the Blue Jays are trying to stay focused on the field. After an initial loss to the Mariners, Toronto managed to bounce back in the third game and is looking to tie the series in Seattle to keep alive the dream of reaching the World Series.
However, beyond the scoreboard, the rivalry with the Yankees seems to have reached a new level. And with figures such as Guerrero Jr. at the forefront, everything indicates that this story is far from over.
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