As the Toronto Blue Jays prepared to play their first home game of the 2016 season, thoughts of last year's memorable postseason run still hung in the air.

The lasting memory from the 2015 season was Jose Bautista forcefully tossing his bat aside after a dramatic go-ahead, three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning of their Game 5 win over the Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series.

The win was validation for Blue Jays fans who had waited over two decades to cheer their team on in the postseason.

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Before fans got their first chance to cheer on this year's edition of the club at home, The Globe asked readers to relive that magical moment from last October. Here are just a handful of the responses.

TRISH McALASTER / THE GLOBE AND MAIL SOURCE: BLUEJAYS.COM

In their own words



1. Patrick Gauthier, 35, Section 130AL, Row 5:

"I remember hearing the ball connect with the bat and knowing right away it was going to leave the park. I didn't see or even know about the bat flip until I got home and watched the highlights – I watched the ball as it went into the left field seats…What I remember most, I think, is the atmosphere outside the stadium post-game, and the crowd singing 'Jose, Jose, Jose' walking up Front [Street]. Without a doubt the greatest live event I've ever attended."

2. Marc Oliver, 29, Section 113 DL, Row 1:

"When the hit happened I didn't believe it. I never believed that it would be the beginning of the craziest night of my life and that I would end up sharing a bottle of champagne with the home run hero himself…

I ended up meeting a friend later that night who had flown in from New York just for the game. We [went] to the same place as the Jays players [after the game]. They had their own section. I went to a bartender and said that I would buy a bottle of champagne but only if I could hand deliver it to Joey Bats…. it ended up being the best $300 I ever spent! I was led into the section by the bartender, past the bouncers and the bartender whispered in Jose's ear what I was doing. He thanked me for the bottle and I thanked him for the greatest Toronto sports memory I've ever had."

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3. Doug Greenwood, 57, Section 25L Row 9:

I'm in the picture!! Over Jose's right shoulder. The end of his bat is pointing at me, holding the rally towel in my right hand, sitting in the seats my father has had since Opening Day 1977! It was the most unbelievable sporting event I have ever witnessed! There may never be another single inning of baseball that rivals the insane seventh inning we were part of that afternoon."



4. Muhammad Ali, 24, Section 522L, Row 21 :

"Bottom of the seventh, the greatest Blue Jays moment of my 24 years as a fan came to fruition… the bat flip. After that homerun I blacked out in the cheering and emotions that erupted out of me and a moment in time that will never be replicated or taken away from me! The celebration after the game wasn't for the win but Jose's heroics that became legendary."

5. Max Greenwood, 26, Section 130C, Row 9:

"My family has season tickets, so we were lucky enough to be at every home Jays playoff game this past October. The seats are great too - second row behind the dugout. But season ticket holders also get access to another pair of tickets, these ones down the third base line. Those seats are the ones we were in for the bat flip, and in the infamous photo you printed on the front page, you can see my uncle in our original seats, one hand in the air with his blue cap and glasses on. I'll never forgive my dad for trading seats with my uncle that game, because it could have been us in that seat. But I still have to love him - after all, I was at the game screaming my head off anyways."

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Well that was the best sporting event I've ever seen live. I don't know what can live up to that. oh yeah - the World Series. Let's do this. — Max Greenwood (@writeandrepeat) October 15, 2015

6. Peter Day, 56, Section 115L. Row 10 :



I was downtown to make a presentation in a hotel to a potential customer and like most of us I was keenly aware that there was a big game that day. I tried to buy tickets online and waited until the second they were available but they were all gone. I was planning on racing home after my presentation to catch the game but as the hotel elevator door opened, fans in Blue Jays paraphernalia were getting off. I smiled and said "Go Jays!" Everyone was really excited about the game and a man said to me "are you looking for a ticket? My wife can't come." We agreed on a very reasonable price and it was mine…

This was one of those home runs that everyone knows is gone the second it hits the bat. It looked like a three iron. Gone…the whole place was yelling, dancing, hugging, high fiving strangers, laughing and alive with joy. It was true madness and I will never forget that moment."



7. David G. Elliott, 32, Section 120L, Row 24:

"I was in the house. I had seats 10 rows behind home plate. I've never seen a place so electric.

Before the start of the seventh inning, my brother and his friend came down from their 500 level seats as I offered to let them watch an inning. They witnessed Martin hitting a Rangers bat on the throw back to the mound, the anger from fans and then true tears of joy after Bautista's blast.

I was standing in the concourse at the top of the section and still saw the epic HR. I honestly thought the roof above us was going to come down.

I've been to some massive Leafs and Raptors playoff games, but 50,000+ in a closed Dome has a different level of noise and excitement. It's my favourite sports memory of all time when seeing a game live. Wow, just wow."

8. Colleen Forbes, 17, Section 535L, Row 8:

"I truly thought Texas would be the ones to go back to their hotel that night, celebrate, pack their bags and head on home to start practicing for the ALCS. I think we can all agree that the seventh inning of that game will go down as one of the most prominent baseball innings in this country's history…

…From the high fives to people screaming "Go Jays!" at the top of their lungs, Bremner Boulevard quickly turned into Party Avenue that night. For all of us who got the amazing opportunity to attend that game that night, there is a bond between us, one that can only be described as being able to attend a baseball game that will go down as one of the greatest in Canadian baseball history."

9. Katha Fortier, 51, Section 123, Row 26:

"That game was a treat! Stub hub tickets, purchased for myself and my son (his Christmas gift!) and a friend, with a big price tag but was money well spent. We were sitting in section 123 about midway up. Our section remained on their feet from probably the third inning. Sometimes you have to wait to be sure it's a home run. Not that day! Bautista did the flip and knew it was gone! Best game ever! My son said it was the best Christmas present ever, and I'm a pretty good shopper."

10. Martin Rojze, 45, Section 235L, Row 4:

"I was there with my friend Spencer. Such an emotional game… I have my Fitbit reading to prove it! My heart rate hit the peak of the day during the seventh inning. After getting so frustrated after Martin's throwing error and seeing the end so close, Bautista's homer came as a dream. After I heard the crack of his bat and people started roaring, I didn't react. I didn't want to fall for those warning track pop-outs. I waited … and waited until I was completely sure it was gone. I couldn't just invest any more of my emotions and come up short. When the ball finally cleared the fences I lost it. I was not alone, I celebrated with my friend and my seat neighbours.

Coming from a crazy soccer country in South America, I'd say that it is hard to impress me when it comes to sporting events experiences; but that Game 5, seventh inning and the street celebration afterward became a highlight and instant classic. I had tickets for the Kansas City series but I sold them all. I was sure no matter what, nothing would have matched that intensity."

11. Jordan Sharon, 35, Section 104, Row 5:

"I remember the negative angry energy of the stadium at the top of the seventh inning. It felt like a riot could potentially break out. Then the bottom of the seventh, the Texas errors and then finally the Bautista home run. I've been a Blue Jays' fan since birth, it's in my blood.

I went to the game with a friend of 25 years and that was by far the happiest and best moment shared between us in all our years as mates."

12. Herb and Hazel Jordan, at home watching on TV in Nova Scotia:

We are an elderly couple who watch every Blue Jays game on TV. Jose expressed our feelings exactly by his actions; we didn't think about baseball traditions or think he was disrespectful. We've spent the last 29 winters in the Clearwater area and have seen many pre-season games in Dunedin over the years. We have only had the opportunity to see one regular season game in Toronto, despite being fans since their inception.

These responses have been edited and condensed for clarity.

