Toronto Blue Jays 2025 World Series: Why Canada's Team Plays in the American League

Why does Canada’s only MLB team play in the American League? As the Toronto Blue Jays enter the 2025 World Series as underdogs, fans are revisiting a historical quirk. While the now-defunct Montreal Expos played in the National League, the Blue Jays' spot in the AL wasn't an accident—it was a necessity born from a lawsuit.

The Seattle Connection and the Toronto Blue Jays 2025 World Series Journey

The story begins in 1969 when the Seattle Pilots joined the AL. After they went bankrupt and moved to Milwaukee, a lawsuit forced MLB to award Seattle a new franchise in 1977: the Seattle Mariners. However, the Mariners became the AL's 13th team, creating a scheduling nightmare.

To rebalance the divisions, MLB looked to Toronto, a city already hungry for baseball after a failed attempt to buy the San Francisco Giants. The Toronto Blue Jays were born to even out the numbers. Without Seattle's legal pressure, Toronto might never have seen an American League franchise in this form.

Defeating a Rival for the 2025 Pennant

Fast forward to today, Jan 8, 2026, looking back at the 2025 season. The irony is sharp: the Blue Jays punched their ticket to the World Series by defeating the Seattle Mariners in a grueling 7-game ALCS. Former Houston Astros star George Springer led the charge, ending the Mariners' championship hopes.

While Toronto celebrates its third shot at a World Series title, the history between these two cities remains a core part of MLB lore. Canada's team is flourishing in the American League, all thanks to a scheduling fix from nearly 50 years ago.