Former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston, right, shakes hands with current skipper John Schneider after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of Major League Baseball's World Series between the Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers in Toronto on Oct. 24, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

By The Canadian Press

Manager Meeting: Schneider appreciates interaction with former Jays skipper Gaston

Oct 25, 2025 | 4:16 PM

TORONTO — One of the highlights of Toronto skipper John Schneider’s first day at the World Series — aside from the 11-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers — was getting a chance to connect with former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston.

“He’s always been great to me,” Schneider said before Game 2 on Saturday. “He just said, ‘I love what you’re doing, I love the way your team plays and you should be very proud of what you’ve done.’

“And I said, ‘That means a lot coming from you.'”

Gaston, who threw the ceremonial first pitch to Schneider before Game 1, guided the Blue Jays to World Series titles in 1992 and ’93.

After throwing the pitch, the 81-year-old Gaston asked Schneider to autograph the ball for him since he planned to put it on his mantle.

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“I did and I made him a promise that I need to get one from him,” Schneider said with a smile.

DOGGED APPROACH

Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman said his team is well aware the defending-champion Dodgers entered the World Series as heavy favourites.

Los Angeles dropped only one playoff game entering the Fall Classic and boasts a lineup that includes sluggers Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and others.

At the start of the series, the Dodgers were listed as a -220 favourite on BetMGM to win the series while the Blue Jays were at +180.

“We know we’re severe underdogs but that doesn’t matter to us,” Heineman said. “We were severe underdogs at the beginning of this season. We weren’t even supposed to be in the playoffs, yet alone the World Series.

“To the group inside (the clubhouse), that doesn’t hold any weight to us. We know what a special group we have.”

Before Game 2, the sportsbook had L.A. down to a -120 favourite to win the series while the Jays were at +100.

BACK TO BACK

The Dodgers are aiming to become the first team to win consecutive World Series crowns since the New York Yankees won three titles between 1998 and 2000.

Major League Baseball’s current 24-year streak without a repeat champion is the longest of its kind in the history of the so-called Big Four sports (MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL).

The Dodgers are the first defending champions to return to the Fall Classic since the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2025.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press