Exclusive: Blue Jays World Series hero can’t believe epic Game 7 HR

• Joe Carter’s walk-off home run clinched the 1993 World Series in Toronto.
• Blue Jays are back in the Fall Classic for first time since their last title.
• Carter played 17 MLB seasons and won two championships with Toronto.

Joe Carter, the man who hit the biggest home run in Toronto Blue Jays history, sat in his home theater and watched history repeat itself more than three decades later.

It was like an out-of-body experience, watching a near replay of himself, circling the bases, jumping up and down after hitting the game-winning home run in the 1993 World Series that made him a Canadian national hero.

Now, nearly 32 years to the day, George Springer etched his name forever in Blue Jays folklore, hitting a dramatic three-run, seventh-inning home run to lift the Blue Jays into the World Series past the Seatle Mariners, 4-3.

The sellout crowd of 44,770 at the Rogers Centre screamed in euphoria.

Carter screamed in his house, startling his wife and daughter who were pacing upstairs, with his whole neighborhood in Leawood, Kansas hearing the jubilation.

“This is crazy, this is so crazy,’ Carter told USA TODAY Sports. “My heart was beating 10,000 beats a second, and I’m not even playing. It’s hard on a 65-year-old man.’

The moment Springer’s ball landed into the left field seats, Carter knew exactly what he’s going to say to Springer when he sees him before Game 1 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

“Welcome to the three-run home run club!

“You look at me. You look at Jose Bautista. You look at Edwin Encarnacion. And now, you look at George Springer.

“Unbelievable.’

Carter got emotional watching Springer’s reaction, jumping up and down, rounding the bases, thrusting his arms into the air.

It was the only the third go-ahead homer in the seventh inning or later in a Game 7 in postseason history, joining Pittsburgh Pirates’ Hal Smith in the 1960 World Series and Washington Nationals’ Howie Kendrick in the 2019 World Series. And Springer is the only one in history to achieve the feat with his team trailing by multiple runs.

It brought back the memories of that night in the same building, Oct. 22, 1993, when the Blue Jays trailed the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-5, in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the World Series. There were two runners on when Carter came to the plate, and he smacked a three-run homer off Phillies closer Mitch Williams into the left-field seats, winning the World Series championship.

It was only the second home run to end a World Series in baseball history, joining Bill Mazeroski with the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates.

“I told my wife, ‘Sweetheart, now know I know you felt when you were in the stands I was at the plate,” Carter said. “I was so nervous. My heart was beating so fast.

“And then he did it. He really did it. I couldn’t believe it.’

Carter was trading text messages with John Smoltz, the Hall of Fame pitcher and Fox analyst during the game, and just when the Blue Jays were about to open the bottom of the seventh, he sent one more text to Smoltz:

“Looking for a hero.’

The inning opened with a walk by Addison Barger and a single by Isiah Kiner-Falefa, with No. 9 hitter Andres Gimenez laying down a sacrifice bunt. Springer, who suffered a badly bruised knee in Game 5 in Seattle, stepped up and drilled a 1-and-0, 96-mph fastball off Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo into the seats.

Carter found his hero.

Then, I held my breath the last two innings,’ Carter said. ‘I did not want to see Cal Raleigh come to the plate.’

Instead, Raleigh, who homered earlier in the game, was left standing on the on-deck circle as closer Jeff Hoffman struck out the side.

“Now, those guys don’t have to talk about ’93 anymore,’ Carter said. “I’m so glad. For them to go from worst to first, and now to the World Series.’

Carter was just in Toronto three weeks ago filming a team commercial with Springer designed to fire up the crowd, with Carter letting the fans know that since they did it in the past, they can sure do it now.

And now, Carter and Springer may be together for the next 20 years in autograph shows, hitting the two most famous homers in Blue Jays history.

“I was so happy for him,’ Carter said. “It was like poetic justice. The guy gets hit in the knee and the fans are booing him. You kidding me? Well, now those fans in Seattle will have a lot to boo George Springer about, he’ll be remembered in their history.’

Carter played 17 years in the big leagues for four different teams but Toronto has a special place in his heart. This is where he spent seven years, winning back-to-back World Series championships and a place he calls his second home – where he has had his celebrity golf tournament the past 15 years.

“This means so much to everyone in Toronto, really, all of Canada,’ Carter said. “I just remember how much joy we brought to everyone. But that was a long time ago. There are a lot of Blue Jays’ fans who weren’t alive when we won those championships.

“Now, they get to make their own memories, and wow, what a memory.’

Carter will be traveling to Toronto for the World Series where he’s expected to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at one of the games, saying, ‘They’ve saved me for the last 32 years, I’m due.”

And when he sees everyone, he’ll let them know that it’s not enough to just get to the World Series. As long as they’ve gone this far, they might as well win it.

“It’s fun getting there, but you just didn’t get there to get there, you got to win the whole thing,’ Carter said. “Don’t be happy just getting there, let’s win it. I know you’re the underdog. You’re going against the $1 billion payroll and the super-human guy in Shohei Ohtani. Those guys are a first-class organization with their arms and Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.’

The Dodgers are trying to go where only two teams have ever gone in the last 50 years, winning back-to-back World Series titles like the Blue Jays in 1992-1993.

Carter would love for the Blue Jays to stop the Dodgers from joining their elite company.

“The Dodgers are good, but the Blue Jays have that championship pedigree,’ Carter said. “It showed in their DNA when they lost the first two games at home, then went to Seattle where they had to win, and come back home where they had to win.

“I’m telling you, we can do it. The city of Toronto is going to be rocking. All of Canada is going to be so pumped up. And, I’m so pumped up.

“This is going to be a classic.’

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