You are forgetting a few things. Those were the Steinbrenner years and they were like the Dodgers are today as magnets for top players. So they were targets. They were the biggest draw in Toronto. The Blue Jays had a strong Yankee presence with Gillick, Wahle, Cox etc. and numerous players. The Yankees were still paying Doyle Alexander's salary when he tossed a complete game against them to clinch the AL East in Toronto. Billy Martin was New York's manager, enough said. Toronto actually was first in the AL East in August of 1983, so they definitely were battling for first with no wild card to fall back on, The Yankees and Blue Jays finished two wins apart in three consecutive seasons. The top five teams in the AL East in 1988 finished 3 1/2 games apart with all teams over .500. Regardless of the final standing first-place was still at stake during the season.
Went down to the second last game of the season in '85. It was the feeling of the games when they met during that era. Best rivalry was with the Tigers, especially in 1987 obviously. In both cases not manufacured.
Bottom line is that ‘82 through ‘90 the Yankees did not win a division and the Jays won two and lost the ALCS both times. You mention “The 80s when they would be battling for 1st place…” I’ve seen a decade with better hockey Heated Rivalries on HBO Max.
Yankees were the winningest teams in the 1980s, 854.
Bobby Cox - Billy Martin makes Aaron Boone v John Schneider look like Mr. Rogers v the Jolly Green Giant.
" New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone being tossed by the home plate umpire for arguing strikes even though the Bombers had challenges".
Funny.
A Toronto radio station mentioned a seemingly higher % of managers getting tossed at Toronto's Rogers Centre.
" Because Toronto revamped the clubhouse ". Leather sofa, carpet.
" Who wants to get tossed in New York ". Sit on a metal bar stool watching a small TV.
You are forgetting a few things. Those were the Steinbrenner years and they were like the Dodgers are today as magnets for top players. So they were targets. They were the biggest draw in Toronto. The Blue Jays had a strong Yankee presence with Gillick, Wahle, Cox etc. and numerous players. The Yankees were still paying Doyle Alexander's salary when he tossed a complete game against them to clinch the AL East in Toronto. Billy Martin was New York's manager, enough said. Toronto actually was first in the AL East in August of 1983, so they definitely were battling for first with no wild card to fall back on, The Yankees and Blue Jays finished two wins apart in three consecutive seasons. The top five teams in the AL East in 1988 finished 3 1/2 games apart with all teams over .500. Regardless of the final standing first-place was still at stake during the season.
Went down to the second last game of the season in '85. It was the feeling of the games when they met during that era. Best rivalry was with the Tigers, especially in 1987 obviously. In both cases not manufacured.
Funniest line of the year, New York whines banned in Ontario. They always whine. Can't stand it.
Oh "the whine" of the Yanks in the Jays' present! Thanks to you, now bathed in a broader context, and seen as part of a longer history....
Rivalry now is tame compared to the eighties when they would be battling for first with no wild card crutch. They both were better teams then.
Bottom line is that ‘82 through ‘90 the Yankees did not win a division and the Jays won two and lost the ALCS both times. You mention “The 80s when they would be battling for 1st place…” I’ve seen a decade with better hockey Heated Rivalries on HBO Max.
True. You are experiencing both vicariously.