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Blue Jays are so popular they’re now a go-to stop on the campaign trail

Stephen Harper meets Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons at a batting practice. REUTERS/Fred Thornhill
Stephen Harper meets Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons at a batting practice. REUTERS/Fred Thornhill

By Ian Denomme

The first-place Blue Jays are suddenly the talk of Toronto, and indeed, much of Canada. The country’s only major-league baseball team is very likely slugging its way to its first postseason appearance since 1993. Tickets are getting hard to come by and almost every game sets a new record for television ratings.

The Blue Jays are so popular, in fact, it appears the Rogers Centre is becoming a go-to destination for Canada’s political-party leaders on the campaign trail in advance of the October 19 federal election.

On Monday, Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper rolled into the Rogers Centre as the Blue Jays took on the Cleveland Indians. He was greeted by Blue Jays Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar before heading out to watch batting practice. He walked on to the turf behind the batters box just as Blue Jays’ batting practice ended and shook hands and signed some autographs for a small group of fans on the field.

Harper stuck around for the game and was shown on the TV broadcast in the bottom of the third inning, but was never shown on the jumbotron in the stadium. But he has a fan in Blue Jays manager John Gibbons.

"He seemed like a great guy," Gibbons said. "We're probably both outnumbered in this town but I told him I love his politics."

Harper’s appearance came barely two weeks after NDP leader Tom Mulclair spent a Friday evening at the ballpark. Mulclair had the good sense to wear a Blue Jays jacket while watching the game with his adult sons, though the candid-looking photos of him enjoying the action are surely anything but.

It’s also worth mentioning the Blue Jays’ 11-game winning streak ended with a loss to the New York Yankees the night Mulclair was in the house. After the Blue Jays’ 4-2 loss to the Indians on Monday the team is now 0-2 with either Mulclair and Harper in attendance. Serious stuff for Blue Jays fans to consider as we head to the polls.

It’s looking more and more likely the federal election will coincide with the first Blue Jays playoff appearance in 22 years. It’s surely only a matter of time before Liberal leader Justin Trudeau throws on a Blue Jays jersey – the red Canada Day version no doubt – and hams it up for the fans.

As for Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe? He could find a vintage Andre Dawson Montreal Expos jersey and make bold campaign promises about Major League Baseball returning to Quebec. It’s working for Montreal mayor Denis Corderre.

Ian Denomme is an editor and writer for Yahoo Sports. Email him at denomme@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter.