The wives and girlfriends—also known as WAGs—of Toronto Blue Jays players are reflecting on the season that was, following a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series.
Taking to their Instagram accounts, many of the WAGs looked back on what they called a “special” season, and remarked on how spending 180 games with each other brought them close like a “family.”
Others, whose husbands or boyfriends joined the team later in the season, praised the organization and those within it for being “welcoming.”
“For me, this is a story of falling in love with baseball again – the team, the women, the players, the fans, the staff, all of it,” posted Kara Bieber, wife of Blue Jays starting pitcher Shane Bieber.
“I’d be lying if I said the outcome doesn’t hurt, but I can’t help but feel so proud of my husband and his teammates,” she continued.
“I’ll never forget how Shane and I would be almost giddy after games, just talking about how lucky we felt to be surrounded by such incredible humans. I’d tell him how amazing the women were, and he’d smile and say the same about the guys. We felt so welcomed from the moment we got to Canada. It’s something we’ll cherish forever.”
Similar sentiments were shared by Maggie France, wife of first baseman Ty France who joined the Jays organization at the trade deadline.
She praised the Blue Jays and the city of Toronto for welcoming their family with “open arms.”
“An unexpected mid-season trade landed us with the most incredible organization a few months back and I can’t help but be so grateful for our time here,” she wrote on Instagram.
“The city, the organization, the friends that already feel like family, I am beyond grateful for it all. Thank you for welcoming the France Fam with open arms Toronto. We’ll hold this season close to our hearts forever.”
The wife of reliever Louis Varland, who also joined the Jays at the trade deadline, echoed those comments.
“From the moment Louie got traded to the Blue Jays, he told me that the culture felt different,” wrote Maddie Varland. “This was the craziest, most stressful yet most rewarding ride that baseball has brought us on so far. This team and the girls were one of a kind. Every person welcomed us with open arms and treated us like we were family from the start, and I’m so happy that we were able to be part of it.”
Charlise Springer, wife of designated hitter George Springer, took to her Instagram account to share numerous photos of her and the other WAGs watching games from the stands and spending time with each other, commenting on the “memories” they shared together over the course of the season.
“Baseball doesn’t promise fairytale endings, but it gives you people and moments that last a lifetime,” she wrote. “Feeling nothing but gratitude for the chance to represent Canada’s team and be part of something so special.”
Starting pitcher Kevin Gausman’s wife, Taylor, reiterated Charlise’s comments about being proud to represent as Canada’s team.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported us from the beginning, we are so grateful to have the opportunity to even be here and represent Canada’s team,” Taylor captioned part of her post. “It has been a beyond fun ride and although I’m sad it didn’t turn out the way we wanted, it still doesn’t take away how proud I am of what this team has accomplished this year.”
She also noted that she was “proud” of her husband, to be a part of the Blue Jays and “all the guys and the amazing women behind them,” and added that she thinks the Blue Jays will “always be the better team on and off the field.”
Relief pitcher Brendon Little’s wife, Emily, posted her thoughts about the historic season for the Jays squad and praised the team for being “genuinely good people” as well as celebrated her fellow WAGs.
“It’s rare to find a group of guys like this, and to have an equally amazing group of women by their side is even rarer,” she captioned her post.
“Baseball is funny like that… you never get the same exact team twice. But something about this group was special. The kind of team you’ll look back on years from now and still feel grateful to have been a part of.”