The recent talk of the Toronto Blue Jays potentially making it to the World Series has stirred up memories of their 1993 victory, where Joe Carter’s iconic home run secured their second consecutive championship, marking their last win to date.
In Saskatoon, the 1993 victory also evokes memories of a riot that erupted on Eighth Street in the city following Carter’s historic moment. Initially a celebration with around 4,000 people waving Canadian flags and reveling in joy, the atmosphere soon turned chaotic, leading to damaged cars, businesses, tear gas deployment, and numerous arrests.
City archivist Jeff O’Brien reflected on the events of that night in an interview with Stephanie Massicotte on CBC’s Saskatoon Morning. He described how the festive mood quickly spiraled out of control, with the police finding themselves overwhelmed by the large crowd. The sequence of events that escalated the situation remains disputed, with some suggesting that the police may have overreacted.
O’Brien highlighted the use of Criminal Code Section 67, historically rooted in 18th-century English law, as a tool to disperse the riotous assembly. This legal provision mandates individuals to disperse within a specified time frame, failing which arrests can be made.
Former CBC Saskatoon radio host Garth Materie, who was present at the scene that night, recounted the chaos and escalating tensions among the crowd. Materie mentioned that police orders to keep Eighth Street open to traffic despite the escalating situation led to the eventual intervention of the riot squad and deployment of tear gas, further fueling the unrest.
By the early hours of the morning, the situation had calmed down, with at least 14 arrests made. O’Brien noted that while Saskatoon has witnessed other large gatherings, none have matched the level of chaos seen in the aftermath of the 1993 Blue Jays victory.
Looking ahead to a potential World Series win for the Blue Jays this year, O’Brien expressed hope that the city would not witness a repeat of the 1993 riot. Reflecting on the aging demographics of those involved in the previous incident, he cautiously remarked that the passage of time might deter a similar outbreak of violence.
