A wave of enthusiasm for baseball is sweeping across Quebec, with registration numbers soaring to levels not seen in decades. The surge is largely credited to the Toronto Blue Jays’ recent appearance in the World Series, igniting a passion for the sport among young players and their families.

Record Registration Numbers Across the Province

Pascal Davignon, responsible for minor baseball in Saint-Eustache, has witnessed the dramatic increase firsthand. Traditionally, his association’s winter camp attracted around twenty children. This winter, however, saw a jump to 35 – and even more, forcing him to turn players away. A great enthusiasm. It was cool, he said.

The rapid registration for the summer season was equally remarkable. The U18 category sold out in just two and a half hours. And the next day, it continued, it continued, it continued. The demand was so high that Davignon received a message from Maxime Lamarche, the general director of Baseball Quebec: Cuckoo, Pascal, is this a joke, your business?

It wasn’t. Associations in Lachute and Saint-Colomban, despite not being major metropolitan areas, quickly reached their registration limits for players aged 7 and under, capping at 100. We can’t seize more. It’s physically impossible, stated Alexandre Gobeil, president of the local association in Lachute.

Echoes of the Expos Era

The current surge in popularity is reminiscent of the peak years of the Montreal Expos. Maxime Lamarche noted, We came back to the figures from the 1990s. It looks like the big Expos seasons, in 1994, 1995. If the trend continues, Baseball Quebec anticipates between 40,000 and 45,000 young players participating this summer, a significant increase from the 31,000 registered in 2024.

The increased interest is also impacting infrastructure. With existing facilities at capacity, Baseball Quebec is supporting local applications for the Toronto Blue Jays Foundation’s Field of Dreams program, which aims to build or renovate baseball fields across Canada. In just four days, the federation received inquiries from 44 municipalities, including towns without existing federated baseball programs.

The Blue Jays Effect

The Blue Jays’ World Series run is widely seen as the catalyst for this renewed enthusiasm. More and more people started following Baseball Quebec [sur les réseaux sociaux]. And there, in the middle of winter, we see waiting lists. The Blue Jays certainly had an impact. said Lamarche.

S. Kay Vongprachanh, of the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu baseball association, confirmed this, stating, As early as last fall, during the final, parents wrote to me to ask me how to register their children for the 2026 season. Alexandre Gobeil added that many fresh registrants are first-time players, particularly at the Rallye Cap level (ages 4-7).

Beyond new players, associations are also seeing a return of teenagers who had previously taken a break from the sport, and improved player retention rates. The Junior A Metropolitan League is experiencing significant growth, now boasting around twenty teams.

The growth extends to women’s baseball, with player numbers increasing from 500 to 6,000 over the past 20 years.

This remarkable resurgence demonstrates the enduring appeal of baseball in Quebec, even without a major league team in Montreal.

FAQ

• What is driving the increase in baseball registrations? The Toronto Blue Jays’ World Series run is the primary factor, sparking renewed interest in the sport.
• How many young players are expected to participate this summer? Baseball Quebec anticipates between 40,000 and 45,000 players.
• Are there any infrastructure challenges? Yes, many parks are at capacity, and associations are facing challenges accommodating the increased demand.

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