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Saskatoon

Where were you in '93? The post-game riot in Saskatoon

While many people remember the 1993 World Series win for the Blue Jays, some people in Saskatoon spent the night dodging tear gas and rioters.

A riot broke out on 8th Street in Saskatoon following Blue Jays win in 1993

Riot in Saskatoon after Blue Jays win 1993 World Series

9 years ago
Duration 0:27
Following the Blue Jays 1993 World Series win, fans poured onto 8th Street in Saskatoon. It soon turned into a riot.

With the Blue Jays making the playoffs for the first time since 1993,many people are wandering back in their memories 22 years to where they were that night.

For some people in Saskatoon, the post-game celebration quickly turned into a night oftear gas, police squads and vandalism as a riot broke out on8th Street.

Author BrentLoehrdrove in fromMuenster, Sask. that night to join his friends at a house partynot far from8th Street where they watchedthe game on a small TV screen.

"When Carter hit that home run, obviously there's jubilation and people are very, very excited and pumped," Loehr said.

Soon, he and others at the party poured onto 8th Street like thousands of fans that night.

"It was awesome, " hesaid. Picture a crowd of happy people,high-fiving each other, flying Canadian flags, shouting random Blue Jay cheers, and "carhorns bleating like geese"

"I even recall high-fiving a police officer on the sidewalk and chatting with him about the game."

"That was pretty much our cue to exit."

But the mood changed quickly.

"Eventually though it did sour," Loehrsaid.

...knew that it was getting out of hand when I saw people dangling from street lights- Brent Loehr
According to Loehr, the police officers were soon talking on radios.The riot squad came out creatinga bottleneck the crowdpushedback against. He recalls seeing someone jump onto a vehicle at a car dealership.
This still image was taken from CBC archival footage of the riot that broke out on 8th Street in Saskatoon after the Blue Jays won the 1993 World Series. (CBC)

"I kind of was a little concerned or knew that it was getting out of hand when I saw people dangling from street lights."

Even though Loehr was near the back of the crowd,he could see smoke at one point and smell tear gas.

"That was pretty much our cue to exit."

Loehr said"It's the most embarrassing thing I think I've ever witnessed that is related to baseball."

He said he hopes people learn from what happened.The experienceinspiredLoehrto writeapiecein a short story collectioncalledThe Global Baseball Classroom.

CBC Saskatoon hostGarth Materiewas also on 8th Streetthat night, watching the game with his wife at a pub. Hear his account of what happened that night.
Garth Materie was on 8th Street in Saskatoon when a riot broke out after the Blue Jays won the World Series.

Were you on 8th Street that night? What were your memories? Email us atsaskatoonmorning@cbc.ca