Plenty of ties between Blue Jays, Tribe in ALCS

TORONTO — A lot of the talk entering the American League Championship Series, which starts on Friday at Progressive Field (8 p.m. ET on TBS in the U.S., as well as Sportsnet and RDS in Canada), has centered around the similarities between the front offices of the Blue Jays and the Indians. But the connection between these two organizations runs a lot deeper than that.

Toronto team president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins facing their former club is just one part of the story. There’s also a Hall of Famer who starred for each of these teams, some historical moments that each fan base relishes and a pair of starting outfielders who used to call the other city home.

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 14 8 p.m. TOR @ CLE TBS/SNET/RDS Gm 2 Oct. 15 TBD TOR @ CLE TBS/SNET/RDS Gm 3 Oct. 17 TBD CLE@ TOR TBS/SNET/RDS Gm 4 Oct. 18 TBD CLE @ TOR TBS/SNET/RDS *Gm 5 Oct. 19 TBD CLE@ TOR TBS/SNET/RDS *Gm 6 Oct. 21 TBD TOR @ CLE TBS/SNET/RDS *Gm 7 Oct. 22 TBD TOR @ CLE TBS/SNET/RDS *- If necessary | All times listed ET  • Complete postseason coverageShop for postseason gear: Blue Jays | Indians

Here’s a look at four things that Toronto and Cleveland have in common:

1. The faces of the franchise When people think about the glory years of the Blue Jays, there are two names that immediately come to mind: Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter. They were the faces of the franchise during the 1992-93 World Series runs, and they hit two of the most iconic homers in the organization’s history. Carter with the walk-off homer in Game 6 of the ’93 World Series and Alomar off Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley in the ’92 ALCS.

Cleveland also has fond memories of the two. Carter played for the Indians from 1984-89, and he hit 151 homers and 530 RBIs over those six years before he was traded for Sandy Alomar Jr., Carlos Baerga and Chris James in December 1989. Alomar is …

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