The Cito Gaston Appreciation Thread

[Kevin Willis]

For everything.

[tsherkin]

Yeah, why not? He had his flaws, like anyone, but he had his moments, too. Did a pretty good job keeping some odd-balls and crusty vets together to win us a few titles. Did some interesting work at integrating the new guys in 91 into the team (though they surely stood on their own talent as well), then later additions mid-season like Rickey Henderson, etc.

Good times. Thanks for the memories.

Plus, him getting tossed last night was awesome.

[LittleOzzy]

Cito Gaston says so long and thanks for the memories

Dear Jays Fans,

Before I leave the dugout for the last time as Jays' manager, I wanted to tell you how I feel about you as Blue Jays' fans and the city of Toronto. You have been great to me here and I will always appreciate your support and will always thank you. Without the fans we wouldn't have been able to accomplish what we did. Many of you have become my friends.

I call Toronto a second home only because I was born in the States. Deep down I will always consider this city a first home. I lived here for 20 years and I could live here forever. It's a great city. There are very wonderful people that have treated me very well. I love the city. It's the best kept secret in North America, from the theatres to restaurants. Some of the best food I've ever had I've had in this city. Golf courses, the whole works. It's just a great place to live.

I really got to know and appreciate the fans here after I got fired. I always came back to spend the summers here. My wife and I, we walk a lot. So on our walks we ran into a lot of you on the street. Even the police officers and the firemen, even the mounted police riding their horses would stop and say, “Thanks for the memories. Thanks for the good years we had around here.”

When I came back as manager in 2008 what a welcome I got. There were all kinds of signs in the stands saying “Welcome back” — even one lady had a sign up asking me to marry her. I guess she didn't know I was already married. I still can't go out to the mound, taking a pitcher out or leaving him in unless people are yelling their support at me. Sometimes games aren't going too good and I still have to wave at them, even though it's probably not the right time to do it.

I remember your reactions at the ballpark all the times as guest instructor at spring training before I came back to manage. It was very special. Sometimes, the players who weren't here to experience those winning years, once in a while used to look at me a little funny, like “How does this guy get all this kind of applause every time he walks up and down the field?” You were the people that had been fans a long time and supported this team. I didn't do this by myself. We had great support from the front office, all the way from the players and the fans. It's a great feeling.

That first World Series will always be special. We won the second one in such dramatic fashion. But the first one's always going to be the one. When Winfield hit the ball down the line and Robby scored from first base — I can still see that ball. Both series were great, because the way the second one ended, what a fairytale that is. I know Joe Carter must still think of that every day.

Before the World Series years I don't know how many times I was on caravans with Tom Cheek and Jerry Howarth and we'd show videos of our past season. I got to see a lot of this country on those caravans and that was good. The saddest thing about it is that we always ended at a loss. Those were sad times, so close and yet so far away. We had a lot of years like that. That finally changed.

I miss Tom and I miss Stan — Walter Stancheson — who took care of the umpires. We called him Stash. He and Tom would be thrilled to even think that I was back here again managing. I certainly miss those guys. Memories of John Cerutti come across my mind a lot too. And memories of the fans.

Thank you for your support and thank you for your love,

Best Wishes,

Cito Gaston

[Geddy]

I'm glad he got a chance to comeback and leave on a better note than last time. It's a shame that he was out of the league for so long after the first time he was fired.

Anyway thanks for the good times Cito

[MGD24]

What an honest farewell message. That was nice. Class act.

[Michael Bradley]

I may not agree with some of his on-field decisions, but he will definitely hold a special place with the Blue Jays organization. I started following the Jays towards the tailend of the Jimy Williams era, so Gaston's time (89-93 in particular) is definitely the glory years as far as my baseball fandom. He was just as much the face of the franchise as Alomar, Carter, etc, back then.

In the end, I'm glad he got to come back and erase some of the sour taste of 1994-1997. If he had to come back I wish he came back to manage the 2006-08 Jays teams instead of the last two seasons (he is a better fit for a veteran team), but ultimately he did the job, didn't do any real long-term harm, and is leaving on a high note. Best of luck to him.

[evilRyu]

i read the "letter" today, and you can tell he really means everything.. class act, definitely going to miss the guy.

[J-Roc]

Great letter. Definitely not just some corporate speak. What a great manager. For me, it's all about results. And I truly believe this second go around should shut up the critics who say anyone could have managed those teams. Cito always knew what he was doing.

[5DOM]

[hyper316]

amazing. only if jays ended the season at home

[LascelleL]

Thank you Cito. We really appreciate all you've done for us. 92/93

[J-Roc]

When Robbie hit that jack off Eckersley, that's when we knew we were over the hump.

[hyper316]

LOL i love how the whole team painted on a stash in honour of Cito! hilarious!

[Iamtheliquor]

Thanks for the dedication Cito. 92 and 93 will never be forgotten in Toronto.

[Raptorsrock]

Thanks Cito. That run from 85 or so to 92 was a special time for Toronto sports fans and you were a huge part of it.

[Gold Chain]

Both World Series are epic, epic, Toronto sports moments.

Thanks Cito.

Go Jays.

[DonYon]

I think that as die-hard sports fans we focus to much on winning and production, and that for every player/manager/coach or whoever we always blame or bad-mouth about during the team's downfalls, we tend to forget that there is a real person there, and we don't always see that the person puts in hard work and dedication into what he does.

I know I was one of those people that criticized Cito at times, but I couldn't be happier to see him be recognized for his two decades of service for this franchise, and I'm glad that he was given a proper farewell.

Your name will never be forgotten in the hearts of any Jays fan, that's for damn sure. Congrats Mr. Gaston.

[TOStateofMind]

Thanks Cito!

[Geddy]

Watched the ceremony again and it was great to see it a second time. All those interviews with former players show that there is more to being a manager than all that micro-managing stuff that people rag on him for.

Regret not going to the game now. Talked to some friends that went tonight and according to them there were a lot teary eyes at the dome during the ceremony.

[spykelee]

Thanks Cito, I always appreciated your honesty and humility. I didn't even disagree with you much in recent time as many people have (Just don't understand why you didn't play JPA a little more but if that's the worst... meh) Happy trails old boy, may you enjoy retirement, thanks again for everything, it's been an awesome ride!