With NBA All-Star Weekend upon us, the center of the basketball universe will for a short time be located squarely in downtown Toronto, marking the first time in the 65-year history of the event that it will be located outside the United States.
It’s been a long time coming. Although Toronto isn’t a basketball town, per se, there’s no doubt that the Raptors have captured the attention of the city with their resurgence in recent years. And beyond pro hoops, Toronto is a host to teams in two of the other three major American sports leagues, as well as a Canadian Football League franchise and a Major League Soccer club.
In its history, the city’s seen 31 championships across three sports—MLB, NHL, and CFL. But beyond the trophies and cups, a number of other influential moments have occurred in the more than 100-year history of athletics in Toronto. Here are 20 of them: