George Springer put Toronto ahead with a three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Toronto Blue Jays advanced to the World Series for the first time since 1993 by beating the Seattle Mariners 4-3

Before a half-billion dollar contract solidified the Toronto Blue Jays’ status as one of baseball’s pre-eminent economic powers, there was George Springer.

It was the only the third go-ahead homer in the seventh inning or later in a Game 7 in postseason history, joining Pittsburgh Pirates ’ Hal Smith in the 1960 World Series and Washington Nationals’ Ho...