Cito Gaston Joins Toronto Maple Leafs as Special Adviser

Cito Gaston, former manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, has been appointed as a special adviser to the Toronto Maple Leafs, an independent semi-professional baseball team. Keith Stein, the co-owner and CEO of the Maple Leafs expressed amazement that Gaston, a legendary figure in Canadian baseball, was available as a free agent.

Gaston, who celebrated his 80th birthday this year, led the Blue Jays to consecutive World Series championships in 1992 and 1993, a historic feat that cemented his reputation as one of the greatest managers in the franchise’s history. He last managed the team during a brief return stint from 2008 to 2010 and served as a special adviser until 2015, when a management change led to his departure from the organization.

“I didn’t feel that I wanted to do what they wanted me to do,” Gaston told the Toronto Star, referring to an offer he received around 2018 from current Blue Jays management to rejoin them. Instead, Gaston opted for a quieter life, enjoying golf and travel.

At the Toronto Maple Leafs, Gaston will be offering his insights to the team’s manager, Rob Butler, and will attend several games in the upcoming season. Butler, who played under Gaston during the early 1990s, remembers him as a quiet leader who made a significant impact without being intrusive. “Cito was everyone’s hero,” Butler stated.

Stein, reflecting on Gaston’s role with the team, remarked, “He’s the smartest baseball mind that we’ve ever had in this country. For us to be able to pick his brain, that’s something.”

A recent change in ownership has seen a new group take control of the Maple Leafs franchise, with hopes of enriching their value to the local community. They aim to leverage Gaston’s wealth of experience in advancing the team’s journey.