Some people don’t stand at the plate to hit, throw decisive pitches, or sprint to home plate amidst the cheers of tens of thousands of fans. Yet, they become an integral part of a team’s story. For Hazel Mae, more than two decades with the Toronto Blue Jays have transformed her from a broadcast reporter into a familiar face—a witness to the team’s ups and downs and a cherished part of the memories held by Canadian fans.
Reflecting on that journey, Mae cannot hide her emotion. Twenty years is a long time—long enough to see countless generations of players come and go, to witness seasons of disappointment interspersed with electrifying moments, and to experience nights at the Rogers Centre that became unforgettable memories.
For Mae, all of this adds up to a journey of which she says she is “incredibly proud.”
From early days to a familiar face of the Blue Jays
The story of Hazel Mae and the Blue Jays began in the early 2000s when she joined Sportsnet and hosted *JZone*—a program dedicated to the Toronto Blue Jays.
At the time, no one could have predicted that she would become one of the most recognizable faces in the team’s media landscape.
Mae subsequently spent time working in Boston and at the MLB Network before returning to Sportsnet in 2011. In 2015, she began serving as an in-game reporter for Blue Jays broadcasts.
From then on, Hazel Mae became a frequent presence on the sidelines, in the clubhouse, ahead of crucial games, and amidst the moments that Toronto fans would never forget. She did more than just interview players after the game.
She watched them grow.
She saw young players make their Major League debuts. She witnessed veterans say their goodbyes. She stood before the camera after heart-stopping victories and was present on nights when the entire Rogers Centre was steeped in disappointment.
Those two decades represent far more than just a number.
They encompass thousands of stories.
Twenty years of unforgettable moments.
The Blue Jays have undergone immense change during Hazel Mae’s time with the team.
Iconic names came and went. New generations emerged. Rebuilding seasons gave way to campaigns where the Blue Jays returned to postseason contention.
Mae was there for it all.
She witnessed moments that made the Rogers Centre erupt—home runs that brought tens of thousands of fans to their feet, and games decided only in the final moments.
Yet, perhaps the most special aspect of a sports reporter’s job isn’t found in the flashy highlights.
It lies in the stories behind the scenes.
A player calling home after a game.
A father in the stands watching his son play in the Major Leagues for the first time.
A veteran realizing his career is nearing its end.
A young player walking into the clubhouse, eyes wide with nervous anticipation.
Mae witnessed it all.
And it was the people behind the Blue Jays uniforms who truly made her journey special.
“I am incredibly proud.”
Looking back on a journey spanning more than 20 years, Mae feels no regret.
What she feels is gratitude. She understands that very few reporters have the opportunity to witness a team evolve across so many generations. Even fewer become such a familiar part of the fans’ lives over such a long period.
For Mae, the Blue Jays are no longer merely a team she covers.
They have become an integral part of her professional life.
“I am incredibly proud of this journey,” Mae says, looking back on the years gone by. “I’ve met so many wonderful people and witnessed moments I know I’ll cherish forever. What’s most special is that the fans have always made me feel like I’m part of the story, too.”
That is perhaps what makes Mae’s journey so unique.
She doesn’t decide the outcome of the games.
But she is the one who tells the stories that shape the fans’ memories.
A Storyteller for Toronto
In sports, the winners are usually the ones remembered first.
But behind every historic moment, there are people who help share that story with the world.
Hazel Mae is one of those people.
She has interviewed countless Blue Jays players—from superstars to those who spent only a brief time in Toronto. Each one left behind a different story.
Some made her laugh.
Others moved her deeply.
There were interviews that lasted only minutes yet remained special memories years later.
And sometimes, those conversations allowed fans to see the person behind the player.
That is the greatest value a reporter can offer.
Not just conveying the results.
And telling the story.
The Blue Jays changed her, too.
Twenty years in a professional sports environment certainly changes more than just the team.
It changes the person standing on the sidelines as well.
Hazel Mae was a young reporter when she began her journey with the Blue Jays. Over the years, she became one of the most seasoned and recognizable faces of the team’s broadcasts.
Time brings experience.
Tough interviews taught her how to listen.
The team’s losses taught her patience.
Victories taught her to cherish every moment.
And the players’ stories taught her that behind every season, there are people fighting battles with their own unique narratives.
Perhaps that is why, when looking back, Mae speaks of more than just the games.
She speaks of the people.
A new chapter, yet the love remains.
Twenty years does not mean the story is over.
On the contrary, for someone who remains a fixture in Blue Jays broadcasts, it may simply be a milestone to reflect upon before moving forward.
Baseball keeps changing.
The Blue Jays keep changing.
New players will arrive at the Rogers Centre. Familiar faces will say goodbye. New generations of fans will grow up alongside the team.
And Hazel Mae will likely still be there, microphone in hand, waiting for the next story to unfold.
Because after more than two decades, one thing seems to remain constant.
Her love for the Blue Jays. “I don’t know what the future holds,” Mae might say, “but I know I’ll always be grateful for the chance to have lived through so many moments with this team. The past twenty years have been a huge part of my life, and I am incredibly proud of that.”
Twenty years.
Thousands of games.
Countless interviews.
Victories, defeats, tears, and cheers.
The Blue Jays have changed a great deal since the day Hazel Mae began her journey.
But when she looks back on it all, it isn’t the numbers that stand out.
It’s the people.
It’s the memories.
And it’s the special feeling of knowing she spent more than two decades telling the story of a team that millions of Canadians call their own.
For Hazel Mae, it wasn’t just a job.
It was a part of her life—and a journey she can be immensely proud of.