“From Dugouts to Lifelong Bonds: The Untold Story of Lois McDonald and Lady Patel, Two Trailblazing Women Who Found Friendship and Purpose Amid the 1977 Toronto Blue Jays Inaugural Season….
In the vibrant, transformative summer of 1977, as the Toronto Blue Jays took flight in their inaugural season, two remarkable women—Lois McDonald and Lady Patel—found themselves at the heart of something far greater than baseball. While the team made headlines as Canada’s first Major League Baseball franchise, it was the unbreakable bond forged between Lois and Lady in the bleachers and backrooms of Exhibition Stadium that became a quiet, powerful legacy all its own.
Lois McDonald, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, was a passionate baseball enthusiast and one of the first women to join the Blue Jays’ community engagement team. Sharp, organized, and known for her fierce dedication, Lois was instrumental in organizing fan events and youth baseball outreach during the club’s early, uncertain days. Her deep love for the sport had started in childhood, watching her father play semi-pro ball, and culminated in her dream job with Canada’s newest sports sensation.
Lady Patel, a recent immigrant from India, had moved to Toronto with her family in the mid-1970s. A curious soul with a sharp wit and boundless energy, she found herself working part-time as a concessions supervisor at the stadium. Though baseball was unfamiliar to her at first, Lady quickly became intrigued by the energy of the crowd, the rhythm of the game, and the spirit of the fans.
The two women met by chance—Lois helping to set up a youth event, and Lady managing the snack stands nearby. A simple exchange over scheduling and logistics led to coffee after a game, then more conversations in the stands during slow innings. It didn’t take long for their friendship to bloom. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, they found shared strength in their work ethic, in their outsider status within the male-dominated world of sports, and in their mutual love for people.
Together, they championed inclusion within the Blue Jays’ growing community programs. Lois pushed for women’s voices to be heard in fan engagement, and Lady helped bring new cultural communities into the baseball fold, organizing special food nights and multicultural events that reflected the changing face of Toronto.
Their friendship outlasted the seasons. Though Lois eventually moved into a senior role with a Canadian sports nonprofit and Lady pursued a successful career in hospitality, they remained lifelong friends. They never missed a Blue Jays home opener, often sitting side by side, still cheering as if it were 1977 all over again.
Their story, largely unknown to the public, has recently been rediscovered by historians chronicling the origins of the Blue Jays and the unseen impact of women behind the scenes. A new exhibit at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, titled “Women of the Jays: Voices from 1977,” will include a section honoring McDonald and Patel’s contributions.
As the Blue Jays mark nearly 50 years since their founding, the story of Lois McDonald and Lady Patel stands as a testament to how sports can foster connection, empowerment, and unexpected friendship. Their legacy reminds us that baseball, at its best, is about more than just wins and losses—it’s about community, courage, and the people who make it all possible.