Toronto is in Major League Baseball (MLB) because the city was awarded an MLB franchise in 1976 as part of an American League expansion that added two teams for the 1977 season. The Toronto Blue Jays became the first MLB team based outside the United States. Toronto was considered a strong candidate for a team due to its large population, existing baseball culture (including the Toronto Maple Leafs International League team), and efforts by local business groups to bring MLB there. The Blue Jays began play in 1977 and have since become an integral part of MLB, winning World Series titles in 1992 and 1993 and serving as a national team for Canada, representing the entire country in the league.
In summary, Toronto is in the MLB because it was awarded an expansion franchise in the 1970s due to its market size, historical baseball presence, and local initiatives to bring top-level professional baseball to Canada. The Blue Jays remain the sole Canadian team in MLB since the Montreal Expos left in 2004, making Toronto the only MLB city outside the U.S. today.
