Snow daze

This is how Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium looks 48 years ago today as the Blue Jays prepare to play their first game as the newest member of the American League.

Playing through breezy, snowy conditions with the temperature topping out at 32 degrees – that would be 0 for fans of Celsius – the Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 before a well-bundled, Thursday afternoon crowd of 44,649.

The, ahem, hottest hitter of the day is Toronto first baseman Doug Ault, who goes 3-for-4 with two homers and four runs batted in and two homers.

Both of his homers come off White Sox starter Ken Brett on a solo drive in the first inning and a two-run shot in the third inning.

Ault’s RBI single in the eighth inning off reliever Dave Hamilton pushes Toronto’s lead to 8-5.

Not much goes especially well either for the Blue Jays or Ault after the opener.

Toronto’s first season ends with a major league-worst record of 54-107, while Ault – in his only season as a starter in the majors – hits just nine more homers in his next 126 games and finishes the season batting .245 with 11 homers and 64 RBIs.

Ault is out of the majors after the 1980 season and finishes his pro career two years later in the Mexican League.