On Friday, October 24, 2025, Addison Barger, a 25-year-old left-handed outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays, launched the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history—a moment that echoed through 120 years of baseball lore—just hours after spending the night sleeping on his teammate’s squeaky pull-out couch. The historic blast came in Game 1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre in Toronto, turning what seemed like a quirky hotel arrangement into a legend in the making.
The Couch That Changed History
It wasn’t a luxury suite. It wasn’t even a real bed. Just a pull-out sofa in a modest hotel room overlooking the Rogers Centre outfield, where Davis Schneider, the Blue Jays’ 26-year-old infielder, offered his couch to Barger after the latter had initially crashed at teammate Myles Straw’s place. "He was like, ‘Can I sleep in the bed with you guys?’" Schneider told reporters after the game. "I said, ‘No. Sleep on my couch.’ It’s a pull-out. It was squeaking all night. It was so funny to look over and see him sleeping there in the middle of the night. He’s a head case, but he’s funny."
The room, shared with Schneider’s girlfriend and the faint hum of the city outside, became the unlikely launchpad for history. Around 2 a.m., the trio woke to the sound of voices rising from the field—Pharrell Williams and the Voices of Fire choir rehearsing the national anthems, dancers swaying across the outfield under stadium lights. Barger sat up on the couch, half-asleep, watching the spectacle. "I thought it was a dream," he later said. "Then I heard someone say ‘Let’s go, Blue Jays.’ And I knew it was real."
From Bench to Legend
Barger wasn’t supposed to be in the lineup that night. Schneider was slated to face Dodgers lefty Blake Snell, known for dominating left-handed hitters like Barger. Schneider went 0-for-3 in his three at-bats before being pulled in the sixth inning with the Blue Jays leading 5-2 and the bases loaded. Enter Barger. The crowd, already buzzing, fell silent as he stepped into the box against reliever Anthony Banda. One pitch. A 94-mph slider. And then—crack.
The ball cleared the right-field fence, clearing the bases and turning a 5-2 lead into a 9-2 blowout. The Rogers Centre exploded. The Blue Jays had just made history: the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history. No one had done it since the first World Series in 1903. Not Mantle. Not Bonds. Not Yogi. Not even the greats who played under the lights of Yankee Stadium or Dodger Stadium. Barger, the guy who wasn’t on the Opening Day roster, who didn’t own a home in Toronto because he didn’t know if he’d be here next month, had just etched his name into the record books.
Superstition Takes Root
Baseball is a game of rituals. Bats taped a certain way. Socks pulled high. Pre-game meals unchanged for decades. But this? Sleeping on a couch that squeaks? That’s new. And it worked.
According to MLB.com, Barger woke up on Schneider’s couch the next morning—and didn’t move. "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it," read the headline in Sportsnet’s follow-up piece. Barger kept sleeping there. Game 2. Game 3. Even when the Blue Jays flew to Los Angeles, he brought a portable mattress and insisted on setting it up next to Schneider’s bed. "I don’t know why it works," Barger admitted. "But I’m not changing anything. Not now. Not ever."
It’s not just Barger. Schneider says the whole team has noticed a shift. "He’s calmer. More focused. Like the couch is his lucky charm," said George Springer, the veteran Blue Jays outfielder. Even Hunter Menz, the 34-year-old assistant hitting coach who once mentored Schneider, joked, "We’ve got a new ritual. The Couch. The Squeak. The Slam. That’s our new mantra."
Why This Matters Beyond the Box Score
This wasn’t just a home run. It was a story about resilience. Barger was a fringe player, cut from the roster in spring training, picked up again on waivers, and only called up in August after injuries piled up. He didn’t have a big contract. Didn’t have a big name. Just a quiet work ethic and a willingness to sleep on a couch if it meant staying in the game.
"He’s one of those guys who doesn’t ask for much," said Blue Jays manager John Schneider (no relation to Davis). "He just shows up. Works. And when his name’s called—he’s ready. That’s what baseball’s about. Not the stars. The guys who earn their spot every day."
The Dodgers, who entered the series as heavy favorites after winning the 2024 title, were stunned. "We didn’t see him coming," said Dodgers catcher Will Smith. "You don’t prepare for a guy who sleeps on a couch and then hits a grand slam. That’s just... baseball."
What’s Next for the Couch and the Club?
The Blue Jays lead the series 2-1 after Barger’s heroics. The couch? Still in use. Teammates now joke about "The Couch Effect." Some have even started bringing their own mattresses to share the luck. A local Toronto business has already started selling "Barger Couch" pillows online—limited edition, squeak-proof, naturally.
As for Barger? He’s not talking about contracts or endorsements. He’s just glad the couch still works. "I don’t need a mansion," he said after Game 3. "I just need a place to sleep. And if that place squeaks and helps me hit a grand slam? Then I’m good."
Historical Context: The Weight of 120 Years
Before October 24, 2025, no pinch-hitter had ever cleared the bases in a World Series game. Not in 1903. Not in 1923. Not in 1996. Not even in 2001, when Luis Gonzalez’s walk-off single beat the Yankees. Pinch-hit home runs were rare. Grand slams? Nearly mythical. The closest anyone came was in 1986, when the Mets’ Ray Knight hit a pinch-hit two-run homer—but never a slam. Barger didn’t just break a record. He rewrote the rules of what’s possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Addison Barger end up sleeping on Davis Schneider’s couch?
Barger initially stayed with teammate Myles Straw during the World Series, but due to last-minute housing logistics and limited hotel availability, he moved in with Schneider. When he asked to sleep in the bed, Schneider declined and offered the pull-out couch instead. What started as a temporary fix turned into a superstition after Barger’s historic home run.
Why is this considered the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history?
Despite 120 years of World Series play since 1903, no pinch-hitter had ever hit a grand slam in the Fall Classic. While pinch-hit home runs occurred before, none came with the bases loaded. Barger’s blast in the sixth inning of Game 1 against the Dodgers was the first time all four runners scored on a pinch-hit homer in World Series history.
What role did superstition play in Barger’s success?
Baseball is full of superstitions, and Barger’s couch routine quickly became one. After the Game 1 win, he refused to change his sleeping arrangement—even moving to Los Angeles, he brought his own mattress to replicate the setup. Teammates and coaches noticed improved focus and calmness, reinforcing the belief that the couch was a lucky charm. MLB.com confirmed he slept on it before every subsequent game.
How did the Blue Jays’ roster situation contribute to this moment?
Barger wasn’t on the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster in 2025. He was added mid-season after injuries depleted the outfield. His journey from waiver-wire pickup to World Series hero embodies the grit of backup players who rarely get recognition. His pinch-hit appearance was a strategic move—Schneider, a right-hander, was replaced to counter the Dodgers’ lefty reliever, Anthony Banda.
What’s the significance of the hotel room’s location?
The hotel room where Barger slept offered a direct view of the Rogers Centre outfield, where he’d later hit his home run. Players reported hearing the choir rehearsal before the game, which some believe helped mentally prepare him. The proximity to the field—both physically and symbolically—has become part of the story’s mystique, with fans now calling it "The View That Changed Everything."
Will Barger keep sleeping on the couch for the rest of the series?
Yes. Barger has confirmed he will continue sleeping on Schneider’s couch for every remaining World Series game. Even as the Blue Jays travel to Los Angeles, he’s brought a portable mattress to recreate the setup. Teammates say it’s now part of the team’s routine, with some joking they’ll need a new hotel room just to accommodate the couch—and the luck it brings.
