For most Toronto Blue Jays players, the walk-up song is a calculated statement of intent. For Hazel Mae, the veteran sportscaster who has spent 25 years chronicling the team’s triumphs and tribulations, the choice is simpler and more personal. If she had a walk-up song, she says she would choose the viral hit “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters.
The timing is apt. Mae is currently navigating a golden era of her own, marked by a level of professional recognition that few in her field ever achieve. In December, she became only the second woman to receive the Jack Graney Award from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, a lifetime achievement honor for sports journalists. Shortly thereafter, she was named the recipient of the Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism at the Canadian Screen Awards.
These accolades serve as a formal validation of a career that has been defined as much by its breakthroughs as by its barriers. While millions of fans across North America became acquainted with her during the Blue Jays’ recent high-stakes postseason runs, Mae’s ascent was not a linear path. It was a journey forged through the sacrifices of her family and a persistent refusal to be sidelined in a male-dominated industry.
“I never, ever really wrapped my head around [the idea] that ‘Hey, maybe one day I’ll be in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame,’” Mae said. “Women in general, we don’t stop and kind of pat ourselves on the back when we should.”
The Immigration Legacy and the ‘Water Cooler’
The foundation of Mae’s career was laid decades before she ever stepped onto a professional diamond. It began with her late father, a lawyer in the Philippines who immigrated to Canada in 1973. Upon arrival, he faced a harsh reality: Canada did not recognize his law degree. To provide for his family, he took a job at SickKids hospital in Toronto.
In the corridors of the hospital, Mae says her father discovered that sports were the primary currency of social integration. Conversations among colleagues revolved around the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Argos. To bridge the gap and learn English, her father began watching sports intently, using them as a linguistic tool to contribute to “water cooler” conversations.
This passion was passed down to Mae, though it didn’t initially translate into professional approval. For a Southeast Asian immigrant father, “honourable professions” were limited to medicine and law. Convincing him that sports journalism was a viable career path was a struggle. “He thought, ‘Listen — you’re going to be a doctor or a lawyer,’ there was no in-between,” Mae said.
The tension eventually gave way to support. Mae began her journey with Sportsnet in 2001, a tenure that would see her cover the Boston Red Sox in the U.S. Before returning home to become the face of the Blue Jays’ on-field reporting.
Navigating the Weight of Representation
For much of her early career, Mae describes a desire to blend in. In an industry where Southeast Asian women were virtually nonexistent, she felt the pressure of being an outlier. “I didn’t want anyone to single me out, because of what I looked like or what my socioeconomic background was,” she said. “I wanted to feel like I belonged.”
Still, the reality of being a trailblazer is that visibility often creates an accidental roadmap for others. Mae recalls a pivotal “aha” moment when a young girl with blonde hair and green eyes approached her for an autograph, telling her mother she wanted to be “just like her.” It was a realization that her presence on screen mattered to children of all backgrounds, signaling that the press box was an open door.
Despite her success, Mae admits that the emotional toll of public life remains. While many assume that 25 years in the spotlight creates an impenetrable armor, she remains candid about her vulnerability to criticism, particularly regarding her appearance. “Through all these years, I care whether you like me or not,” she said. “Public figures, we’re out there for people to just shoot their arrows at, and I guess the arrows pierce, they hurt — no matter how tiny they are.”
Even after decades as a beloved sportscaster, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee says she has never developed a thick skin. She spoke about the challenges of being a people pleaser in the public eye.
The Art of the ‘Throwaway’ Question
Mae’s ability to secure authentic moments from athletes is often viewed as a mastery of the craft, but she describes it as a result of genuine human connection. By focusing on the person rather than the player—asking about family or daily routines—she builds a rapport that transcends the typical media-athlete dynamic.
This approach led to one of the most iconic moments of her career: the “born ready” interview with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. After the Blue Jays forced a Game 7 in the American League Championship Series, Mae found herself in a moment of mental static. With her planned questions gone, she asked a spontaneous, “throwaway” question: if he was ready for Game 7.
The result was a viral sensation that spawned merchandise and bobbleheads. “He paused and he had this little smirk on his face, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s going to say something so profound and maybe historic,’” Mae recalled.
The Blue Jays sportscaster describes the moments leading up to her now famous on-field interview with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images/Reuters.
That level of intimacy with the team also means Mae is often the first target of the celebratory Gatorade showers. While the “Gatorade bath” typically follows a walk-off win, she notes that Guerrero Jr. Finds the act funny and attempts it nearly every time the team wins, regardless of the circumstances. For Mae, the smell of red Gatorade in her hair is a little price to pay for the access and trust she has earned.
A Script Written in Persistence
Looking back on 25 years, the rewards have finally begun to eclipse the costs—the missed family gatherings, the long hours of preparation, and the loneliness of being “the first.” For Mae, the ultimate victory is the legacy she leaves for her children, including her 13-year-ancient son.
The trajectory of her career reflects a broader shift in sports media, moving from a closed circle of traditionalists to a more inclusive landscape where representation is not just a goal, but a necessity. By refusing to be intimidated by the “arrows” of public criticism, Mae has carved out a space where she can be both a professional authority and a human being.
“The fact that my name is going to be in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, or that my …13-year-old son will look back and see me acquire a Canadian Screen Award in front of all these unbelievably talented people, I don’t think I could have written a better script, really,” Mae said.
As the Blue Jays prepare for their next campaign, Mae remains a fixture of the organization, with her upcoming appearance at the Canadian Screen Awards marking the next official milestone in a career that continues to break ground.
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