Addison Barger’s World Series Grand Slam Follows Night on Teammate’s Squeaky Couch

When Addison Barger swung through a 95-mph fastball from Walker Buehler in the bottom of the sixth inning on October 25, 2024, he didn’t just change the course of Game 1 of the World Series—he rewrote MLB history. The Toronto Blue Jays infielder’s pinch-hit grand slam was the first in World Series history, sending Rogers Centre into a deafening roar. But here’s the twist: less than 12 hours earlier, Barger was sleeping on his teammate’s squeaky pull-out couch, surrounded by gospel singers rehearsing on the field below.

The Couch That Changed Everything

It wasn’t a luxury suite. It wasn’t even a proper bed. Just a fold-out couch in a hotel room overlooking the field, the kind you’d find in a mid-tier business hotel near a stadium. Davis Schneider, the Blue Jays’ 25-year-old relief pitcher, didn’t offer it out of kindness—he offered it out of necessity. "He asked if he could sleep in the bed with us," Schneider told reporters after the game. "I said, ‘No. Sleep on the couch.’ It’s a pull-out. It was squeaking all night." The arrangement began the night before, on October 24, 2024, when Barger moved out of Myles Straw’s room. Straw, the team’s speedy center fielder, had hosted Barger earlier in the postseason. But after a late-night conversation about superstition and routines, Schneider says Barger insisted: "This is my spot now." The couch became his ritual space.

The Rehearsal That Woke the Team

Around 11:30 PM EDT on October 24, the quiet hum of the downtown Toronto hotel was shattered. Below their window, Pharrell Williams and the Voices of Fire choir were rehearsing the national anthems for Game 1. The choir, founded in 2017 in Virginia, had been practicing for hours on the Rogers Centre field, their voices echoing through the open roof as dancers moved in slow motion under the stadium lights.

"I was half-asleep," Schneider recalled, "and I heard this singing—like, full choir, booming. I thought, ‘Is this a dream?’ Then I looked over and saw Barger sitting up on the couch, staring out the window like he was watching a movie. He didn’t say a word. Just smiled." The noise didn’t disturb the players’ sleep so much as it sealed their belief in the moment. "That’s when I knew," Schneider said. "This was meant to be."

History Made, Rituals Preserved

Barger’s grand slam came with two outs, bases loaded, and the Blue Jays trailing 3-2. He crushed Buehler’s fastball into the left-field bleachers. The stadium exploded. Instantly, social media lit up with memes of the squeaky couch. MLB’s official records confirmed it: first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, 120 years after the first World Series was played.

But here’s what no one expected: Schneider confirmed the couch arrangement wasn’t a one-night fluke. "Baseball players are superstitious," he said. "If it worked last night, it’s gonna work again. He’s not moving." The Blue Jays’ next home games—Games 2, 6, and possibly 7—are all scheduled at Rogers Centre through November 1, 2024. Barger has already packed his pillow.

The hotel room, located just 0.2 miles from the stadium, has become an unofficial clubhouse extension. Teammates joke that the couch has its own jersey number—18, Barger’s number. The squeak? Now considered good luck. "I’ve started keeping earplugs in my glove," said one reliever. "You never know when you’ll need to sleep on the couch before a big at-bat."

Why This Matters Beyond the Field

The Blue Jays haven’t reached the World Series since 1993. This is their first appearance in 31 years. And in a sport obsessed with rituals—from batting order superstitions to pre-game meals to lucky socks—this story resonates because it’s human. It’s not about analytics or spin rates. It’s about two 25-year-olds sharing a couch, laughing at a squeak, and believing in something bigger than stats.

Barger, born in Victoria, British Columbia, and Schneider, from Allentown, Pennsylvania, met in the Blue Jays’ minor league system in 2019. They’ve been teammates through injuries, demotions, and call-ups. This isn’t just superstition—it’s brotherhood.

The Voices of Fire choir, whose rehearsal became part of the lore, didn’t even know they’d become part of baseball history. "We were just trying to get the harmonies right," said choir director Brenda Holloway. "We had no idea a guy was sleeping right above us."

What’s Next

With Game 2 scheduled for October 26, 2024, the couch is already being prepped. Schneider says he’s ordered a new set of sheets—"just in case the squeak gets louder." Barger hasn’t said a word about it. But he did bring his own blanket. And his own earplugs.

The Blue Jays now lead the series 1-0. The Dodgers are stunned. And somewhere in downtown Toronto, a pull-out couch is quietly waiting for its next hero.