It might be hard to root for a rival, but it’s easy to cheer for kids.

Baseball fans in the U.S. have donated nearly $45,000 to SickKids in honour of the Blue Jays after a gruelling World Series, hospital spokesperson Sandra Chiovitti told the Star on Monday.

Inspired by the more than 150 Blue Jays fans who gave money to Seattle Children’s Hospital after the American League championship series , calls for donations started on the Los Angeles Dodgers Reddit page shortly after Game 7.

Many of the commenters said they would donate $51 as a hat tip toward the Blue Jays relievers who wrote the number 51 on their caps to pay respect to L.A. pitcher Alex Vesia, who announced Friday that his newborn baby Sterling died during the World Series on Oct. 26.

The hospital initially re

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