With a Game 7 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night, the Toronto Blue Jays are heading to the World Series for the first time since 1993.
It’s a thrilling moment for baseball in Canada. It’s also never been a better time for specialty merch. Countless fans have nabbed hats and T-shirts commemorating the Blue Jays’ American League Division and American League Championship series victories. Stores online and across Toronto have seen a surge in jersey sales and are placing massive orders to keep up with demand. But if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind way to support the team, you might want to think secondhand.
There are a number of affordable options on Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Poshmark. With some luck and a bit of digging, $10 to $20 can land you a great preloved item such as this vintage T-shirt (though you’ll want to be conscious of shipping costs and times if you’re hoping to get your merch by Game 1 of the World Series on Friday). If you’re willing to make an investment, there are also a number of unique, fun and fashionable items up for grabs.
Here’s some of our favourite vintage Toronto Blue Jays merch.
The collaboration between Looney Tunes and the MLB in the ‘90s resulted in some truly great crossover Toronto Blue Jays items, such as this T-shirt of Taz sporting a Jays hat.
After working with Guess, Jeff Hamilton began designing leather jackets that stood out as pieces of wearable pop art, including NBA championship jackets worn by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls during the team’s six title wins.
What’s your favourite piece of Toronto Blue Jays memorabilia? Share your story with The Globe
These leather jackets listed at Curato Gallery and Poshmark don’t come cheap – they’ll set you back $700 and $420, respectively – but their unique designs speak to the popularity of Hamilton’s work.
If leather jackets are a bit outside your price range, Facebook Marketplace has some more affordable options that still have that throwback feel. This Delong Jacket has a fun retro design and features “Blue Jays” in a cartoon-style font running down the sleeve. A denim bomber is another great option.
To channel another World Series win, fans may want to wear merch from the Blue Jays’ back-to-back victories in ‘92 and ‘93. Be warned: There are a lot of dupes and reproductions out there. This T-shirt from eBay features a maximalist design (with a maximalist price tag of $150 to match), while this vintage championship sweater is a steal at $47.
Looking for something a bit less traditional? This purple SkyDome hat isn’t strictly Blue Jays merch, but it’s a nostalgic throwback to the Jays’ stadium before its name change. Another unique option is this purple and yellow Blue Jays hat, which is unlike any other official MLB Jays merch we’ve seen.
What’s your favourite piece of Blue Jays memorabilia?
For the first time since 1993, the Toronto Blue Jays are headed to the World Series. As fans reminisce about the last time Canada’s baseball team got this far, we want to hear about your most treasured piece of Blue Jays history. Is it a signed hat from your favourite player? A memento from the ‘90s World Series wins? Submit your story in the form below. If you’d like to include a photo, submit it through this link.