My wife’s from Toronto, so we spend a lot of time there, especially in the summer, and I usually tune into the Blue Jays’ games since I love hearing their announcers’ voices, Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez. If you ever watch a Jays game, you can’t help but notice that after a player hits a home run, a teammate greets them at the top of the dugout and drapes a bright blue blazer over them so they can stride through the dugout high-fiving their teammates (see video embedded below). The Home Run Jacket is on full display at this year’s World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, so you might be wondering about the backstory to this thing—is it about style, teamwork, culture, or all of the above?
From Dugout Idea to Dugout Icon
The jacket debuted in July 2021, thanks to the team’s Spanish interpreter, Héctor Lebrón. He wanted a fun, meaningful way to celebrate home runs while honoring the Blue Jays’ diverse, international roster. The design is bold: a royal blue blazer emblazoned with “LA GENTE DEL BARRIO,” meaning “the people of the neighborhood,” alongside a list of countries representing the team’s players, staff, and the broader global baseball community.
Soon after, it became a dugout tradition. After a home run, teammates drape the jacket over the hitter. A single moment of individual achievement transforms into a shared celebration of the team and fans alike.
A True Global Lineup
The Home Run Jacket’s list of countries is a testament to baseball’s worldwide reach:
Canada and USA – home turf for many players.
Dominican Republic, Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico – Caribbean and Latin American stars lighting up the lineup.
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan – Asia’s baseball powerhouses.
Aruba, Haiti – small islands, big impact.
Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Israel, Ukraine, Thailand – symbolic of the sport’s inclusivity and global presence.
Even countries without a current roster spot, like Thailand, remind fans that this jacket isn’t just about the present team—it’s about baseball as a global community.
Honoring Legends, Connecting Generations
The jacket also links today’s stars with Toronto’s rich baseball history. During Game 2 of this year’s World Series, Joe Carter—the hero of the 1993 World Series—took the ceremonial first pitch and was draped in the Home Run Jacket by Vladimir Guerrero Jr (video embedded below). As Carter celebrated in the dugout, fans were reminded of his legendary walk-off home run, one of only two to ever end a World Series. The moment highlighted the jacket’s deeper meaning: baseball is not just a game of statistics, but a celebration of shared triumphs, history, and global connection.
Why Fans Celebrate It
The Home Run Jacket captures the essence of the Blue Jays’ clubhouse culture. It’s a visual representation of camaraderie, pride and international connection. Fans love seeing players from all corners of the globe come together in one moment—one home run, one jacket, one team. It’s a reminder that baseball is more than stats; it’s about identity, culture and a little flair.
A Toronto Tradition with Global Significance
The Home Run Jacket perfectly reflects Toronto itself: diverse, dynamic and full of energy. Whether you’re cheering from the Rogers Centre or watching from halfway across the world, the jacket is a symbol of joy, unity and baseball’s international spirit. In a sport often defined by numbers and records, it’s a celebration of culture, connection and the global community that makes baseball truly universal.