Local Toronto Blue Jays ticket holder Jazz Mathon at Blue Jays batting practice back in July. Mathon is one of many North Bay fans excited about the Blue Jays success this season. PHOTO SUBMITTED.
It’s September 14th and the Toronto Blue Jays hold a three and a half game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East.
Many of the Jays loudest young fans weren’t even alive when Jays Fever last took over the province and the nation way back in 1993 when the Jays captured the World Series.
And that Jays fever is certainly heated the enthusiasm of baseball fans in the city of North Bay.
Jen Schram is the manager of LIDS at Northgate Shopping Centre in North Bay which one of only a few locations where Blue Jays hats are sold.
She says mid to late July was when she really noticed Blue Jays merchandise flying off the shelves.
“We sold out a lot of Jays stuff really quickly,” she said.
“Our flex fit hats were sold out. We have been suggesting to Jays fans who are going to a game to buy it down there,” she added.
Jazz Mathon picked the right season to purchase season tickets for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Odyssee school teacher and freelance reporter with BayToday.ca had been a Jays flex package (20 games) holder for the previous four years.
“I think the biggest difference is demand and fan attendance at the games. I can recall going on weekends and there were loads of empty seats and now they are just a hot ticket so there is definitely more of an energy going to the games,” said Mathon.
While living in North Bay and having Jays season tickets may have been considered a risky move at the start of the year, Mathon now has absolutely no problem finding interested fans for games he and his son cannot attend.
“I have a lot of friends asking me for tickets on Facebook,” admitted Mathon.
“I am actually surprised no one has asked me for playoffs. I have a good stock for playoffs depending on whether the Jays win the division of play in a wildcard series. Maybe they assume its such a hard ticket to get that I probably don’t have any but I do.”
Even North Bay fans can be spotted during Rogers Blue Jays broadcasts on Sportsnet as young baseball fan and player Matthew Carter is going "upside down" for the Blue Jays. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.
From the game perspective, local rep baseball coaches like Greg Richardson hope the Jays Fever will translate into more young players wanting to try the game next spring.
"The resurgence of the Jays this season has definitely peaked the interest in baseball in our city not only with young kids, but adults alike,” said the North Bay Stingers Mosquito Rep Baseball Coach.
"Kids now have a team to identify with, a team to be proud of. They have players that they can look up to and aspire to be like.,” added Richardson who says his 11-year-old son is now trying to emulate the batting stances of Troy Tulowitzki, Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson.
"For us coaches and adults who experienced the back to back championships in 1992 and 1993 it brings back fond memories. How awesome would it be for us to now enjoy the same experience with our own kids?”
