Toronto Blue Jays merchandise has been flying off the shelves since the team began its playoff run last weekend.
The Jays are up 2-0 in their best-of-five series against the New York Yankees, and are looking to close it out Tuesday after convincing hometown wins on Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s just been crazy,” said Tex Thomas, owner of Toronto-based Pro League Sports.
“Over the two games on Saturday and Sunday, pretty much everything we sold on both days — I would say 85 to 90 per cent of it — was strictly Blue Jays products.”
Thomas says he attended both weekend games and came close to catching the ball from Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s grand slam in Game 2.
Thomas says people have been coming in to chat about the games while they shop.
Jays’ merch selling out as city buzzes over ALDS run
Meanwhile, online orders have been coming in from across Canada and beyond.
Thomas says stars Guerrero, shortstop Bo Bichette and outfielder George Springer have had the hottest selling jerseys. But there’s also been high demand for catcher Alejandro Kirk, who’s been on a hot streak, and rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage, who struck out 11 Yankees batters Sunday.
“The one big surprise this year was Kirk,” Thomas said.
He says he’s also been swamped with requests for the team’s white-panel hats, which the team rarely wore until the end of the season. But the caps have recently emerged as a good-luck charm.
Thomas says the hats come from New Era warehouses in the U.S., so he’s currently out, but he’s put in a big order and hopes they come in time to have a good stock for the second round of the playoffs.
Rebecca Lanre-Ojo, assistant manager at clothing store the Peace Collective in Toronto, says a lot of people have been coming in ahead of the games looking for the shop’s unique Blue Jays T-shirts and sweaters.
“We’re selling out of items. We’re having to get last-minute shipments to the store, just so we can keep up with the demand,” she said.
The store’s 1992 and ’93 World Series shirts, commemorating the team’s back-to-back championships, have been especially popular.
“Lots of people are excited,” she said. “There are some people who haven’t necessarily supported until now, but because they’re doing so well, have decided to represent.”
Abu Numan, manager at Toronto’s The Sports Collection,says people from all over Canada have been coming in for Jays merch.
“Jerseys, t-shirts, whatever we have, it’s selling out,” he said.
Treana Cop, a Jays fan who recently moved to Toronto from Saskatchewan, stopped in at The Sports Collection to buy a Guerrero Jr. jersey.
“It’s just so cool to be a part of this thing that’s not only just in Toronto, but represents the whole country,” Cop said.
