TORONTO – Jose Bautista joined the Toronto Blue Jays during the days of the Angry-Birds-esque logo on black alternate jerseys and played through the transition to the classic-themed, back-to-blue uniforms still in use today.
Now, there’s a dark shirt in the mix again with the club’s new “Night Mode” themed City Connect uniform, worn on the field for the first time Friday night.
Any nostalgia for the old black jerseys?
“They all have their space in the closet, in the repertoire. They’re all different,” says the franchise icon added to the Blue Jays’ Level of Excellence last summer. “This brings in different colours and more of the skyline instead of the silver and the grey with a bird. I think people are going to get connected to this, obviously, because of the skyline and what it represents. It’s a unique one because of the CN tower.
“I think most players would say as soon as they see something and put it on, they know if it’s going to play well out on the field. And I would argue that most players would say that this is going to be a good one once it’s out on the field.”
Bautista wore some of the new gear himself Friday afternoon, shagging flies, taking grounders and hitting some batting practice, shaking his head afterwards because, “that was rusty.”
The 43-year-old isn’t swinging the bat nearly as much these days, of course, since his January purchase of the United Soccer League’s Las Vegas Lights FC. He’s serving as the team’s chairman and governor, which has given him a different vantage point on what a uniform means to a sports franchise.
“I look at that community feel, that relationship between the fans and the team in what they wear, what that represents,” he said. “There a lot of elements that as a player I didn’t think about that the organization probably tries to capture within. The Blue Jays are Canada’s team, but for this jersey, because it’s City Connect, it’s got the skyline and it says Toronto more than all of Canada.
“It’s great because fans, I think, they’re really looking for ways to embrace this club,” he continued. “These guys have great potential and they’ve shown what they can do, and I think they’re getting there. They’re excited about what this season can bring. And this is one piece that brings attention and hopefully these guys start getting the results.”
The transition from the black jerseys to the current uniforms ahead of the 2012 season created a major change in the perception of the Blue Jays’ apparel, quickly becoming fashion pieces sported all over the city.
Bautista remembers well the excitement with which they were received as “that one was bringing back the nostalgia of the old school uniform, that played into those feelings.”
“This City Connect plays more into uniting the city together. … I think this one’s going to take. It’s a completely different look and feel, almost like a 180. I think that’s good. Sometimes change is needed and hopefully it brings good luck.”
The Lights, at 3-7-2 so far this season, could use some good luck of their own. Having experienced all the ups and downs of a campaign as a player, albeit one in a different sport, Bautista is now learning the ropes as an owner.
“It changes your perspective,” he said. “It’s new. Different challenges. A lot of things that I didn’t know you had to deal with when you’re in this kind of position. A lot of respect for other people in the industry and what they do every single day. It’s a little humbling, but I’m taking it one day at a time, learning, trying to adapt. And I’m embracing the challenge and figuring out how to come out on top from never been here before.”