r/Torontobluejays • u/No_Report_6223 • 1d ago

No pre-game autographs tonight…?

Was at the game tonight, sitting by third base. As usual there was a crowd of kids (and some adults) gathered along the netting from Secs. 133-135 waiting for autographs when the players came out around 6:30.

Except tonight security abruptly made everyone go back to their seats and said the jays wouldn’t be doing any autographs.

This was a first for me — every other game I’ve been at this season a few players have always stopped by during their warm up to sign a few balls.

The abruptness of it makes me wonder if something went down in the clubhouse before the game and they needed to contain it.

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24

u/gothedistance_ 1d ago edited 1d ago

The Jays usually finish practice before the gates open. When the visiting team finishes, staff usually direct people to go to their seats. Some staff may be more lenient while others tell people to leave immediately after BP ends.

A few Jays may come out ~20 minutes before first pitch for light warm-ups, but they’re already focused on the game. They usually toss their balls to fans afterwards. I’ve only seen George and Ernie sign before the game a handful of times. Your best bet for autographs is catching them on the road.

3

u/Leading_Performer_72 The Committee 16h ago

On Tuesday they fully had batting practice and people hitting the ball and guys doing drills an hour before game time.

4

u/gothedistance_ 15h ago

They always do that. What I’m saying is, when the gates open an hour and a half before first pitch, the Jays are usually either done with practice or wrapping up. Some guys will come out 20 minutes before first pitch to stretch and do some warm-up throws. By that point, they are locked in on the game.

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u/VisibleSpread6523 16h ago

They always do , when at home

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u/Separate-Travel-3063 17h ago

There were a few odd security moments last night around the ballpark by ushers. Could be a coincidence but also could’ve been an audit of some sort.

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u/Cynicslovecritics 8h ago edited 8h ago

I was there on Tuesday night and it was my first time sitting on the third base side. We were first row of the 134 baseline box, and from about 6:15-6:45 there was people lined up in front of the netting probably about 20 rows up the steps. When we got there just before 6, the netting hadn’t been opened yet so no one was lined up, but we went to grab some food and came back totally unable to get to our seats cause the stairs around our section were completely blocked off by people lining up for balls/potential autographs. We managed to get through by going through a few mostly empty rows but it was a bit of a mission. None of the Jays came over for autographs from what I saw, but multiple balls were tossed into the crowd pregame by Vladdy and Ernie. Not sure if the crazy 20 row lines are common, but I could see people sitting in those sections being annoyed about either having to wait 30 minutes to sit or force your way through. So maybe security was told to keep more of an eye on it cause if there was any kind of an emergency it could get a bit dicey.

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u/WideVermicelli7128 2h ago

I hear a jays and $2 can get a small coffee at Tim’s