Sanic Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 Been wondering this for a while now. Seen 3 sources and don't know which is credible.Theory 1: WindowOn Sportsnet, there's usually some special rerun of an episode explaining the origins of the team. The name was in 1 of 10 name submissions. Someone (forgot his name) connected to the staff had saw an actual blue jay by his window, and thought of naming the team the Blue Jays. It's probably unknown if he had known that was in the finalists, and then the others went on with it.This was told by people who were actually part of the 1977 expansion process. Theory 2: BeerThis site says that the name was chosen because of a reference to Labatt Breweries "Labatt Blue" beer. People hated the branding right off the bat and referred to the team as the Blues.The same episode on Theory 1 shows that if the team was specifically a promotion for beer, they would allow beer in the stands. But they didn't. Also, people were wearing some Jays gear at the time and some banners used the Jays nickname, most of the time leaving out the word blue. Theory 3: ColourSports E-cyclopedia says that there were a lot of blue jay species at the time in the Toronto area. This is actually true in the fact that it still is, according to the current range. The other point is that all Toronto-based teams wore blue and white. I think point 1 is right. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorinK92 Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 Maybe the founder just really liked birds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeypower Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 I've heard it's 2 and 3. Labatt wanted something that could connect to them and they used something that was a local bird species. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmic Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 Why pick one?I had heard before that since Labatt owned the team, they wanted to work the "Blue" in there somehow and have people nickname the team "the Blues". Of course, people settled on "Jays" instead of "Blues". Probably apocryphal, but there's probably some truth in there, since a "blue" company did found the team.I think everything just probably came together. Blue company, blue and white for Toronto sports, bird names are somewhat common in baseball, Jays are probably the best blue bird to pick, and they're local to the area. Win-win-win-win-win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critical Thinker Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 Since it's Canada, I'm assuming it's the one that has to do with beer. It's _____________ and Toledo still sucks.[insert time here] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Six Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 It was to continue the baseball tradition of naming teams after the least-threatening animals on the planet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee. Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 It's #2TSN was also created by Labatt to show Jays games across the country. The more you know. Welcome to DrunjFlix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Admiral Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 They didn't allow beer at Blue Jays games? What? ♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gothamite Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 It's #2TSN was also created by Labatt to show Jays games across the country. The more you know.You gotta come up with a source then... The Green Bay Packers Uniform Database! Now in a handy blog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee. Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 From Wikipedia:Licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on April 2, 1984 as Action Canada Sports Network,[4] the channel was launched by the Labatt Brewing Company on September 1 of the same year as The Sports Network, or TSN. TSN was formed partly to promote Labatt's flagship products, but also to act as a vehicle for the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team (which was also owned by Labatt at the time).I believe this was also touched upon in an anniversary retrospective that TSN themselves produced but I can't be arsed to look for it. Welcome to DrunjFlix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCall Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 I always heard that they wanted to be the Toronto Blues, but since the University of Toronto had that name, they went with Blue Jays. https://dribbble.com/MakaioCall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gothamite Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 But what's your conclusive source that it was #2? The Green Bay Packers Uniform Database! Now in a handy blog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee. Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Sadly nothing concrete...save for my healthy Canadian cynicism Welcome to DrunjFlix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Needschat Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 I though it was named during a "Name the Contest" because University of Toronto objected to "Blues" rumor going around. Oh what could have been.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCap Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 I had heard that MLB shot down "Blues" on the grounds that it was an obvious attempt to advertise beer, so they went with Blue Jays thinking everyone would just call them the "Blues" anyway.I've got nothing to back that up. It's just the story I was told. PotD 26/2/12 1/7/15 2020 BASS Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal Regular Season Champion 2021 BASS NFL Pick'em Regular Season Champion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Admiral Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Is it true that the University of Toronto Varsity Blues got some sort of royalties or payment for that football movie of the same name that had the whipped cream bikini? ♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperLeafsFan Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I've been told that it was for the fact that Blue is a common Toronto sport colour. So, who actually knows? I think I like smilies too much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJTank Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Thats what i always heard was the name oragin. www.sportsecyclopedia.com For the best in sports history go to the Sports E-Cyclopedia at http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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