Mariners remove Blue Jays gear from team store after players, fans complain

Toronto Blue Jays fans won’t be able to purchase their franchise’s apparel from the Seattle Mariners team shop after all.

In anticipation of this weekend’s three-game series at T-Mobile Park, an entire clothing section at the ballpark was dedicated to Blue Jays t-shirts and jerseys, with the Mariners organization hoping to capitalize on the massive crowds visiting from north of the border.

A picture of the Jays swag was released via social media on Monday, quickly generating mixed reactions across both fan bases. But most were all in good, harmless fun.

A pair of Mariners players were not as joyful as others, though, as relief pitcher Paul Sewald and infielder J.P. Crawford voiced their displeasure on Twitter prior to Tuesday’s game versus the Minnesota Twins.

In their eyes, the only gear that should be on display in the club’s official team store is the home team’s.

Following these complaints, the Blue Jays merchandise was removed from the floor on Tuesday and replaced by poorly folded Mariners apparel, adding another chapter to this saga.

Either way, Sewald and Crawford’s wishes were granted by the franchise, as there won’t be any Toronto gear up for sale this weekend.

While the Mariners will miss out on generating extra apparel revenue, there will undoubtedly be other retail stores in the Seattle area where Canadians can bust out their wallets. Plus, they now have extra motivation to drown out their competition in the crowd.

The Blue Jays will be looking for redemption after being swept in last year's trip to Seattle. That four-game disaster last July ultimately led to former manager Charlie Montoyo's firing. The Mariners also eliminated the Blue Jays from the playoffs in 2022, with Toronto suffering a historic collapse in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series.

The two clubs squared off north of the border earlier this season, with Toronto winning two of the three contests.