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Toronto unveils 'Night Mode' City Connect uniforms

The Toronto Blue Jays unveiled their City Connect uniforms Thursday, with a "night mode" theme that pays homage to the city's nightlife energy.

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The Toronto Blue Jays unveiled their City Connect uniforms Thursday, with a "night mode" theme that pays homage to the city's nightlife energy.

"Toronto" will be written across the chest of the home jersey for the first time since 2003, along with a number on the front. Toronto's cap will also have a new logo for the first time since 2011.

The "pitch blue" uniforms will debut Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. They will be worn exclusively at night on 14 other outings throughout the season.

"The Blue Jays are at the core of the city and those who call Toronto home know how the city comes alive at night," said Marnie Starkman, Blue Jays executive vice president of business, in a news release. "Our new City Connect uniform aims to emulate that 'Night Mode' feeling in the vibrant colours, the rhythmic skyline reflecting off the lake, and all the distinct details that make our city so dynamic."

Toronto's design was leaked on social media earlier this week. The team poked fun at the leak with a post after its official reveal.

The Blue Jays felt having a narrative to the uniform was important and wanted to find a design that would push boundaries. The concept of night mode originated internally within the franchise, Starkman told ESPN. The Blue Jays also hoped to create a bold new statement with their uniform while appealing to a younger audience, a main point of the City Connect series. 

"Now, that doesn't mean we don't still want our traditional fans to love our uniform and add to their repertoire of uniforms," Starkman said. "But the whole point of City Connect is to have a bit more of a stylish streetwear uniform. And that was really what our objective was."

The "pitch blue" color came from the darkness of Lake Ontario at night. The new lettering font across the chest is inspired by the "TORONTO" sign at Nathan Phillips Square. The font also has details similar to the Blue Jays' split font.

Toronto's cap resembles its typical bird head look -- though the decal is included as a patch on the shoulder. The Blue Jays wanted to make sure a modernized version of the bird head appeared on the uniform. 

The "T" on the cap refers to the pillars of city hall on the Toronto flag. The maple leaf in the center of the design reflects "the Blue Jays playing for an entire nation." There is also a skyline outline under the brim of the cap. The pant stripes line up with the "T" on the jersey sleeve to mirror the matching cap.

The Blue Jays also pay homage to the city flag's double stripes, which have been part of the club's uniform since 1977. The "T" on the cap is double striped and runs across the sleeves of the jersey. The red of the stripes, and ones throughout the design, is a nod to the Blue Jays being Canada's lone Major League Baseball team, a big part of the Blue Jays' identity, Starkman said.

"Diversity Our Strength" is written inside the uniform's collar, which comes from the Toronto coat of arms. According to the Blue Jays, the phrase is purposely placed on the closest feature to the wearer, "representing who we are at our core as a city and country."

Starkman said 12 to 15 Blue Jays players were shown the design last year to get feedback. Elements such as the additional red splashes throughout the uniform and matte batting helmets were thought of by players. Starkman added that much of the business the Blue Jays do involves player input, but such input was especially key on this uniform, which is tailored to the demographic of the team. 

"[Their input is] important. They're the ones wearing it. And like I said, they have far more of a cool factor than I do," Starkman joked. "So getting their opinion was really important to us."