Connect with the Blue Jays Night Details

If you were one of the early adopters of any of the various social media networks like Twitter, you may have been like me and thought “this thing is never going to last”.

Nevertheless, outlets like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr are here to stay. Not only that, they are used extensively by professional sports teams to stay connected to their fans, and the Toronto Blue Jays are no different.

And thus, tonight the Blue Jays will host their first “Connect with the Jays” Night.

Connect with the Jays supplants the former “Tweeting Tuesdays” which took place during every Tuesday home game the past few years. Hosting several events throughout the year may have watered it down, and instead the Blue Jays are focusing on two special nights.

If you’re curious why it seems like I have a vested interest in Connect with the Jays night, it’s because the Blue Jays assembled somewhat of a social media taskforce during the winter comprised of bloggers and social media users.

The group includes April Whitzman of Jays Prospects (@Alleycat17), Andrew Hendricks of the Canadian Baseball Network (@77Hendricks), Matt Hartley of North Strategic (@thehartley) and yours truly.

Our role was to make suggestions and offer ideas to the club as to what
can be done differently not just with the promotional night itself, but
in general as well.

Tonight is the culmination of all the work put forth by the Blue Jays to revamp “Tweeting Tuesdays” into “Connect with the Jays”. Here’s just a taste of what’s in store with many of the promotions and giveaways that will be taking place throughout the game.

Throw Out the First Pitch

Along with catching a foul ball, throwing out the first pitch at a ball game is on most fans’ bucket list. You have the chance to cross this one off your list, use the hashtag #BringTheHeat for a chance to throw out the first pitch prior to tonight’s game.

Admittedly, throwing out the first pitch in front of thousands of fans can be a nerve wracking experience, but here’s a tip; so long as you don’t go wide left like 50 Cent did … you’ll do fine.

Be Part of the World’s Fastest Grounds Crew

Very few fans get the opportunity to run out onto the field during a game, and most that do usually get tackled by security before they make it any further than centre field. However, this is one legitimate way you can run onto the field.

There’s an opportunity for someone to join the World’s Fastest Ground Crew after the fifth inning. And for this giveaway, you don’t even need to be at the game to take home something. Later on, four lucky winners across Canada will each win one of the bases.

Win Brett Lawrie Autographed Shirts for Your Entire Row

Going into the game, the first 15,000 fans will automatically receive the above pictured t-shirt anyway. But in addition, if you use the hashtag #InstaLawrie, your entire row could win autographed t-shirts by Captain Canada himself, Brett Lawrie.

Lead the 7th Inning Stretch

OK Blue Jays has been an institution in Toronto for decades, and three lucky fans will get to lead the crowd in “OK Blue Jays” during the seventh inning stretch. Send in your video through Vine or Instagram with the hashtag #OKBlueJays for a chance to win.

For anyone who may be nervous at the prospect of singing in public, just remember that virtually anything would be an improvement over Ozzy Osbourne’s atrocious rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”.

Have Jerry Howarth Record Your Voicemail

How cool would it be to have the soothing tone of Jerry Howarth on your phone? Use the hashtag #YouveReachedJerry to win a personalized voicemail from none other than long-time Blue Jays broadcaster, Jerry Howarth.

Bonus points if you can get him to say “And there she goes … to voicemail!”

Images courtesy of BlueJays.com