When the Toronto Blue Jays recently brought back several beloved mascots from the franchise’s past for the team’s 50th season, there was cause for celebration for many.
After all, many fans of the franchise grew up with the likes of BJ Birdy, Domer and even Diamond, whose times all came and seemingly went over the years.
But it turns out that the return of BJ Birdy is more surprising than the others – especially to the man who created the team’s first mascot.
According to a report by CBC News, Kevin Shanahan – the man who created and performed as the team’s original mascot for 20 years – wasn’t contacted by the team ahead of BJ Birdy’s return.
“When I saw it, it was this kind of multi-verse … there’s been a glitch in the matrix,” Shanahan told CBC News this week. “I’m kind of going, ‘What am I doing there?’”
What was even more troubling about the BJ’s return to the downtown dome was that Shanahan still owns the mascot’s rights.
“It would have been nice if they would have contacted me and asked or at least informed me,” Shanahan told CBC News, who actually broke the news to him.
“Maybe they thought they had the rights. Or maybe they thought I lost the rights. Or maybe they’re just celebrating BJ. Hopefully they’re not marketing him.”
When was BJ Birdy created?
Shanahan – the cousin of NHL legend and former Maple Leafs executive Brendan Shanahan – made his first appearance dancing and pumping up Blue Jays crowds at the tail end of the 1979 season.
He remembered being offered an in-game audition by team executives after he was seen dressed in a bird suit on the pages of the Toronto Sun and yearning to work for the fledgling ballclub, which entered the league in 1977.
“My father knew Barry Gray, a photographer who worked for the Sun at the time,” Shanahan told the Toronto Sun in September 1999. “Barry thought it would make a good photo … My picture ended up on the front page.”
Shanahan had been dressing up in animal costumes at Ontario Place while he attended the University of Toronto as a 20-year-old student.
Shanahan said he created a bird suit for the audition at a cost of $250.
With the Blue Jays hosting the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 11, 1979, he climbed up the chain-link fence at Exhibition Stadium and into fans’ hearts.
“The Jays gave me a one-game trial,” he said. “If I didn’t perform well enough, I was out. I practically killed myself running around … I hadn’t yet learned how to pace myself.”
Why did the team get rid of BJ Birdy?
Shanahan donned the costume for 20 years, until the team tried to buy the rights to the mascot.
After the team and Shanahan failed to come to an agreement, he was told not to show up for the final two games of the 1999 regular season. The asking price was reported to be around $150,000.
“They figured out after 20 years that I owned the character,” he said. “That’s what I call clever people.”
“Is there any animosity? No. I found what they did was goofy. Get rid of me, fine. But the way they did it, I thought there was, I don’t know, a certain lack of professionalism,” Shanahan added.
In December 1999, the team publicly announced they were dropping BJ Birdy for what they considered to be more hip characters – Ace and Diamond, who were introduced two months later.
“BJ did a nice job for us, but he’s gone to the retirement home for fowls and it’s time to move on,” Gord Ash, then-Blue Jays general manager, told the National Post at the time.
That ruffled some of Shanahan’s feathers, who said he didn’t get “even a goodbye and good luck … just get lost and see you later.”
What does the team say about the current situation?
According to CBC News, the team is eager to talk to Shanahan about the current situation and BJ Birdy’s return. In fact, the outlet reports the Blue Jays were “eager” to get their contact information to him and open a dialogue.
“Our intention has always been to honour the legacy of BJ Birdy, and we remain eager to connect directly with Kevin,” Blue Jays spokesperson Andrea Goldstein told the news outlet.
“We had hoped – and still hope – to work together, so the club can properly recognize and include him in these milestone moments.”
The team did not respond to queries regarding the rights to BJ Birdy and why Shanahan wasn’t contacted before the mascot returned to action recently.
Since making his return, BJ Birdy has been featured in several capacities at home games this season.
The team has also advertised that BJ Birdy will be present at Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Twins as part of Jr. Jays activities. Young fans will be able to take photos with BJ Birdy, as well as Domer and Diamond, the other returning mascots.
— With files from Spiro Papuckoski