Blue Jays apologize after fan booted for wearing ‘Canada is not for sale’ hat​on March 28, 2025 at 2:50 pm

The Blue Jays’ blowout loss wasn’t the only embarrassment the team suffered at its home opener.

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The organization faced major heat after a fan was ejected from Rogers Centre for wearing a “Canada is not for sale” hat.

Etobicoke resident and longtime Jays fan Dan Begley was “escorted out of the stadium by two big security guards” during Thursday afternoon’s game against the Baltimore Orioles due to his choice of headwear.

The hat in question is the same cap that Ontario Premier Doug Ford donned during a meeting and TV appearance earlier this year, not long after U.S. President Donald Trump began threatening to impose tariffs on Canadian goods.

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Ford said he wore the cap as reminder to all Canadians about the importance of “standing up for our country.”

With further tariffs being levied by the U.S. leader and ongoing rhetoric about making Canada the 51st state, Begley decided to wear the hat to the game, saying he felt that the message resonated with him.

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“I like the saying and I feel like more people should stand up for Canada and be more aware,” he told CP24.

“All it says is ‘Canada is not for sale’ and it has a Canadian flag on it.”

Begley, 70, said he didn’t expect to have any issues with the cap, adding that a bartender who served him a beer even complimented him on it.

However, after spending roughly an hour and a half in the stadium with the hat on, he said he was approached by an usher who politely told him that it is in contravention of their “rule against political statements.”

Begley said he was told that he had to either turn it around or remove it entirely.

“I have a suspicion they didn’t want that on TV or maybe on the Jumbotron,” Begley said, adding that he felt what was being asked of him was “wrong” and so he refused to cooperate.

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That was when two security guards and a supervisor approached and escorted Begley out of the building.

“I was yelling on the way out,” Begley said. “I let people know that I was being kicked out because I was wearing this hat … They kept repeating that they were just following the rules,” he added of the “pretty embarrassing situation.”

“I felt like a criminal for supporting my country. This (incident) ruined the whole activity.”

The Blue Jays apologized for the incident in a response to CP24 for comment.

“We have spoken with the fan to apologize,” team spokesperson Andrea Goldstein wrote in an email to the news outlet.

“Our staff made a mistake and we have addressed the issue to ensure it does not happen again.”

Goldstein said they’ve invited Begley back to the ballpark, “and he has accepted our apology and is looking forward to returning.”

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Begley later confirmed that he spoke with a representative from the Jays who apologized for the incident and offered him free tickets to another game.

He also said he was told that it was OK to wear his “Canada is not for sale” hat to the stadium.

“It’s too bad it happened. Somebody really lost their judgment there. It just wasn’t right,” Begley told CP24.

“I said to my wife, ‘These Blue Jays games are hard on the nerves,’ but it wasn’t supposed to be this way.”

Prior to the opening ceremony, the Jays took pains to try to direct fans on how to behave, airing an announcement that some in attendance viewed as offensive and presumptive.

“Opening Day is about gathering together with friends and family, cheering on your team and sharing the love we all share this game,” said the directive, which was read by the announcer just prior to the playing of the national anthems. “Throughout history, baseball has served as a place for hope during times of turmoil.

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“The ballpark has been a place to get away and escape from the challenges we face in everyday life. It’s a special day for all of us — the fans, the players and coaches. We ask that you please be respectful of the day and the moment.”

Those instructions weren’t followed by all as a smattering of boos during The Star-Spangled Banner could be heard throughout the stadium.

While the derision wasn’t super loud and ugly — that came after the Jays had surrendered home runs five and six during their deflating 12-2 loss to the Orioles — it definitely could be heard.

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Meanwhile, the statement itself offended some fans.

“I can’t really come here and forget about sexism, racism or homophobia,” said one fan who reached out to the Toronto Sun. “This isn’t an escape. It’s a continuation of our society.”

It’s also a message delivered by the same organization that in 2023 was planning to allow pitcher Anthony Bass to catch the ceremonial pitch on Pride Night days after he had infuriated so many with his anti-LGBTQ+ posts on social media.

Bass subsequently was released by the team, so his participation in the ceremony didn’t happen. But the damage by then had been done.

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