TORONTO -- The Blue Jays will honor the life and career of franchise icon Roy Halladay when their 2018 season officially opens March 29.
Toronto announced on Wednesday afternoon that it will commemorate Halladay during a ceremony prior to its Opening Day game against the Yankees. Halladay passed away earlier this month in a plane crash at the age of 40. Full details, including additional honors in Halladay's memory, will be announced in the coming months.
The Blue Jays also announced the club's full promotions and events schedule for the 2018 season. There will be giveaways or events at 42 of Toronto's 81 home games, with additional plans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Blue Jays' back-to-back World Series titles in 1992-93.
Toronto will host the official 25th anniversary festivities on Aug. 11 with an on-field ceremony and a triple-bobblehead giveaway featuring Roberto Alomar, Paul Molitor and John Olerud. There also will be a sweatshirt giveaway on April 18 centered around Alomar's home run in the 1992 American League Championship Series and Joe Carter's walk-off homer in the '93 World Series.
Other notable giveaways for the 2018 season include Justin Smoak and J.A. Happ bobbleheads, a Marcus Stroman Shimmy Wobble Bobble, a replica batting helmet, a Blue Jays plaid raglan and a Buck Martinez Get Up alarm clock. Toronto also created a Star Wars Day for Sept. 8, a Margaritaville event for July 6 and brought back Pride Night for June 8.
Toronto previously announced that Jr. Jays Saturdays will be changed to Jr. Jays Sundays in 2018. The Blue Jays will play nine of their 13 Saturday afternoon home games at 4:07 p.m. instead of 1:07 p.m., which prompted the switch. There will be three Jr. Jays weekends and children 14 and younger will once again be invited to run the bases after games.
Returning promotions include Country Day, Friday Fan Festivals, Canada Day weekend and Fan Appreciation Weekend. Thursday Night in the 6ix also will return with weekly T-shirt giveaways. The most prominent of those nights likely will be April 26 for a Josh Donaldson Bringer of Rain T-shirt. Full details on next year's promotions and events schedule can be found at bluejays.com/promotions.