Blue Jays proud to show support in pink

Initiative 'means a lot,' right-hander Estrada says

May 8th, 2016

TORONTO -- It was an afternoon where pink was prominent as the Blue Jays paid tribute to their mothers and contributed to breast cancer awareness in their 4-2 loss to the Dodgers.
Toronto's players, coaching staff and other staff members on Sunday were all decked out in pink -- many from head-to-toe -- with uniforms and cap.
The Blue Jays' lineup also used pink bats in both batting practice and the game, with center fielder Kevin Pillar recording both of his hits with the pink bat and others, such as designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, wearing pink batting gloves.

The united front is a tradition that has carried over across Major League Baseball.
Authentic game-used Louisville Slugger pink bats and other gear from Mother's Day games will be auctioned exclusively at MLB.com, with proceeds benefiting the fight against breast cancer. The complete Mother's Day collection -- which includes the special caps and jerseys being worn by players on Sunday -- is available at the MLB.com Shop.
Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada spoke glowingly of the initiative after pitching seven innings of one-run ball on Sunday. The 32-year-old wore specially designed pink cleats in his outing, and said he was more than thrilled to participate.

"I want to show my love and support for both causes, and any time we get to do something like this, it means a lot," Estrada said. "Not only for me, but the entire team and entire league."
The Blue Jays continued that trend throughout the Rogers Centre on Sunday, with the grounds crew placing a message that read "Love you mom" into the dirt prior to batting practice and the bases for the game having a pink Mother's Day label attached to the side.

Players and personnel also wore pink ribbons on their jerseys, while fans were encouraged to visit the WestJet Flight Deck in center field after it was redesigned in pink colors and featured a Mother's Day station. In addition, the Blue Jays provided fans in attendance with replica jerseys upon arrival.
"We're all very proud to do it, and we want to do everything possible for the awareness," Estrada said. "It means a lot being able to wear stuff like that once in a while."