Blue Jays fans in U.S. use Facebook ad to say sorry for beer can throwing
The ad has already reached around 80,000 users
A group of Toronto Blue Jays fans in the United States has bought a Facebook ad to say sorry to Baltimore Orioles fans for a beer-can tossing incident on Tuesday night.
André De Pape, who is from L.A., told CBC News that he and his friends were going to take out an ad in a Baltimore newspaper to say sorry, but thought a digital apology would be more effective. The ad, which has reached about 80,000 users, is geared toward Baltimore Facebook users. It ran on Wednesday.
"We had a discussion about the possibility of taking out an ad and today decided instead to do the 21st century version and ran a digital ad," De Pape said Wednesday.
"It has been nice. There has been a lot of positive response to it, a lot of Jays fans chiming in and expressing similar sentiment, as well as Orioles fans who seem to appreciate the sentiment, as well."
The ad, which cost about $200, features an Orioles player standing next to a Blue Jays player with their backs to the camera. It says the group is embarrassed by the actions of the beer-can thrower — "one classless individual," as the ad says — in the bottom of the seventh inning during the American League wild card game at Rogers Centre on Tuesday.
"Real Jays fans know that this kind of behaviour has no place in the game," it reads. "It soured a win against worthy divisional opponents, and we wish your fans and team well."
De Pape said the actions of the person who threw the beer can at Orioles' outfielder Hyun Soo Kim do not represent the majority of Blue Jays fans.
De Pape and his friends, all members of a private Facebook group comprising mostly of Torontonians, pooled money to pay for the ad. Whatever money is left over will be donated to charitable organizations run by both Major League Baseball teams.
The group designed the ad, posted it on its page and asked Facebook to target it towards Baltimore users.
De Pape said the ad is simple in its design but the message is sincere. He described it as "just a little message that we wanted to get out there in the world."
He said the ad lets Orioles fans know that true Blue Jays fans believe the beer-can throwing incident is inappropriate and reprehensible and no player deserves to be targeted by debris.
"They are a wonderful division rival. We love playing the Orioles every year, multiple times per year. They have a wonderful ball park, great history," he said.
"From that standpoint, absolutely, we are looking forward to continuing our playoff run. My friends are still very much fans of the Baltimore Orioles, as well."