Knock-off Toronto Blue Jays mascot in suit made of yoga mats is new local celeb

An Ontario couple's love for the Toronto Blue Jays has turned into a local phenomenon in their hometown of Oshawa.

The Blue Jays are causing a stir across the country as they take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. While the team's mascot, Ace, amps up home crowds at the Rogers Centre, a lesser-known mascot has been hitting the streets to drum up support for the team's historic run in his own neighbourhood.

At first, 56-year-old Dale Norton didn't realize that the Blue Jays-inspired Halloween costume she made for her husband, 59-year-old Salvatore Norton, would create so much buzz in their neighbourhood.

A former fashion student, Dale is no stranger to design. "It's just a labour of love making costumes, she tells blogTO. "I get on different kicks. I'm a bit of a mad scientist, so right when I get something in my head, it's full tilt." 

This year, that "mad scientist" energy resulted in the creation of Clutch: a full-fledged knock-off Blue Jays mascot costume made from upholstery foam, yoga mats, carved yoga blocks, fake fur, and "a whole lot of hot glue and gorilla glue spray." 

"I thought it would be fun to make Salvatore a mascot costume for Halloween this year, but it exploded," Dale laughs.

"I laugh because he was grumpy when I asked him to walk up and down the street in it the first time. He'd never done it before!" 

But Salvatore soon took to the idea, and now he dances, sings, and waves at passersby in his homemade mascot suit. Dale says he even looks forward to visiting different pockets of his neighbourhood to show off his fan fit and always asks, 'Where are we going next?'" 

Clutch isn't Dale's first Jays-inspired creation. In the past, she's made these felt hats for friends and family to wear to a game. 

With the Jays still in contention for the team's first title in 32 years, you'll find Clutch out every evening. The couple takes to the streets for an hour after work before wrapping up for the night and coming back home just in time to tune in to the Blue Jays on TV.

Salvatore has been a Blue Jays fan his whole life, so it's safe to say that baseball, and particularly the Blue Jays, aren't just a hobby — they're part of his life story.

Dale and Salvatore Norton.  

"Oh, I remember '92 and '93 pretty good, and that was amazing," he fondly reminisces on the Jays' last World Series titles.

"When they made it this year, it felt amazing all over again. It's like, wow," he says.

Since adopting the Clutch alter ego, the Jays fan has become a bit of a local celebrity in his hometown.

"People stop and say, 'thanks for doing what you're doing,'" while cheering and honking their horns as they see Salvatore — or should we say, Clutch — spreading Blue Jays cheer from the sidewalk. 

Locals have stopped by to cheer on the team with Salvatore. 

Their love for the Blue Jays almost feels infectious, and that's probably because the team itself plays a huge role in their personal lives.

"When we met at work, Salvatore was going through a bad marriage breakup, and his therapy was 32 Blue Jay games that summer. Over our 10-year relationship, Salvatore taught me the Blue Jays, and I've become a fan," Dale admits.

And now, their shared creativity and team spirit are inspiring others close to home. "Like I said, people come up to me and just thank me for what I'm doing, and I just point to my wife and say, 'it's all her'," Salvatore says proudly.

For Dale, seeing Clutch — and Sal — bring joy to others is what it's all about. "Clutch has been a labour of love with Salvatore being my biggest fan! My daughter helped to create his story, but fame took over and Clutch was appearing everywhere in Oshawa," she says.

"Sal is obsessed with spreading Blue Jay love and beams with pride reading all the positive comments from everyone!" 

In true Blue Jays fashion, Clutch has risen from obscurity to become a local legend — almost as impressive as the Jays going from a last-place team in 2024 to World Series contention just a year later.