Pete Cherny sits with his mother, Marion (middle), and friend John Bacon during the Blue Jays’ game against the Yankees on March 3 in Dunedin, Florida. Cherny has been to Blue Jays Spring Training almost every year since their founding in 1977.
The Blue Jays Big Glove Guy
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA– “We want Vlady on March 28, not when you feel like saving some money!” Blue Jays fan Pete Cherny yells at the press box, hoping to get the attention of Toronto Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins.
Cherny one of the loudest voices at Dunedin Stadium, but that isn’t the only thing that makes him recognizable. It could also be the Blue Jays visor with the crazy hair wig, or better yet, the giant 23-inch baseball glove he wears on his left hand.
It’s the glove that has helped make him a celebrity around the stadium, and also helped him become known as the “Big Glove Guy” to Blue Jays fans, and it all started as a gag from a friend.
“About five years ago I took a buddy to a game, and we went down to our seats. It was 110 degrees outside in a day game, and he pulls out the hat,” said Cherny. “…I wear it and we win the game. Two to three years later I buy the glove online. I sit in the second row at (the Rogers Center) next to the visitors’ dugout and you can see me on camera and it takes off.”
Cherny has been attending Blue Jays games with his family and friends since 1977, when the team was founded. He has been a season ticket holder since the beginning, and has traveled from Mississauga, Ontario to Dunedin almost every year to watch the Blue Jays during spring training.
“I started coming with Pete because the when the Jays were really bad…they would pay to fly out the season ticket holders,” said John Bacon. “ We loved it so much that we would continue to come down after that.”
Bacon said that the week is very relaxing for their group, while also getting to watch their beloved Blue Jays play while escaping the cold Ontario winter.
While the week for Cherny and Bacon is relaxing, the intensity at the ballpark is the same as it is in Toronto. Cherny still wears his large glove, ready to strike when a foul ball is screamed into the stands.
The mitt is what makes Cherny a staple at Blue Jays games. Cherny says that he takes photos with fans and gets recognized in public by people from all over the world. He has held babies in his glove, and even a fan from Germany recognized him because of his big glove.
Cherny one of the loudest voices at Dunedin Stadium, but that isn’t the only thing that makes him recognizable. It could also be the Blue Jays visor with the crazy hair wig, or better yet, the giant 23-inch baseball glove he wears on his left hand.
It’s the glove that has helped make him a celebrity around the stadium, and also helped him become known as the “Big Glove Guy” to Blue Jays fans, and it all started as a gag from a friend.
“About five years ago I took a buddy to a game, and we went down to our seats. It was 110 degrees outside in a day game, and he pulls out the hat,” said Cherny. “…I wear it and we win the game. Two to three years later I buy the glove online. I sit in the second row at (the Rogers Center) next to the visitors’ dugout and you can see me on camera and it takes off.”
Cherny has been attending Blue Jays games with his family and friends since 1977, when the team was founded. He has been a season ticket holder since the beginning, and has traveled from Mississauga, Ontario to Dunedin almost every year to watch the Blue Jays during spring training.
“I started coming with Pete because the when the Jays were really bad…they would pay to fly out the season ticket holders,” said John Bacon. “ We loved it so much that we would continue to come down after that.”
Bacon said that the week is very relaxing for their group, while also getting to watch their beloved Blue Jays play while escaping the cold Ontario winter.
While the week for Cherny and Bacon is relaxing, the intensity at the ballpark is the same as it is in Toronto. Cherny still wears his large glove, ready to strike when a foul ball is screamed into the stands.
The mitt is what makes Cherny a staple at Blue Jays games. Cherny says that he takes photos with fans and gets recognized in public by people from all over the world. He has held babies in his glove, and even a fan from Germany recognized him because of his big glove.
Pete Cherny is debated on the Tim & Sid show on Sportsnet
Cherny’s mitt is almost sacred. Even being blessed by some of baseball’s best players.
“I got some good autographs on it too. Aaron Judge from the Yankees, Mike Trout from the Angels, Hall of Famer Jack Morris. Even Eddy Encarnacion after he went from the Jays to Cleveland.”
Cherny wants his gigantic glove to be blessed next by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the son of hall of famer Vladimir Guerrero, and the top ranked minor league prospect by MLB.com.
Cherny says that he does catch a good amount of balls with the oversized mitt. What he does with them, makes the Big Glove Guy the lovable Blue Jays fan he is.
“All the balls I get, I run up 20 or 30 to give it to a kid that will never ever get a ball.”
Cherny’s mitt is almost sacred. Even being blessed by some of baseball’s best players.
“I got some good autographs on it too. Aaron Judge from the Yankees, Mike Trout from the Angels, Hall of Famer Jack Morris. Even Eddy Encarnacion after he went from the Jays to Cleveland.”
Cherny wants his gigantic glove to be blessed next by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the son of hall of famer Vladimir Guerrero, and the top ranked minor league prospect by MLB.com.
Cherny says that he does catch a good amount of balls with the oversized mitt. What he does with them, makes the Big Glove Guy the lovable Blue Jays fan he is.
“All the balls I get, I run up 20 or 30 to give it to a kid that will never ever get a ball.”