In an invitation-only extravaganza on the playing field at the Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays introduced a new logo and new uniforms for 2012, with some of its star players as models.

The simple logo, somewhat retro in design, paid tribute to city, country and team history and should be well-received. The only issue now is for GM Alex Anthopoulos to put a winning team on the field.

Perhaps as the updated team slogan moving forward, the club could paraphrase Billy Crystal and his SNL character Fernando, claiming “It’s better to look good than to play good.”

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The new Blue Jays uniforms

Blue Jays logos through the years

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The Jays invited a cross-section of corporate partners, advertisers and media, with the new design paying tribute to the original Blue Jay character from ’77, while incorporating all the other necessary trappings.

The circular patch features the Jays head over the red outline of a baseball, with Toronto in block letters above the bird and Blue Jays in the original uniform lettering below. And to make sure Canada is recognized, the logo shows a prominent red maple leaf on the right side, below the bird’s blue head plumage. Long-time fans of the Jays will be pleased.

Seven Jays came out modelling the seven different versions of the uniform, including the batting practice jerseys. The players were Jose Bautista, Adam Lind, Ricky Romero, Yunel Escobar, J.P. Arencibia, Brett Lawrie and Brandon Morrow.

The most noticeable thing about the seven versions was the return to blue and the absence of black, that someone long ago had decided was appealing to the younger fans. The most impressive new look was the uniform worn by Romero. It featured white pants and a blue alternate jersey.

The uniforms and the new logo are the club’s first important hit of the season, but won’t be its most important.