In July 2027, an unexpected surge in demand for a plush red dragon on a stick was observed at Simply Wonderful Toys in Guelph, Ontario, and many other Canadian toy shops. This toy, which features a light-up flame and a roaring sound, had previously been a slow but reliable seller, with only a few units being sold each year. However, following an enthusiastic celebration by the Toronto Blue Jays after left fielder Jonatan Clase hit a three-run homer against the San Francisco Giants on July 7, the dragon toy quickly sold out across stores overnight.
Keeley Cea, an assistant manager at Simply Wonderful Toys, expressed her surprise at the rapid sellout. She noted that the store's remaining stock was purchased early in the morning after the game, highlighting the unexpected popularity of the dragon that they had sold for years. Following this incident, the toy store requested a restock from Schylling, the Massachusetts-based manufacturer, although they had not received immediate feedback regarding the sudden interest in the dragon.
With the demand soaring, Simply Wonderful Toys set up a waitlist for customers eager to purchase the dragon once more became available. Some of those on the list included local baseball teams wishing to incorporate the dragon into their own celebrations. Lifelong Blue Jays fan Adira Winegust was one of the many seeking the toy after noticing it during the game. Despite a local independent toy store being sold out, she coordinated with a friend who was visiting Ottawa to secure one from that city's inventory. The dragon, priced at $40, was concealed from her children during the return trip to avoid jealousy. Since acquiring it, Winegust's children have enjoyed playing with it, with her eldest son, eight-year-old Emmett Glatt, even sharing it with his baseball team.
As the demand persisted, online retailers began to show the dragon sold out, with resale listings reaching exorbitant prices of up to $200. Meanwhile, Toy Town in Toronto emerged as one of the few retailers with remaining stock of the toy. Store owner Shari Bricks mentioned that her store also sold out after the Jays showcased the dragon but managed to restock with just a handful remaining. Bricks observed that while the excitement had slightly diminished, customers continued to express interest and purchase the dragon for loved ones.
Interestingly, reports indicated that the Blue Jays had acquired their dragon from Just For Fun, a toy shop in San Francisco located conveniently near their hotel. Hitting coach David Popkins purportedly selected the toy for its representation of fearlessness, which added an intriguing layer to its appeal among fans. However, following a series of losses by the Jays, the dragon has not been prominently featured since the kick-off of its popularity on July 7. Bricks humorously noted that, given the team's struggles, perhaps distributing more dragons could lead to better luck in their games.
