Our Story

A black and white photo of a man in a baseball uniform.

STARTED WITH PASSION...

Patsy’s journey began with a passion for sewing and design, leading her to create her own clothes and gowns at a young age. After initially opening a bridal shop in Miami, Arizona, in 1985, she eventually moved to Phoenix in 1994. There, she honed her skills by taking a fashion illustration class and working as a seamstress and production manager at Artcraft Sports Apparel.

In 2008, Patsy embarked on a new chapter by taking over a colleague's alteration business after departing from Artcraft. Upon receiving personal requests from Gretzky and the Suns for jersey customization, she recognized the opportunity to launch her own venture, relying solely on these two clients for initial business. This strategic decision facilitated the inception of her home-based company, Big Time Jerseys, marking the beginning of an entrepreneurial journey.

In 2013, the Arizona Cardinals equipment manager, Mark Ahlemeier, received a recommendation from Stan Wilson, the equipment manager of the AZ Coyotes, to work with Patsy, marking her first job with the National Football League. Despite large sports apparel companies like Nike manufacturing the jerseys, Patsy and her team are responsible for the meticulous hand-stitched names and numbers, ensuring the uniforms fit perfectly. Her attention to detail, commitment to quality, and word-of-mouth advertising have contributed to her success.

A hockey jersey with the number 1 8 on it.

...MAINTAINED THROUGH GREATNESS.

During the COVID pandemic, when professional sports halted in March 2020, Patsy’s team shifted focus to sewing and donated 2,000 masks to local hospitals. Despite challenges, Patsy’s journey has been a dream come true, and she believes that life’s unexpected twists can lead to even better opportunities. Notably, BTJ acquired the San Jose Sharks ten years ago, and their reputation for beautiful jerseys led to additional clients, including San Jose Barracuda, Grand Canyon University, the Arizona State University Hockey Team Shop, and most recently, the Los Angeles Dodgers and served as the personal seamstress to Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Freddie Freeman.

Patsy’s life has not followed the path she initially envisioned, but she believes it has turned out far better than she could have imagined. She finds fulfillment in her work and looks forward to the new and exciting adventures that await her. Her story exemplifies resilience, creativity, and the ability to thrive even when faced with life-changing experiences.

Meet the BTJ Team

We are proud to welcome Bob Woolf into the Big Time Jersey family!

In 1988, Bob competed against more than 500 applicants to become the Phoenix Suns Gorilla. Known for his aerial stunts, backflips, and colorful antics, he was the first NBA mascot to introduce the “flip dunk” off a mini-trampoline—and even dunk through a ring of fire during an NBA game.

Throughout the 1990s, the Phoenix Suns Gorilla became one of the most famous mascots in professional sports, even appearing as a hidden character in the NBA Jam video game.

In 2005, Bob was inducted as an inaugural member of the Mascot Hall of Fame. Nearly a decade later, ESPN featured him in the Origin of Species story, calling him “the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be” and “the Michael Jordan of mascots.”

For 33 years—from 1988 to 2021—Bob entertained fans across the globe, performing in more than 20 countries. Throughout his career, he kept his identity hidden, saying: “I don’t want to be seen. I don’t want to be known. I just want the character to take center stage.”

Now, with the expansion of two new divisions for Big Time Jerseys, Bob is stepping out of the shadows to serve as Director of Big Time Mascots and Director of Big Time Promotions.

He’s extremely excited for this next adventure—and so are we.