Blue Jays honor 1992-93 back-to-back championship teams with new statue outside Rogers Centre

TORONTO -- When you win in this city, it lasts forever. Finally, outside the gates of Rogers Centre, stands a statue that will do the same.

The Blue Jays unveiled their “Back-to-Back World Series Statue” Saturday afternoon ahead of their 1-0 win over the White Sox, the first statue of a player to stand outside of this stadium in the club’s 50-year history. Who better than Joe Carter? What better than one of the greatest moments in baseball history?

Carter’s walk-off home run to win the 1993 World Series will forever be this franchise’s iconic moment. Perhaps someday it will be rivaled, but never topped. Now, it will stand forever between Gate 5 and 6, a monument to Carter and his Blue Jays teammates who went back-to-back. Each day now, fans will crowd around for photos, some of them who remember exactly where they were when Carter made contact, and so many of whom weren’t even born in 1993.

“We were all part of something truly special, and I’m forever grateful to share this moment with our fans and my incredible teammates from 1992 and 1993,” said Carter. “When I reflect on the impact our back-to-back championships had on fans – not just in Toronto, but across Canada – it brings tears to my eyes. To be honoured in this way alongside my teammates and to be part of history is deeply humbling.”

Unveiled outside just prior to first pitch, Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae led the ceremony before turning the mic over to Carter and the great Cito Gaston, who managed those World Series teams. The statue, which stands 15 feet tall and weighs 6,200 pounds, depicts Carter leaping into the air in celebration, one of those unforgettable snapshots in Blue Jays history.

Carter joked afterwards that if a day goes by without someone asking him about this home run, or telling him where they were, it will be the first time. He can’t escape it, but he doesn’t want to. Carter has always embraced this moment and the fame that’s come with it with such enthusiasm.

“This is icing on the cake. This is basically getting your flowers while you’re still alive,” Carter said. “I’m very grateful for that.”

Along the statue’s granite base, the 1992 and ‘93 rosters are listed, showcasing not only the incredible talent the Blue Jays boasted in those years, but also the amount of turnover between World Series years, a masterclass by Pat Gillick and the front office.

On another side, it’s those famous words. Over the years, Carter has broken into that bright smile so many times and recited the late, great Tom Cheek, radio voice of the Blue Jays from 1977-2004.

“Touch 'em all, Joe! You’ll never hit a bigger home run in your life!”

This statue continues a run of excellent work done by the organization to both preserve and promote this team’s history in its 50th season, something fans have long been asking for. Displays now line the 100 Level concourse, honoring different eras of this club’s history, and on Aug. 29, the Blue Jays will unveil their Hall of Excellence, honoring Buck Martinez and members of their Level of Excellence.

“Defending a championship is one of the rarest accomplishments in sports – a moment that transcends the game and becomes part of a community’s shared history,” said club president and CEO Mark Shapiro. “It deserves to be celebrated, cherished, and passed down through generations of fans. ... As we celebrate our 50th season, this statue stands as a tribute to a defining moment in our franchise and to the fans who made it meaningful and have carried that memory with them for decades. This statue is, and always will be, for the fans.”

After the ceremony outdoors, Carter and Gaston led alumni from the ‘92 and ‘93 teams back into the stadium, down through the bleachers and out onto the field, where Carter addressed the crowd once again and fired the ceremonial first pitch to George Springer. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then came out to join the celebration, gifting Carter his own version of their “home run jacket,” this one bedazzled with “Touch ‘em all, Joe!” across the back.

The ceremony was attended by 28 players, coaches, and front-office personnel from the 1992 and 1993 teams: Al Leiter, Alfredo Griffin, Candy Maldonado, Danny Cox, Dave Stewart, Dave Stieb, Devon White, Ed Sprague, Gene Tenace, Jack Morris, Joe Carter, John Olerud, Juan Guzman, Kelly Gruber, Nick Leyva, Pat Borders, Pat Hentgen, Pat Tabler, Paul Molitor, Rance Mulliniks, Rob Butler, Todd Stottlemyre, Tom Henke, Turner Ward, manager Cito Gaston, assistant general manager Gord Ash, general manager Pat Gillick, and president Paul Beeston.