TORONTO -- For years, Mark Shapiro has talked about turning Rogers Centre from a stadium into a ballpark. Much of this has meant modern solutions and renovations, but now, the Blue Jays are reaching back into their past.
Spread across the 100-Level concourse this season, the Blue Jays have added eight installations displaying the team’s history through memorabilia, but the crown jewel sits just behind the right-field foul pole. There, fans will now find the World Series trophies from 1992 and '93, displayed in a glass case for everyone to see.
Surrounding those trophies are displays honoring the Blue Jays’ playoff teams, from the “Drive of '85” right up to the 2025 World Series run. You’ll find the jersey George Bell was wearing when he caught that fly ball in left field in '85 and dropped to his knees while teammates spilled onto the field, AL East champions for the first time. You’ll find the bat José Bautista famously flipped into the air after hitting one of the biggest home runs in Blue Jays history.
This is just the start, but it’s an incredible start. It’s something fans have wanted for years now, and will be crucial to instilling a sense of this team’s history in its younger fans, who might not be as well-read on Dave Stieb, Tony Fernandez, Jimmy Key, Tom Henke, Bell, Lloyd Moseby, Jesse Barfield or even those World Series teams from ‘92 and ‘93.
Later this summer, the Blue Jays will continue their 50th season celebrations with two more major additions:
Joe Carter statue unveiling
On July 18, the Blue Jays will unveil their first statue of a player outside Rogers Centre, commemorating Joe Carter’s walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. The announcement earlier this year was met with widespread approval from fans, and what other moment could better represent this organization?
“The Blue Jays have a rich and storied history in the fabric of Canadian sport, and the back-to-back World Series championships will forever have a special place in the hearts and minds of sports fans across the country,” said Shapiro. “As we embark on our 50th season, this statue is emblematic of baseball greatness in Canada and will be shared with fans for generations to come.”
Hall of Excellence unveiling
Later in the season, on Aug. 29, the Blue Jays will open their Hall of Excellence, which will live in right field, just steps from where the World Series trophies are displayed. This Hall will hold all of the existing members of the Level of Excellence, which includes: José Bautista, Paul Beeston, George Bell, Joe Carter, Tom Cheek, Carlos Delgado, Tony Fernandez, Cito Gaston, Pat Gillick, Roy Halladay and Dave Stieb.
Joining these faces of the Blue Jays’ franchise will be Buck Martinez, who will be inducted into the Hall of Excellence in a ceremony on the day it opens. Martinez has been with the Blue Jays since 1981 as a catcher, manager and broadcaster, one of the most iconic figures in the history of Canadian baseball and beloved by fans from coast to coast.
Once the Hall of Excellence is unveiled, that will also be open to Blue Jays fans, featuring more memorabilia from each member to celebrate this team’s history.