Rogers unveiled a 12-foot tall bronze statue of its founder Ted Rogers outside the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays. The company's decision hasn't earned it much love from long-suffering Blue Jays fans. Instead of celebrating a team owner and telecommunications tycoon why not, you know, celebrate baseball players in front of a baseball stadium.
During the unveiling Rogers pointed out that a number of other teams have celebrated their owners in this fashion. But Yahoo! Canada's Ian Denomme notes that each of these men (ex. Nolan Ryan, Connie Mack) had significant ties to baseball.
And, as Canada.com's Patrick O'Rourke noted, the Rogers' tenure with the Jays hasn't exactly been long nor a golden age for the struggling team.
His company purchased their stake in the team in 2000 and the Jays have barely done anything of note since. They haven’t made the playoffs since 1993. Ted Rogers is not a big baseball figure in Toronto.
We're not questioning Rogers' credentials as a media pioneer and business magnate, but maybe his statue would be more fitting outside the business school, the street or the corporate head offices of the company that all bear his name.
So without further ado, here's our shortlist of Blue Jays notables that should've been commemorated outside the , sorry, Rogers Centre.
Preferably with his hands in the air, celebrating that walk-off home run that gave the Jays their second World Series in 1993
Alomar is probably one of the best second baseman in Blue Jays history (and one of the best of the last few decades). For added nostalgia, let's pay tribute to Alomar the juice pitchman.
The voice of the Blue Jays from the team's first game in 1977 to his retirement in 2004, Cheek would've been the narrator for countless Blue Jays moments including the back-to-back World Series wins. Cheek died of cancer in 2005.
Arguably the most beloved manager in Jays history, Gaston led the team to back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993. Gaston is also a landmark figure in baseball history, as the first African-American manager to win a World Series title.
Remember BJ Birdy, the Toucan Sam look-alike that was the Jays mascot for the 1980s and 90s? He doesn't have the flashy, sleek lines of Ace, the current Jays mascot, but he does have a certain lovable throw-back quality.
Who did we miss? Which Blue Jays or baseball great should we commemorate outside the Rogers Centre? Tell us in the comments
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