One of the most memorable moments in the history of the Toronto Blue Jays is set to be honored with a statue outside Rogers Centre.
A sculpture commemorating Joe Carter’s iconic walk-off home run that secured the 1993 World Series victory will soon grace the area near the downtown ballpark. The official announcement was made by the Major League Baseball team through various social media posts on Monday.
This statue will pay tribute to the first-ever World Series triumph on Canadian turf and will serve as a symbol of the consecutive championships clinched by the team in 1992 and 1993.
Expressing his sentiments, Carter remarked, “My teammates from ’92 and ’93 are a special group, and we all understood what it meant to play for an entire country. We felt such pride wearing the Maple Leaf on our uniforms. Fans embraced us, and we loved them right back. This statue is for the fans.”
Situated between Gates 5 and 6 at Rogers Centre, the back-to-back World Series statue will replace the current statue of Edward Rogers Sr., which will be relocated to a Rogers Communications office.
The unveiling of the statue is scheduled for July 18 in a special pre-game ceremony, where alumni will pay tribute to the two championship-winning teams. The first 15,000 fans attending the event will receive a set of replica rings from the ’92 and ’93 World Series. Additionally, on August 10, the first 15,000 fans at the game will be gifted with a back-to-back replica statue.
Reflecting on the significance of the championships, Shapiro, a representative of the Blue Jays, commented, “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. 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.”
In a series of social media clips, the 65-year-old Carter is shown being led to what he believes is a business meeting with Shapiro and president emeritus Paul Beeston. Much to his surprise, the two executives reveal the plan to immortalize his historic home run with a statue.
