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On July 31st, Roberto Alomar will become the first Jay to have his number retired.

This is fitting, since he is without question the greatest player this franchise has ever had. It's a damn shame he wasn't a first ballot Hall of Famer because of some self-righteous d-bags in the media...but that's another story for another day.

Now that Alomar will have his number retired, I hope this paves the way for other players to also have their number retired. In my opinion, Joe Carter and Pat Hentgen should be next in line for the honor.

This team hasn't made the playoffs for 18 years! We of all cities should know how dam hard it is to win Back-To-Back Championships!!

Those teams should be remembered with greater reverence by this organization, and what better way than to hang a couple jersey's in the rafters? It's not like we're going to have any players of this significance in the near future.

To be honest, I think the way the Jays approach it is perfectly fine: to have a level of excellence and now retired numbers for players that go above and beyond that.

Sure Joe Carter had a monumental hit in the World Series but I don't think a moment like that and 1 great season, 2 good ones and 4 others ranging from mediocre to below replacement should warrant retiring a number. I think being named to the level of excellence is more than enough.

I don't want the Jays to be like the Astros and retire just about any number just because that player spent most of their careers with the organization. I'd want a retired number to mean something.

Agreed. I think after Alomar. Who's next to getting their number retired? Delgado? Halladay? Halladay is in the discussion for greatest Jay ever.

I'm really curious if Halladay chooses to go into the HOF as a Phillies player or a Jays player, depending on if he wins a ring with the Phillies.

MoMoneyMoProbs wrote:I'm really curious if Halladay chooses to go into the HOF as a Phillies player or a Jays player, depending on if he wins a ring with the Phillies.

Players don't get to choose which team they go in as.

IF anyone else was to be retired, I'd like to see either Dave Stieb or George Bell get the nod.

I loved Robbie, but not sure playing 4 yrs in one city should be enough, even playing at the phenominal level he played at.

I really like having it tiered like this, 'cause I want to acknowledge players, but I prefer to retire just a very select few. IMO, Alomar and I would do Halladay down the road are the only two I'd want retired because they were, almost without any argument at all, the best at their position for multiple years while they were Blue Jays. I value elite levels of play for shorter periods over those long grind-out careers that make milestones. Delgado, Carter, Fernandez, Stieb, etc... these guys all deserve acknowledgement for the tremendous role they played for the franchise, but they aren't sure-fire HOF generational talents that should have their numbers retired. JMO obviously.

gei wrote:

MoMoneyMoProbs wrote:I'm really curious if Halladay chooses to go into the HOF as a Phillies player or a Jays player, depending on if he wins a ring with the Phillies.

Players don't get to choose which team they go in as.

They don't get the final say, but their desires are taken into account, AFAIK.

I think where Doc goes will all depend on his next contract. If he signs another 5 yearer with the Phillies, he'll go in with them. If (fingers crossed to the point of cutting off circulation) we're competitive then and can convince him to come back, he'll be a Jay. If he signs with anybody else, it'll be a mystery until the Hall makes the call.

NO NO NO NO!!!!

Retiring more numbers for the hell of it just ruins anything special about doing it for Alomar. The way things are now is perfect, I hate teams that retire number after number... It takes away all meaning.

Great Blue Jay: Level of Excellence.

HOF Blue Jay: Retired Number.

Keep it that simple.

Parataxis wrote:

gei wrote:

MoMoneyMoProbs wrote:I'm really curious if Halladay chooses to go into the HOF as a Phillies player or a Jays player, depending on if he wins a ring with the Phillies.

Players don't get to choose which team they go in as.

They don't get the final say, but their desires are taken into account, AFAIK.

I don't know about that.. Dawson & Carter both expressed their preferences, but got in as Expos.

Parataxis wrote:I think where Doc goes will all depend on his next contract. If he signs another 5 yearer with the Phillies, he'll go in with them. If (fingers crossed to the point of cutting off circulation) we're competitive then and can convince him to come back, he'll be a Jay. If he signs with anybody else, it'll be a mystery until the Hall makes the call.

i'm hoping he goes in as a Jay as well.. however, going back to Dawson, he spent 10 years with the Expos, and then 6 with the Cubs.. he won an MVP with the Cubs, and had a better career there, yet still went in as an Expo.. I remember hearing interviews from Hentgen (and someone else) saying that Doc will go in as a Jay, but who knows down the road.

LittleOzzy wrote:NO NO NO NO!!!!

Retiring more numbers for the hell of it just ruins anything special about doing it for Alomar. The way things are now is perfect, I hate teams that retire number after number... It takes away all meaning.

Great Blue Jay: Level of Excellence.

HOF Blue Jay: Retired Number.

Keep it that simple.

This is good...leave things the way they are. No need to water it down.

MoMoneyMoProbs wrote:
I'm really curious if Halladay chooses to go into the HOF as a Phillies player or a Jays player, depending on if he wins a ring with the Phillies.

I think the factor that has to (might) push things towards a Jays cap is the fact that he was drafted by the Jays and developed in the Jays system. I know the player doesn't decide, but iirc they can express their wishes to the committee. I know if I looked back on my entire career, I'd remember the draft, the days in Dunedin, Knoxville, Syracuse, etc....

evilRyu wrote:

Parataxis wrote:

gei wrote:Players don't get to choose which team they go in as.

They don't get the final say, but their desires are taken into account, AFAIK.

I don't know about that.. Dawson & Carter both expressed their preferences, but got in as Expos.

Well yes, that goes back to the committee getting the final say. They're on record, though, as stating that they do take the players' desires into consideration. Doesn't mean they'll always follow though.

Parataxis wrote:I think where Doc goes will all depend on his next contract. If he signs another 5 yearer with the Phillies, he'll go in with them. If (fingers crossed to the point of cutting off circulation) we're competitive then and can convince him to come back, he'll be a Jay. If he signs with anybody else, it'll be a mystery until the Hall makes the call.

i'm hoping he goes in as a Jay as well.. however, going back to Dawson, he spent 10 years with the Expos, and then 6 with the Cubs.. he won an MVP with the Cubs, and had a better career there, yet still went in as an Expo.. I remember hearing interviews from Hentgen (and someone else) saying that Doc will go in as a Jay, but who knows down the road.

Well, fingers crossed.

Parataxis wrote:
Well yes, that goes back to the committee getting the final say. They're on record, though, as stating that they do take the players' desires into consideration. Doesn't mean they'll always follow though.

yeah i'm really curious as to how much weight goes into the decision makers thought process.