One underpublicized revelation out of the Toronto Blue Jays’ State of the Franchise event on Monday was that the club is considering adding Tom Henke’s name to its Level of Excellence.
It’s an honour that’s overdue for the top relief pitcher in Blue Jays history. A two-time all-star and member of the 1992 World Series-winning squad, the bespectacled closer racked up a franchise-leading 217 saves and compiled a tidy 2.48 ERA in eight campaigns in Toronto.
As early as this season, Henke could become the 10th member of an exclusive group of Jays immortalized at the Rogers Centre. George Bell, Dave Stieb, Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar, Tony Fernandez, Cito Gaston, Pat Gillick, Paul Beeston and Tom Cheek are all currently celebrated on the club’s Level of Excellence.
The news that a ceremony for Henke could be in the works got me thinking about what other players are worthy of this honour.
Of course, a debate can be waged about what constitutes “excellence.” The names of serviceable, longtime Jays like Lloyd Moseby and Jim Clancy, for example, are sprinkled all over the Jays’ all-time, statistical leaderboards, but few would consider them to be “excellent.” Then there are players like Roger Clemens and Paul Molitor who were outstanding during their short tenures in Toronto, but, in my opinion, weren’t Jays long enough to merit a perpetual tribute from the club. And if there was a “Level of Very Good” at the Rogers Centre, Shawn Green, John Olerud, Duane Ward and Fred McGriff would surely be on it.
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