Jamie Campbell praises Blue Jays for emotional Buck Martinez Hall of Excellence tribute

For years, the Toronto Blue Jays were a franchise still trying to build enough history to properly celebrate it. Now, in their 50th season, longtime host of Blue Jays Central Jamie Campbell believes the organization has reached a point where the team has enough moments to commemorate and celebrate.

That was the feeling inside Rogers Centre on Saturday (Aug. 29) when the Blue Jays opened their new Hall of Excellence and honoured Buck Martinez, the former catcher, manager and longtime broadcaster whose connection to the organization spans parts of five decades.

“For so many of the first few decades, there was very little acknowledgement of the history of the franchise because, in essence, the franchise was still building that history,” Campbell said. “But now that we’re 50 years in, there is a past to celebrate, and I applaud the Blue Jays for the way they unveil these ceremonies.”

Martinez became the newest member of the club’s Hall of Excellence, which builds on the former Level of Excellence and was unveiled as part of Toronto’s 50th-anniversary celebrations. The new space, located on the lower concourse behind right field, was designed to give fans a more visible connection to the players, managers, executives and broadcasters who helped shape the franchise.

Campbell grew up as a fan of the Blue Jays, sitting at Exhibition Stadium on day one and for many many games afterwards, he went on to become a familiar face of their national broadcasts. He says the ceremony felt like another sign that the organization has become much better at telling its own story.

“The way the Blue Jays have acknowledged their past, notably in recent years, is fantastic,” Campbell said. “These ceremonies have been incredible to see. It seems they spare no expense.”

Campbell pointed to the 1992-1993 World Series championship statue outside Rogers Centre, the historical displays around the ballpark and the reaction to Martinez’s induction as examples of a franchise that is all in on celebrating it's history.

“It’s wonderful to see people crowding around Joe Carter leaping around the basepaths, filling the stadium and watching Buck Martinez so rightfully honoured,” Campbell said. “I looked around the ballpark the other day and there were some moist eyes in the stands.”

Martinez’s place in Blue Jays history is different from almost anyone else’s in that hall. His legacy stretches three different ways in which he shaped the Blue Jays' story; as a catcher, manager and broadcaster. His voice became an integral part of summer nights for generations of Canadian baseball fans.

“As a player, his impact wasn’t as great as some of the names already in that hall,” Campbell said. “But he extended his stay as a broadcaster, managed the club briefly and built this decades-long legacy with people who enjoy Blue Jays baseball. For that, he won’t be forgotten.”

Rogers Centre now feels like a place that celebrates the Blue Jays' history

This comes at a time when Rogers Centre itself feels different. After years of criticism that the building could feel sterile or disconnected from the franchise’s history, the renovations and new fan spaces have helped turn the stadium into a real destination

“Again, for someone who went to literally hundreds of games at Exhibition Stadium where you’d buy a ticket, go in, buy a hot dog and watch the game, the overall experience has changed dramatically," says Campbell who says people aren't just going there for baseball now. "These new places for a younger audience to go, like the Corona Rooftop, are important in attracting people there. It’s incredible. I can see how young professionals in their 20s would decide on a Friday night or Saturday before going out for the evening, they would go to a Jays game first, meet up with friends, watch a ball game, and then head out on the town."

Campbell adds it's also a great space for the youngest Blue Jays' fans as well. "The way they handle Junior Jays Sundays is incredible, too. I have a 20-year-old son who came with me to the game on Sunday. We drove past the Junior Jays Sunday carnival setup outside about two hours before the game, and it was packed. He said, 'You never brought me to one of these when I was little.' I said, 'Well, it wasn’t this way when you were little. It’s changed.' The way they welcome that really young crowd is just incredible."

For longtime fans, the Hall of Excellence is finally a physical place to see the names and moments they already know by heart. For the younger fans, it gives them a chance to understand why Buck Martinez, Joe Carter, Dave Stieb, José Bautista, Roy Halladay and so many others left their imprint on the organization.

Campbell said Rogers Centre now carries more baseball history than it sometimes gets credit for, and the Blue Jays are doing an excellent job in memorializing that history.

“There’s so much to celebrate with this place,” Campbell said. “Now that the Blue Jays are doing this, and doing it so well, it gives fans a sense of 50 years of baseball history. It has Joe Carter’s home run in 1993. It has Devon White’s catch in 1992. It has the bat flip in 2015. It has Edwin Encarnación's walk off a year later. It has the Donaldson dash. It has Springer against the Mariners. It has Bo Bichette in Game 7 of the World Series. There is so much to celebrate with this place, and that’s only baseball — not to mention one of the greatest Grey Cups ever played there in 1989."

Martinez’s induction was just the latest event in a season that has been full of nostalgia driven excellence and a continuation for the Blue Jays to celebrate their history.

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