We headed down to the Rogers Centre early in order to be one of the first 20,000 to get our Roberto Alomar Bobblehead. We took the subway down and arrived at 10:40, the gates didn’t open until 11:00. The lines were already snaking around by the time we got there, in our line alone there had to be a few hundred people ahead of us. Once they open the gates, the line moved quickly, but the way they gave out the bobbleheads was a little chaotic, no real order to it, it would have been easy for people to collect more than one.
The coveted Roberto Alomar Bobblehead, this one is not worth as much as it is out of the box and no longer MIP (Mint in Package). A quick look on Kijiji and Craigslist have them listed for anywhere from $50-100. Even when we were leaving we saw some people offering to buy a bobblehead on the street.
When we left Mississauga it was cloudy and overcast, the forecast was still calling for 60% chance of showers, when we got down there the roof was closed. The Jays were taking batting practice.
Jose Bautista taking a few warm-up swings before getting in the cage.
Next thing we knew they started opening the roof. Not often you get to see it actually open or close while you’re sitting in it.
Some video of the roof starting to open.
We were sitting in the 500 level in Section 525R, row 16, seats 6-10. They are almost right behind home plate with a great view of the field. Unfortunately after the past couple of weeks they have stopped showing replays on the Jumbotron, there were a few close plays that the umpires have blown the calls, so now there is no replays at any of the stadiums.
The roof is almost fully open and we are now sitting in the sun.
The last panel rotating around to the far side.
Prior to the game there were some pre-game ceremonies to honour Robbie Alomar. They played the Journey to Cooperstown on the big screen.
There were some former teammates among the special guests.
Roberto Alomar entered the stadium walking down one of the aisles among the fans, he is the guy in front of the Mountie wearing the suit.
Robbie shaking hands with from L-R, Kelly Gruber, Duane Ward, Devon White, John MacDonald and Paul Beeston.
The MC was Jerry Howarth.
John MacDonald (current Jay) saying a few words, they were teammates in Cleveland when he was starting out. Cito Gaston in the background.
There were a number of video tributes to Robbie.
Robbie with his mother and father thanking the fans.
They had a big number 12 on the field covering second base.
They had special second bases for the game, they had the number 12 on the actual base.
Everyone heading off the field.
On with the game, it was a later start due to the pre-game festivities. On the mound for the Jays was Brandon Morrow.
Jose Bautista watching a ball.
Jose walked and Edwin Encarnacion hit a two run home run to follow, the Jays jump out to an early 2-0 lead.
The wave.
The newest Jay Colby Rasmus was o’fer coming into the game, he broke out with a single and a 2-run double to go 2-4 and now sits with a 0.125 average since coming over from St. Louis.
The first pitcher in relief for the Texas Rangers was Yoshinori Tateyama. A couple of innings later he was followed by Koji Uehara.
It was a good game, the Jays scored runs in each of the first four innings, Brandon Morrow had 11 stikeouts and had a one hitter going through five innings.
The final boxscore for the game. It was a sellout attendance. The people that sat down on either side of us didn’t get a bobblehead. The one family arrived at 11:50 AM and there were none left.