The Toronto Blue Jays added second baseman Roberto Alomar to their Level of Excellence before Friday's home opener and then pulled off a surprise by bestowing the same honour on former team president Paul Beeston.

Fans chanted "Robbie, Robbie," with a passion rarely seen at the Rogers Centre.

Roberto Alomar, here in 1994 against the Angels, was honoured along with Paul Beeston on Friday night.
(Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

After Alomar thanked fans in a brief speech, current team president Paul Godfrey said Beeston was being honoured over his objections.

"This an honour I will cherish but recognize that I don't deserve," Beeston, a native of Welland, Ont., told fans. "I was just along for the ride."

Beeston was the club's first employee and oversaw its growth from an expansion club to World Series champion.

He said all the credit belonged to men like former general manager Pat Gillick, the coaches and the players.

Alomar's No. 12 and Beeston join George Bell, Dave Stieb, Joe Carter, Cito Gaston, Tony Fernandez, Gillick and Tom Cheek in receiving the club's highest honour.

"When I put the uniform on, I was proud to wear the Toronto Blue Jays uniform," Alomar told the screaming crowd. "When I was a little kid, all I wanted to do was play baseball, and today, to see my name on the Level of Excellence is another dream come true."