Music: {allcanada} The Blue Jays have finally built a nest in Cooperstown.

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – There is an enormity to the moment that is striking.

The Baseball Hall of Fame is a most exclusive of clubs, with only 295 elected members over 136 years of professional baseball, 205 of them from the majors. Over 17,000 players have suited up in the big-leagues, so a place in Cooperstown's hallowed halls is obviously reserved for only the best of the best.

That's why standing on the dais – as Roberto Alomar, Pat Gillick and Bert Blyleven did Sunday – looking on as commissioner Bud Selig reads the inscription from a Hall-bound plaque held by Jeff Idelson, the museum's president, is such a powerful experience.

It is one thing to be named for induction, and another to take part in all the parties that lead up to induction day. On a stage, surrounded by fellow Hall of Famers, 47 of them this year on a steamy afternoon at the Clarks Sports Center, is where the sense of a place among the greats truly hits.

"I am humbled to be standing here today when the game has already given me back so much more than I ever imagined possible," Gillick said at the end of a fittingly touching and classy 12-minute speech. "As the wonderful voice of the Seattle Mariners (Dave Niehaus) said here in Cooperstown, I might not be the most deserving, but I am certainly the most appreciative."

There were cheers, tears and, appropriately with such a Canadian feel around all weekend, beers to match the range of emotions, as a crowd estimated by the Hall at 17,500 stocked with Blue Jays fans in countless No. 12 Alomar jerseys, and Puerto Ricans waving flags took in the proceedings.

"Robbie, Robbie, Robbie," they chanted in between cheers.

The tears were mostly happy ones, and Alomar's mother Maria shed plenty of them when he called her "the most wonderful person in my life" toward the end of a 15 minute-speech he started in Spanish. Both his father Sandy and older brother Sandy Jr., struggled to hold back tears as Alomar recounted their influence on his career and his personality.

But Blyleven's mother Jenny looked sombre when her son talked about his late father Joe, who died in 2004. "I wish he was here," said Blyleven. "But you know mom, I know he's up there looking down right now. Mommy, I love you."

There were memories and reminders of the long road to Cooperstown for all at every turn.

Sandy Alomar Jr., recounted how when he and Roberto were roommates while playing for double-A Wichita in 1987, they shared a one-bedroom apartment and whoever had the better night at the plate got to sleep on the bed, while the other was left with the couch.

Sandy batted .307 that year but often got the short end of the stick as Robbie hit .319.

"But you forgot you used to send me to do the laundry because I was your little brother," Alomar said laughing.

Gillick's wife Doris, whom he met at a Dominican Republic hotel while scouting in 1968, glowed as her husband described her as "the wind beneath my wings." His daughter Kim and son-in-law David, and grandson Cooper also beamed as he expressed his admiration for them.

Despite a reputation for becoming emotional – some in the large Blue Jays contingent were facetiously setting the over-under on him breaking down at between 15 and 45 seconds – Gillick remained well composed throughout his speech.

He choked up briefly when he spoke of joining the expansion Blue Jays in 1976, saying that "for a baseball person it was a dream come true. Imagine, being able to build a team from scratch, in a city where everyone was excited about finally having a major-league team. But the best part for me was working with the people that became your friends from Day 1."

And he also needed to compose himself again when he thanked all the people he's worked with over the years, before adding "my particular thanks go to the scouts and player development staff."

"They find the players and prepare them for major-league baseball. The hard work, dedication and advice from the scouts and player development staff are what builds champions."

Gillick elicited laughs when he explained how as a young scout he would hide in trees with binoculars so that his rivals wouldn't know he was interested in a player, or use assumed names "to throw others off the scent."

But he nearly choked up again when he mentioned how the late Al LaMacchia, Bobby Mattick, and Mel Queen, "are here in spirit" and when he said, "I hope and pray that the heart of the game will never change."

To illustrate that point, Gillick retold the story of how in 1975, while he was with the Yankees, he and LaMacchia, then of the Atlanta Braves, were fighting to land first base prospect Willie Upshaw in the draft.

The Yankees got him but when he wasn't interested in signing and began ducking calls, Gillick asked LaMacchia to travel with him to tiny Blanco, Texas. LaMacchia agreed, they spoke to him together, and Upshaw signed.

"Can you really imagine that happening today, a rival scout taking time out of his schedule to go to the middle of nowhere to help a competitor and help a young man make the right decision for his future?" Gillick asked. "That's just how we all operated back then. We fought like heck for every player and every advantage but we knew we were part of something bigger than ourselves. To me, that is what baseball is all about and I hope it is always what baseball is all about."

Alomar closed out his speech by calling his family, fans, the people of both his native Puerto Rico and Canada, and the game of baseball "my life and love."

He opened by asking for some leeway with English his second language but was nearly as smooth in delivery as he was gobbling up grounders at second base. Two prominent themes were his family and the Blue Jays and his sentiment for both were obvious.

"My time in Toronto was the best of my career," he said. "We won two World Series together, you guys embraced me from Day 1, you worked with me through ups and downs and I am so proud to represent you here in Cooperstown as the first Toronto Blue Jay inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame."

Special thanks went out to Gillick for bringing him to Toronto, to former manager Cito Gaston whom he praised for teaching him to be a professional, and to Paul Beeston for his friendship and guidance.

"Paul, you are like a second father to me," he said. "Thank you for everything you have done for me. You are so valued in my heart."

Blyleven, speaking with his typical verve and wit, told several great stories during his 19-minute speech.

He explained how his dad's favourite player was Frank Howard and that he ended up facing the 6-7 slugger during his big-league debut. Blyleven won the game, and in conversation with his parents afterwards, his dad asked how Howard had done.

Proudly, Blyleven told him 0-for-3 with a strikeout before the line went dead.

"He hung up on me," said Blyleven. "He wanted Frank Howard to take me deep."

A noted prankster who spent four years in Canada after his parents emigrated from the Netherlands to Saskatchewan, Blyleven was all business as he closed out his speech.

He waited 14 years for his induction and it was worth the wait.

"I know probably some of you are waiting for me to do something silly or stupid, well not today," said Blyleven. "But another day for sure. No hot-foots and no mooning. …

"Today I take a lot pride in being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. To be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame is the highest honour an athlete can get. I am very thankful for this honour."

Indeed it is. Welcome to the club.