Jerry Howarth
Encyclopedia
Jerry Howarth is an American Canadian recognized as the voice of the Toronto Blue Jays
as a play-by-play announcer for the team's radio broadcasts, a position he has held for the Major League Baseball
team since 1981.
, Pennsylvania
, and raised in San Francisco, California, Howarth grew up an avid sports fan. He graduated with a degree in Economics from the University of Santa Clara in 1968, then served two years in the U.S. Army. He launched his career as a sportscaster
in 1974 by calling play-by-play action for AAA baseball's Tacoma Twins of the Pacific Coast League
, as well as baseball and football action for the University of Puget Sound
in Tacoma, Washington. In 1976, Howarth became the play-by-play voice of the Salt Lake City Gulls
. Howarth was then hired as the Assistant General Manager and performed double duty as play-by-play man for the Salt Lake City Prospectors of the short-lived Western Basketball Association
. Howarth was then hired by the NBA's Utah Jazz
before joining KWMS radio in Salt Lake as Sports Director and sports talk show host.
where he worked part of the 1981 Blue Jays season as a commentator. In 1982 he joined Tom Cheek
full-time as play-by-play partner . For the next 23 years, "Tom and Jerry" would be the radio voice of the Blue Jays. Their partnership covered the rise of the Blue Jays through the 1980s, culminating with back to back World Series Championships in 1992
and 1993
.
In 2004 Tom Cheek was diagnosed with brain cancer, but continued to broadcast with Howarth. Cheek's health continued to deteriorate, eventually forcing him to discontinue his broadcasting career midway through the 2005 season
. Howarth became the sole play-by-play broadcaster for Blue Jays games at this time and Warren Sawkiw
filled in as analyst. Cheek died on 9 October 2005. Sawkiw continued to work alongside Howarth through the end of the 2006 Blue Jays season
. In 2007, Sawkiw was replaced in the booth by former Blue Jay catcher, Alan Ashby
. Howarth continues to be the lead voice of the Toronto Blue Jays with Ashby serving as game analyst.
with his wife Mary. They have two adopted sons, Ben and Joe. He also coaches basketball at Etobicoke Collegiate Institute
. Jerry Howarth is also known for his active support and fund raising efforts on behalf of the Special Olympics
.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
as a play-by-play announcer for the team's radio broadcasts, a position he has held for the Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
team since 1981.
Early career
Born in YorkYork, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and raised in San Francisco, California, Howarth grew up an avid sports fan. He graduated with a degree in Economics from the University of Santa Clara in 1968, then served two years in the U.S. Army. He launched his career as a sportscaster
Sports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
in 1974 by calling play-by-play action for AAA baseball's Tacoma Twins of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, as well as baseball and football action for the University of Puget Sound
University of Puget Sound
The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college located in the North End of Tacoma, Washington, in the United States...
in Tacoma, Washington. In 1976, Howarth became the play-by-play voice of the Salt Lake City Gulls
Salt Lake City Gulls
leftThe Salt Lake City Gulls, a former member of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, were based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were a minor league affiliate of the California Angels from 1975 to 1981, and of the Seattle Mariners from 1982 to 1984...
. Howarth was then hired as the Assistant General Manager and performed double duty as play-by-play man for the Salt Lake City Prospectors of the short-lived Western Basketball Association
Western Basketball Association
The Western Basketball Association was formed in 1978 and played for one season during 1978-79. Organized by Larry Cregar, a former assistant coach in the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association , and real estate developer Neil Christianson.The seven-team league...
. Howarth was then hired by the NBA's Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
before joining KWMS radio in Salt Lake as Sports Director and sports talk show host.
Toronto Blue Jays
In 1981, Howarth split his time between his radio duties in Salt Lake and his new career in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
where he worked part of the 1981 Blue Jays season as a commentator. In 1982 he joined Tom Cheek
Tom Cheek
Thomas F. Cheek was an American sportscaster.Best known as the "Voice of the Blue Jays", Tom announced Major League Baseball games for the Toronto Blue Jays on radio from the team's establishment in 1977 until his retirement in 2004, in which he had a 27-year consecutive game streak of 4,306...
full-time as play-by-play partner . For the next 23 years, "Tom and Jerry" would be the radio voice of the Blue Jays. Their partnership covered the rise of the Blue Jays through the 1980s, culminating with back to back World Series Championships in 1992
1992 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 17, 1992 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaBraves fans had plenty to worry about in regard to both starting pitchers. Tom Glavine's post-season career had been less than stellar, including giving up eight runs in the second inning of Game 6 of the NLCS...
and 1993
1993 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 1993 at SkyDome in Toronto, OntarioThe Series' first game sent two staff aces—Curt Schilling for Philadelphia and Juan Guzman for Toronto—against one another. The result was less than a pitcher's duel, however, as both teams scored early and often.The deciding plays...
.
In 2004 Tom Cheek was diagnosed with brain cancer, but continued to broadcast with Howarth. Cheek's health continued to deteriorate, eventually forcing him to discontinue his broadcasting career midway through the 2005 season
2005 Toronto Blue Jays season
The 2005 Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 3rd in the American League East with a record of 80 wins and 82 losses...
. Howarth became the sole play-by-play broadcaster for Blue Jays games at this time and Warren Sawkiw
Warren Sawkiw
Warren Sawkiw is a former Toronto Blue Jays radio colour commentator who worked alongside play-by-play announcer Jerry Howarth in and on The Fan Radio Network....
filled in as analyst. Cheek died on 9 October 2005. Sawkiw continued to work alongside Howarth through the end of the 2006 Blue Jays season
2006 Toronto Blue Jays season
The 2006 Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 87 wins and 75 losses. For the second straight season, Blue Jays hitters combined for less than 1,000 strikeouts...
. In 2007, Sawkiw was replaced in the booth by former Blue Jay catcher, Alan Ashby
Alan Ashby
Alan Dean Ashby is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros...
. Howarth continues to be the lead voice of the Toronto Blue Jays with Ashby serving as game analyst.
Catchphrases
- "It's time to play ball, here at (stadium name)!" (said as the first pitch of the game is delivered)
- "The Blue Jays are in flight ..." (after the Blue Jays score their first run of the game)
- "Swiiing and a miss, he struck him out!" (when a Blue Jays pitcher strikes out a hitter swinging)
- "Call it two, a double play!"
- "There she goes!" (Blue Jays' home run call, sometimes preceded with "Yes, sir ... " or "Let's admire that one ..." )
- "He's one for ("blank") today, but oh what a one!" ("Said when recapping a hitter's box score if he's already hit a home run") "The stretch, and the (blank) pitch", (before the next pitch is thrown)
- "(Lined/ground ball to the left side/up the middle/to the right side) ... throoouuugh for a base hit!"
- "There goes another one!" (said either after a hitter hits his second or more home run of the game or after a back-to-back home run)
- "(Blue Jay player) scoooooores / (Blue Jay player) around third, he scoooooores!"
- "Hooking, hooking ... foul / fair down the left/right field line!"
- "Hello, friends! Jerry Howarth here, along with Alan Ashby and Mike WilnerMike WilnerMichael Wilner is a baseball broadcaster for the Toronto Blue Jays. He hosts a postgame radio call-in show called JaysTalk on the Fan 590 and authors a blog on Fan590.com...
..." - "We'll pause for a little 'Take Me Out to the Ball GameTake Me Out to the Ball Game"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer which has become the unofficial anthem of baseball, although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song. The song is traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch of...
' ... " (Said as a lead in to a commercial break after the top of the seventh inning is completed) - "Back here at (stadium name) ... oh, what a night/afternoon!" (Said after the first commercial break of a completed game when the Blue Jays win)
- "The throw ... not in tiiime / he got him! (Said after an infielder attempts a force outForce outForce out may mean* Force play in baseball, causing an out* 401#Force-out, a provision allowing employers to close low-balance 401 retirement accounts of former employees...
to another infielder covering a base) - "The tag and the slide ... he's in theeere / and OUT at second / third base!" (Said after an infielder attempts to tag out the baserunner on either an extra base hitExtra base hitIn baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
attempt or a stolen baseStolen baseIn baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
attempt) - "Deeelighted to have you with us on The Fan 590 radio station - and on the internet, where ever you happen to be!"
Personal
Howarth, who became a Canadian citizen in 1994, lives in Etobicoke, OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
with his wife Mary. They have two adopted sons, Ben and Joe. He also coaches basketball at Etobicoke Collegiate Institute
Etobicoke Collegiate Institute
Etobicoke Collegiate Institute is a large high school located at the former centre of Etobicoke in the historic Islington neighbourhood in Toronto's west end, and is overseen by the Toronto District School Board...
. Jerry Howarth is also known for his active support and fund raising efforts on behalf of the Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
.
Sources
- The Fan 590
- 2003 Toronto Blue Jay Official Guide
- http://yyzmagazine.ca/wordpress/2011/03/voice-of-the-summer/