Tom Cheek | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 13, 1939 Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | October 9, 2005(2005-10-09) (aged 66) Oldsmar, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Cambridge School of Broadcasting |
| Occupation | Toronto Blue Jaysradio sportscaster |
| Spouse | Shirley Cheek |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Ford C. Frick Award (2013) |
Baseball player Baseball career | |
| Member of the Canadian | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2013 |
Thomas F. Cheek (June 13, 1939 – October 9, 2005) was an Americansports commentator who is best remembered as the play-by-play radio announcer for theToronto Blue Jays ofMajor League Baseball (MLB), from the team's establishment in1977 until his retirement in2004. During that time, he covered a 27-year streak of 4,306 consecutive games plus 41 post-season games—from the first Blue Jays game on April 7, 1977, until June 3, 2004. He was inducted to the Blue JaysLevel of Excellence in 2004.
Cheek's best-known call was perhaps his description ofJoe Carter's dramatic title-clinchinghome run in Game 6 of the1993 World Series, when he said, "Touch 'em all, Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!"[1] He is also author of the bookRoad to Glory, chronicling the first 16 years of Blue Jays baseball.
Cheek posthumously received theFord C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013 after being nominated as a finalist for the award every year since 2005.
Born and raised in the west side ofPensacola, Florida, Cheek, an avid sports fan, was given his firsttape recorder at age 14, which inspired his interest in broadcasting.
His father, also named Tom Cheek, was a well knownUnited States Naval Aviator inWorld War II and a recipient of theNavy Cross at theBattle of Midway.[2]
From 1957 to 1960, Tom Cheek (the son) served in theUnited States Air Force, where he spent a year in Morocco as ateletype operator with theStrategic Air Command[3] as anairman third class. During this time he was introduced toNew York Yankees broadcasterRed Barber. Following his discharge in 1960, he attended theCambridge School of Broadcasting inBoston for two years.[4]
Cheek began hisradio broadcasting career inPlattsburgh, New York, as adisc jockey onWEAV in 1962. He then moved toBurlington, Vermont, where he worked forWDOT and was quickly promoted to corporate sales manager and sports director. He later moved from music tosports broadcasting when he moved toWJOY, where his on-air sports work includedbaseball,basketball,football andhockey for theUniversity of Vermont.
In 1968, he was almost hired as the first broadcaster for the newly formedAtlanta Hawks of theNBA, butSkip Caray was chosen instead.[5]
The newly formedMontreal Expos were looking for an announcer to complement their primary play-by-play man,Dave Van Horne. Burlington, although traditionally aBoston Red Sox town, was warming up to the new expansion team as it was only 99 miles (159 km) fromMontreal. When it was decided the Expos would use a guest announcer format, Cheek got his first broadcast experience inMajor League Baseball, filling in there occasionally from 1974 to 1976.[6]
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Beginning in1977, Cheek became the first full-time announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays alongside his first broadcast partner, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcherEarly Wynn, who remained with him through the end of 1980. Wynn was replaced byJerry Howarth in1981.
For the next 23 years, "Tom and Jerry" were the radio voices of the Blue Jays, covering the team's rise through the 1980s and culminating with their back-to-back World Series Championships in 1992 and 1993. They were joined by color commentatorGary Matthews in2000 and2001.[7]
Cheek's Blue Jays broadcasts originated from Toronto's CKFH "The Fan" 1430, founded by another legendary Toronto sports broadcaster, Hockey Hall of Fame memberFoster Hewitt. For a brief period, the broadcast was heard on 1050CHUM; but following the Blue Jays' purchase byRogers Communications, reverted to "The Fan", which had changed its call sign and frequency toCJCL 590 AM, also known as FAN 590.
Cheek called many memorable moments in Blue Jays history, including many firsts; the Blue Jays' division-clinching game in1985, and both final plays of the1992 and1993 World Series—the latter of which spawned his famous "Touch 'em all, Joe!" quote, whenJoe Carter clinched the World Series on a walk-offhome run for only the second time in World Series history.
Cheek announced every Blue Jays game from their inaugural game at Exhibition Stadium, in Toronto, on April 7, 1977, until June 3,2004, when he took two games off following the death of his father—a streak of 4,306 consecutive regular season and 41 postseason games.[8] On August 9, 2004, the Jays raised a banner to SkyDome's (now theRogers Centre) "Level of Excellence" bearing Cheek's name and, in place of a jersey number, 4,306—his streak of straight regular-season broadcasts.[9]
Cheek was a member of the broadcast team forABC Sports at the1980 Winter Olympics inLake Placid, and at the1984 Winter Olympics inSarajevo.[10]
A week after his consecutive game streak ended, Cheek was forced to take time off to undergo surgery on June 12, 2004, to remove abrain tumor.[11] Following the surgery, Cheek was able to call some Blue Jays home games while undergoingchemotherapy, but was replaced on the road by various guest announcers. For a time, it seemed he had recovered and would be able to resume calling Blue Jays games in2005. However, the cancer returned and he required further treatment at Toronto'sMount Sinai Hospital andToronto Western Hospital.
Cheek sat in with the new commentator, Canadian-born former minor league baseball infielder/outfielderWarren Sawkiw, and Howarth, to call an inning of the Blue Jays' 2005 opening game inTampa Bay.[12] This would be Cheek's final broadcast appearance.
Cheek died on October 9, 2005, at age 66 inOldsmar, Florida. He was interred in the Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park inClearwater, Florida.[13]
Cheek married his wife, Shirley, ofHemmingford, Quebec, in 1959. They had three children—Jeff, Lisa, and Tom—and seven grandchildren at the time of his death.[14] Jeff was a pitcher in the Blue Jays organization from 1992 to 1994.[15][16]
Cheek was inducted into the Blue Jays Level of Excellence in 2004 with the number "4306" next to his name, signifying his broadcasting streak. Shortly before his death,Canada's Sports Hall of Fame established the Tom Cheek Media Leadership Award for "playing a key role in promoting Canadian sports"; Cheek himself was the recipient of the first award. During the2006 season, the Blue Jays wore a white circular sewn-on patch with the lettersTC, and a radio microphone in black, beside the letters on their uniform sleeves in tribute to Cheek.[17]
For nine straight years (2005–2013),[18][19][20] Cheek was among the ten finalists for theFord C. Frick Award by theNational Baseball Hall of Fame, an award presented each year, during the Hall's induction weekend, to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball".[21] He received the 2013 award on December 5, 2012.[22][23]
Roberto Alomar has stolen his fifty-third base. A fly ball will win it now.Joe Carter at the plate. The winning run—the American League championship—ninety feet away. The pitch—a swing—and a base hit! And the Blue Jays are the champs! The Blue Jays are the champs of the American League East![24]
Timlin to the belt... Pitch on the way... And there's a bunted ball, first base side, Timlin, to Carter, and the Blue Jays win it! The Blue Jays win it! The Blue Jays are World Series Champions![25]
Joe has had his moments. Trying to lay off that ball, low to the outside part of the plate, he just went after one. Two balls and two strikes on him. Here's the pitch on the way, a swing and a belt! Left field, way back, BLUE JAYS WIN IT! The Blue Jays are World Series Champions, as Joe Carter hits a three-run home run in the ninth inning and the Blue Jays have repeated as World Series Champions!Touch 'em all, Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life![22]
