Retired Howarth still enjoys visiting Rogers Centre
TORONTO — Before a recent Toronto Blue Jays game, Jerry Howarth strolled onto the turf at Rogers Centre, walked down the side of the diamond and held a long glance out at the field.
The venue still feels like home for the longtime broadcaster, who retired last February after 36 years with the Major League Baseball team.
“For years, every now and then, once or twice a season, I would purposely go down by myself somewhere in the ballpark and hope nobody found me,” Howarth said. “It was just to reflect upon my blessings, the ballpark I was in, the career that I’ve had, the opportunity to call games.
“Then, by quiet reflection, I could think about where my career had taken me up until that particular point because sometimes we forget in the quickness of the moment to do that. Enjoy the moment.”
Now 72, Howarth is still a regular at the ballpark. He tries to make it down at least once a series, more for the social aspect than anything.
Howarth works the area during batting practice like the King of Kensington. Smiling and jovial, he catches up with players, coaches and broadcasters from both teams along with fans and stadium staffers.
Easy to spot in his trademark golf shirt, khakis and running shoes, Howarth knows almost everyone by name. The difference this season is the thick spiral notebook is no longer by his side and he’s not in game preparation mode.
Howarth announced in February that he would not return to the broadcast booth this season. He made the decision due to health issues that affected his voice in recent years.
“No regrets at all about my decision or missing it,” Howarth said. “I have just really enjoyed what I’ve done. Baseball is still part of my life but now I don’t have that routine and discipline, and I’m OK with that.”
Howarth, a husband, father and grandfather, now has more time to spend with family and said he “couldn’t be happier.” He has also rediscovered his love for duplicate bridge and usually plays two or three times a week.
“I like the competitiveness and the preparation,” he said. “It’s like a broadcast. The irony is when you broadcast, all you do is talk. But in bridge, you don’t talk at all.”
Howarth, a native of York, Pa., began his broadcast career in 1974 with the Tacoma Twins of the Pacific Coast League. He joined the Blue Jays in 1981 and has called Toronto home ever since, eventually becoming a Canadian citizen.
Howarth called Toronto’s back-to-back World Series victories in 1992 and 1993 with Tom Cheek, who died in 2005 from brain cancer.
Ben Wagner, who called games for the Blue Jays’ triple-A affiliate, was named Howarth’s replacement last month. “I like Ben a lot,” Howarth said. “What I’m really happy about is, No. 1, he got the job after 14 years in the minor leagues, 11 in Buffalo. Ben is a real pro.”