Jays radio voice Howarth calls it career
Jerry Howarth won’t be taking flight as the Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster anymore.
The radio voice of the Jays for 36 memorable years, an emotional Howarth announced his retirement on Tuesday.
Though he is 71 and had a cancer scare a year and a half ago, Howarth’s announcement nevertheless shocked and saddened many of his fans, who flooded Toronto radio with calls of support and congratulations.
“I had every intention of continuing my career into the 2018 season but my health and stamina and continuing voice issues dictated otherwise,” Howarth said. “I am blessed and I am grateful. I thank everyone who has made this journey of mine so rewarding in every way.”
Howarth had surgery to remove a cancerous tumour inside his prostate gland in 2016 and returned to the broadcast booth last season. He has completely recovered from the cancer.
Born in Pennsylvania and raised in San Francisco, Howarth joined the Blue Jays in 1981, later becoming a Canadian citizen.
He has broadcast upwards of 7,500 games, many with the late Tom Cheek and most recently with Joe Siddall, calling every major milestone for the Blue Jays, including six division titles and two World Series championships.
In 2012, Howarth was honoured by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame with the Jack Graney Award for lifetime contributions to baseball in Canada. He was also awarded the Sports Media Canada award for achievement in broadcasting both in 2003, with then-broadcast partner Cheek, and again individually in 2016. Cheek died in 2005.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons called from Dunedin, Fla., saying it is a sad day.
“We go back a long way and we became very, very good friends,” Gibbons said. “Deeper than baseball ever was. It went beyond that. Went through some ups and downs together.
“You’ve always been a big supporter of mine and I will never forget that. The beauty of your baseball career Jerry (is that) you always called it like it is. You never sugar-coated anything, but you were always fair,” Gibbons said.
“I’ll miss that ‘Yes sir!’” said Jays legend Tom Henke, doing his best Howarth imitation. “It’s kind of like Jack Buck stepping down in St. Louis.
“I know Blue Jays fans will miss him.”
When he wasn’t broadcasting or spending time with his family, Howarth coached basketball at Etobicoke Collegiate.
“It’s been a wonderful ride,” Howarth said.