On the heels of our post about Vin Scully’s 79th birthday, and in deference to our many Canadian readers, including my friend and broadcast partner on Ballparkradio, Blair Setford, we share this story about former Toronto Blue Jay’s broadcaster, Tom Cheek. (Thanks for forwarding, Blair)
By SHI DAVIDI
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (CP) – Longtime radio announcer Tom Cheek is once again among the 10 finalists for the Ford C. Frick Award and the Toronto Blue Jays hope this is the year he finds his way into the winners’ shrine at the Hall of Fame. Cheek, who died after a lengthy battle with brain cancer in October 2005, was the beloved voice of the franchise who called 4,306 consecutive games for the club between 1977 and 2004. It’s the third time Cheek is up for the award, which is named after the renowned sportswriter, radio announcer, National League president and commissioner, and is given for major contributions to baseball broadcasting. Dizzy Dean, Ken Harrelson, Bill King, Tony Kubek, France Laux, Denny Matthews, Graham McNamee, Dave Niehaus and Joe Nuxhall are the other finalists, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. The winner will be announced Feb. 22. “There’s no doubt we want to enshrine the name of Tom Cheek,” Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey said at the baseball winter meetings. “Anything that can be done to promote his name and the great contribution he’s made to the Toronto Blue Jays becomes of paramount importance to the club. We’ve honoured him in the club’s way, now it’s baseball’s turn to honour him.” His popularity with fans was never more evident than on Aug. 29, 2004, when a crowd of 44,072 feted him as the Blue Jays added him to their Level of Excellence.
The number 4,306 is by his name, signifying the streak. Cheek witnessed every Blue Jays game from Bill Singer’s first pitch on April 7, 1977 until June 3, 2004 when he skipped a game in Oakland because of his father’s death – a span of 27 1/2 years. Cheek returned to the booth after the funeral only to fall ill a week later. On June 13, just 10 days after his father’s death and on his 65th birthday, he underwent an operation to remove a brain tumour. He had a recurrence of the cancer in the spring of 2005. “Tom Cheek is a slam dunk Hall of Famer,” said broadcaster Mike Wilner, who spent three seasons with Cheek in the booth. “He was a phenomenal broadcaster and far more than fulfilled the qualifications of a Ford C. Frick award winner. I feel incredibly honoured to have had the chance to share a broadcast booth with him.” The award is voted on by all 14 living recipients of the award plus six historians and veteran media members. Selections are based on a broadcaster’s longevity, continuity with a club, honours, national assignments such as the World Series and all-star games and popularity with fans. Gene Elston won the Frick last year.