Tom Cheek | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 13, 1939 Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | October 9, 2005 (aged 66) Oldsmar, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Cambridge School of Broadcasting |
| Occupation | Toronto Blue Jays radio sportscaster |
| Spouse | Shirley Cheek |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Ford C. Frick Award (2013) |
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Baseball career | |
| Member of the Canadian | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2013 |
Thomas F. Cheek (June 13, 1939 – October 9, 2005) was an American sports commentator who is best remembered as the play-by-play radio announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB), from the team's establishment in 1977 until his retirement in 2004. 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 Jays Level of Excellence in 2004.
Cheek's best-known call was perhaps his description of Joe Carter's dramatic title-clinching home run in Game 6 of the 1993 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 book Road to Glory, chronicling the first 16 years of Blue Jays baseball.
Cheek received the 2013 Ford C. Frick Award after being nominated as a finalist for the award every year since 2005.
- ^ Tom Cheek, 66; Announcer Called Blue Jay Games for 271/2 Seasons Los Angeles Times. October 11, 2005