Tom Cheek 1939-2005

The weekend passing of Toronto Blue Jays radio broadcaster Tom Cheek – who put in 4,306 consecutive games behind the microphone from 1977 through 2004 – prompted plenty of wistful recollections about Major League Baseball’s stumbling into the city, the team’s emergence into contender status in the mid-’80s, and the World Series-induced exhilaration of ’92 and ’93. Cheek called them all and, more significantly, held down the same job in broadcasting – thousands of hours on live radio without a slip of the tongue, notable factual blunder or evident dissatisfaction with his gig – through 28 seasons. The games were first heard on 1430 CKFH (a country music station at the time), moved to 1050 CHUM in later years as part of their flirtation with sports radio, then landed safe at The FAN 590. The Tribute to Tom website has a biography, audio clips, and info on how to buy a bracelet made of baseball leather and thread with the proceeds donated to the Canadian Cancer Society in Cheek’s honour.

Tribute To Tom