FROM THE ARCHIVES: VOICE OF THE JAYS A BIG HAWKS FAN
January 27, 1994
by Alan McDonald
Just what in the world was ‘The Voice of the Blue Jays’ doing at a Humber Hawks championship celebration? And why on earth was he the one presenting players with the rings?
“I’m a big fan of the Hawks,” said Jerry Howarth, the radio announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays. “I’m a fan of Mike Katz and friends of the entire coaching staff.”
Howarth was the master of ceremonies last Wednesday at Humber College’s Ring Ceremony Night. The event took place in in the Humber gym to honour Humber’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. He said he was eager to participate in the event as soon as he heard about it. The men were given their 1993 National Championship rings and the women were given their 1993 Provincial Championship rings.
“I coach a kid’s basketball team,” said Howarth, who is a father of two boys himself. “I come to the Humber gym sometimes to get pointers from coach Dilena.”
With Howarth at the podium introducing all of the players, the night was reminiscent of the Toronto Blue Jays rally at the SkyDome back in October. Howarth compared the two teams to the crowd who watched.
“Let’s see if the Blue Jays can do what the Hawks did, and win three in a row,” said Howarth, who called Humber the home of champions. “What these athletes did was something the college should be proud of.”
Howarth said he’s looking forward to another successful year from the Jays.
“I see them as maybe one pitcher away from winning it all again,” he said. “They have a good nucleus of talent and should do just fine in 1994.”
Howarth who said last year’s World Series final was the most exciting one he’s ever witnessed, also says he’d love to see basketball join baseball as one of Toronto’s main pastimes.
“I’d love to see Pro-Line lottery scrapped altogether. All its doing is taking money out of the kids’ pockets and putting nothing back into the economy. Let’s get rid of Pro-Line and bring the NBA to Toronto.”
Howarth’s broadcasting career began when he used to tape record himself commentating football and baseball games. He sent these tapes to places all over the United States and eventually got a job in Washington doing College games.
“I worked my way through Triple-A baseball and in October of 1981 I got a job doing major league games.”
From there Howarth has never looked back. His voice is synonymous with the Blue Jays to virtually every fan they have. He says he likes the enthusiasm that Toronto fans have towards baseball despite the recent image problems the sport has suffered.
“You always hear that money is ruining the game of baseball and that the players are making too much,” he said. “Part of that is true, but it’s a supply and demand market. Granted, expansion has spread the talent out, but baseball is still a great game for the fans.”
Howarth spends his offseason ‘resting his throat’ and doing the odd public appearance. He said that from March 1 to November 1 his life consists of nothing but baseball; so his holidays are spent enjoying other sports, like basketball.
“I look at the athletes here at Humber, and I see a great bunch of young adults,” he said. “They’re all willing to work hard and listen to whatever the coaches have to say. That really is what competition is all about.”
Howarth said he’s ready to take on another season behind the microphone at Blue Jays games and hopes that a World Series final concludes it. He also said he’d be happy to take part in another championship celebration at Humber.
It will be interesting to see which event comes first for Howarth. Standing on the stage at the SkyDome celebrating the Blue Jays’ third World Series Championship, or standing in the Humber Gym sharing a fourth title for the Hawks.
The ‘Voice of the Blue Jays’ won’t be disappointed with either result.
