Tom Cheek, RIP

Tom Cheek, the original voice of the Toronto Blue Jays, has died at 66, from complications of a brain tumor. Cheek announced Blue Jays games on radio since the team was established in 1977 until 2004.

His best known call was perhaps his description of Joe Carter's dramatic World Championship 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!"

Before the Toronto job from 1974 to 1976, Cheek was the swing man on Montréal Expos radio broadcasts on television nights.

Cheek broadcast 4,306 consecutive regular-season Blue Jays games and all of their 41 postseason games, including both their World Series wins. The streak ended on June 3, 2004, when he took two games off following the death of his father. Ironically, his return did not last long after undergoing surgery on June 12, 2004 to remove a brain tumor. He had hoped to recover for this past season but he wasn't able to do so.