For 36 years, Jerry Howarth was the voice of the Toronto Blue Jays.
On Thursday afternoon, Sports Media Canada honoured that dedication by rewarding Howarth with a Career Achievement award.
For nearly 4 decades, his calls were a staple of #BlueJays baseball.
Congrats to Jerry Howarth – this year's recipient of the Sports Media Canada Career Achievement Award! pic.twitter.com/NV5L97fG6a
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 15, 2018
Born in York, Pa., and raised in San Francisco, Howarth launched his career with the Tacoma Twins of the Pacific Coast League in 1974. He joined the Blue Jays in 1981 and has called Toronto home ever since, becoming a Canadian citizen in the process.
Over his four-plus decades in the industry, Howarth has broadcasted upwards of 7,500 ballgames, calling every major milestone for the Blue Jays including six division titles and two World Series championships.
In 2012, Howarth was honoured by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame with the Jack Graney Award for lifetime contributions to baseball in Canada. He was also awarded the Sports Media Canada award for achievement in broadcasting both in 2003, with then broadcast partner Tom Cheek, and again individually in 2016.
The baseball lifer made the decision to retire this past February due to health issues affecting his voice.
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