He was selected in the first round of the amateur draft by the Blue Jays in 1981 with the 21st overall pick. Cerutti played seven seasons in the major leagues with the Blue Jays (1985–1990) and Detroit Tigers (1991).
On June 7, 1989, Cerutti recorded the first Blue Jays win in SkyDome, their new stadium.[3]
On December 20, 1990, the Toronto Blue Jays granted him free agency. He signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers on January 14, 1991.
Broadcasting careeredit
After his playing career, he went into broadcasting and started calling Blue Jays games alongside Brian Williams on CBC before becoming a TV analyst for the team's new flagship station, Rogers Sportsnet.
Deathedit
Cerutti was supposed to broadcast the last game of the 2004 season for the Blue Jays, an afternoon home game on October 3 versus the New York Yankees, but he uncharacteristically missed an 11:00 AM pregame meeting. The production staff began to worry and started calling him. After numerous attempts, the police had to be brought in to break open the door of his Toronto hotel room. He was found without any vital signs.[4][5] His death at age 44 was officially declared to be of natural causes due to a ventricular arrhythmia two weeks later.[6]
"It was an unbelievable shock," Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey said, in various wire reports. "We all realize, those of us involved in winning and losing games, how unimportant that is at a time like this."
The Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America paid tribute to John Cerutti in November, 2004, giving him its annual Good Guy Award and renaming the honor for him. The award has been handed out every year since Toronto's inaugural season in 1977, and is given annually to an individual who best exemplifies a positive image for baseball. John Cerutti was known for his exemplary character, goodwill, and sportsmanship.[7]
Referencesedit
^"Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
^"All-Stars Play at Stadium Monday". The Cape Codder. Orleans, MA. July 25, 1980. p. 27.
^"Blue Jays get their first win in SkyDome". youtube.com. MLB Advanced Media, LP. (@MLB Youtube channel). Retrieved 5 April 2023.
^Wharnsby, Tim (2004-10-04). "Cerutti found dead in his room". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
^"Blue Jays TV announcer Cerutti dies at 44". ESPN.com. 2004-10-03. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
^"Cerutti's death caused by known heart ailment". The Globe and Mail. 2004-10-16. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
^Davidi, Shi (17 December 2015). "Josh Donaldson headlines 2015 Blue Jays award winners". Sportsnet. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference
john, cerutti, john, joseph, cerutti, april, 1960, october, 2004, american, left, handed, pitcher, major, league, baseball, toronto, blue, jays, detroit, tigers, between, 1985, 1991, later, broadcaster, blue, jays, pitcherborn, 1960, april, 1960albany, york, d. John Joseph Cerutti April 28 1960 October 3 2004 was an American left handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers between 1985 and 1991 and was later a broadcaster for the Blue Jays John CeruttiPitcherBorn 1960 04 28 April 28 1960Albany New York U S Died October 3 2004 2004 10 03 aged 44 Toronto Ontario CanadaBatted LeftThrew LeftMLB debutSeptember 1 1985 for the Toronto Blue JaysLast MLB appearanceOctober 5 1991 for the Detroit TigersMLB statisticsWin loss record49 43Earned run average3 94Strikeouts398TeamsToronto Blue Jays 1985 1990 Detroit Tigers 1991 Contents 1 Playing career 2 Broadcasting career 3 Death 4 References 5 External linksPlaying career editBorn in Albany New York Cerutti attended Amherst College and graduated with a bachelor s degree in economics In 1980 he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all star 1 2 He was selected in the first round of the amateur draft by the Blue Jays in 1981 with the 21st overall pick Cerutti played seven seasons in the major leagues with the Blue Jays 1985 1990 and Detroit Tigers 1991 On June 7 1989 Cerutti recorded the first Blue Jays win in SkyDome their new stadium 3 On December 20 1990 the Toronto Blue Jays granted him free agency He signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers on January 14 1991 Broadcasting career editAfter his playing career he went into broadcasting and started calling Blue Jays games alongside Brian Williams on CBC before becoming a TV analyst for the team s new flagship station Rogers Sportsnet Death editCerutti was supposed to broadcast the last game of the 2004 season for the Blue Jays an afternoon home game on October 3 versus the New York Yankees but he uncharacteristically missed an 11 00 AM pregame meeting The production staff began to worry and started calling him After numerous attempts the police had to be brought in to break open the door of his Toronto hotel room He was found without any vital signs 4 5 His death at age 44 was officially declared to be of natural causes due to a ventricular arrhythmia two weeks later 6 It was an unbelievable shock Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey said in various wire reports We all realize those of us involved in winning and losing games how unimportant that is at a time like this The Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America paid tribute to John Cerutti in November 2004 giving him its annual Good Guy Award and renaming the honor for him The award has been handed out every year since Toronto s inaugural season in 1977 and is given annually to an individual who best exemplifies a positive image for baseball John Cerutti was known for his exemplary character goodwill and sportsmanship 7 References edit Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League PDF capecodbaseball org Retrieved September 25 2019 All Stars Play at Stadium Monday The Cape Codder Orleans MA July 25 1980 p 27 Blue Jays get their first win in SkyDome youtube com MLB Advanced Media LP MLB Youtube channel Retrieved 5 April 2023 Wharnsby Tim 2004 10 04 Cerutti found dead in his room The Globe and Mail Retrieved 2024 03 30 Blue Jays TV announcer Cerutti dies at 44 ESPN com 2004 10 03 Retrieved 2024 03 30 Cerutti s death caused by known heart ailment The Globe and Mail 2004 10 16 Retrieved 2024 03 30 Davidi Shi 17 December 2015 Josh Donaldson headlines 2015 Blue Jays award winners Sportsnet Retrieved 2015 12 17 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference Historic Baseball Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Baseball nbsp Canada Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Cerutti amp oldid 1216401706, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
