John Cerutti

John Cerutti
John Cerutti
	Pitcher
	Born: April 28, 1960; Albany, New York, U.S.
	Died: October 3, 2004 (aged 44); Toronto, Ontario, Canada
	Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
	September 1, 1985, for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
	October 5, 1991, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	49–43
Earned run average	3.94
Strikeouts	398
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Toronto Blue Jays (1985–1990); Detroit Tigers (1991);

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.

Playing career

Born 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

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.

Death

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]

References

^ "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 April 5, 2023.
^ Wharnsby, Tim (October 4, 2004). "Cerutti found dead in his room". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
^ "Blue Jays TV announcer Cerutti dies at 44". ESPN.com. October 3, 2004. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
^ "Cerutti's death caused by known heart ailment". The Globe and Mail. October 16, 2004. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
^ Davidi, Shi (December 17, 2015). "Josh Donaldson headlines 2015 Blue Jays award winners". Sportsnet. Retrieved December 17, 2015.

External links

Career statistics from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Historic Baseball

[1] "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.

[2] "All-Stars Play at Stadium Monday". The Cape Codder. Orleans, MA. July 25, 1980. p. 27.

[3] "Blue Jays get their first win in SkyDome". youtube.com. MLB Advanced Media, LP. (@MLB Youtube channel). Retrieved April 5, 2023.

[4] Wharnsby, Tim (October 4, 2004). "Cerutti found dead in his room". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 30, 2024.

[5] "Blue Jays TV announcer Cerutti dies at 44". ESPN.com. October 3, 2004. Retrieved March 30, 2024.

[6] "Cerutti's death caused by known heart ailment". The Globe and Mail. October 16, 2004. Retrieved March 30, 2024.

[7] Davidi, Shi (December 17, 2015). "Josh Donaldson headlines 2015 Blue Jays award winners". Sportsnet. Retrieved December 17, 2015.

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