John Cerutti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Cerutti |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: April 28, 1960 Albany, New York, U.S. |
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| Died: October 3, 2004 (aged 44) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| debut | |||
| September 1, 1985, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 5, 1991, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 49–43 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.94 | ||
| Strikeouts | 398 | ||
| Teams | |||
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John Joseph Cerutti (born April 28, 1960 – died October 3, 2004) was an American baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers. This was between 1985 and 1991. After his playing career, he became a popular broadcaster for the Blue Jays.
Playing Baseball
John Cerutti was born in Albany, New York. He went to Amherst College and studied economics. In 1980, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Harwich Mariners. He was even named an all-star in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
The Blue Jays picked John in the first round of the 1981 draft. He was the 21st player chosen overall. He played seven seasons in the major leagues. He played for the Blue Jays from 1985 to 1990. Then he played for the Detroit Tigers in 1991.
First Win at SkyDome
On June 7, 1989, John Cerutti made history. He recorded the very first win for the Blue Jays in their new stadium, SkyDome. This was a big moment for the team.
In December 1990, the Toronto Blue Jays allowed him to become a free agent. He then signed with the Detroit Tigers in January 1991.
Life as a Broadcaster
After his time as a baseball player, John Cerutti started a new career. He became a broadcaster. He began calling Blue Jays games for the CBC. Later, he became a TV analyst for Rogers Sportsnet. He helped explain the games to fans.
His Passing and Legacy
John Cerutti was scheduled to broadcast the last game of the 2004 season. It was a home game for the Blue Jays against the New York Yankees. Sadly, he did not show up for a pre-game meeting. People became worried and tried to reach him.
Police were called to his hotel room in Toronto. He was found to have passed away. His death at age 44 was officially due to natural causes. Doctors said it was a heart problem.
Paul Godfrey, who was president of the Blue Jays, shared his sadness. He said, "It was an unbelievable shock." He also mentioned that winning and losing games felt unimportant at such a sad time.
In November 2004, the Baseball Writers' Association of America honored John Cerutti. They gave him their annual Good Guy Award. They even renamed the award after him. This award is given to someone who shows a positive image for baseball. John Cerutti was known for his excellent character and good sportsmanship.
