Former Blue Jays announcer dies at 66

TORONTO, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Tom Cheek, the longtime radio voice of the Toronto Blue Jays, died Sunday at 66, following a long fight with brain cancer.

Cheek was the Blue Jays' play-by-play announcer from 1977 until last summer, when the death of his father and his health problems forced him to retire.

"It's difficult to put into words the overwhelming sense of grief and loss shared today by the Blue Jays family, the city of Toronto, the extended community of Major League Baseball and its many fans," said Toronto President and CEO Paul Godfrey in a statement.

A Web site in Cheek's honor was set up over the summer, and proceeds from the purchase of wrist bands in his name will go to help fund cancer research.

He is survived by his wife Shirley, their three children and seven grandchildren.