There's not much I can add to this thread that hasn't been said. I have always enjoyed Cerutti's work on the broadcasts, and in particular this year, he was impressive. Very candid, no BS.

My thoughts are with his family, RSN and his friends in the organization.

John, you'll be missed.

I remember John Cerutti's sense of humour. I remember him describing how a pitcher should throw a hanging breaking ball. He demonstrated the action by going through the "mechanics". He included the last part of the delivery which, according to him, was the head snap as the pitcher watched the ball travel back and over into the seats.

He could always bring a smile to my face.

What a terrible, terrible loss.

I just can't get over how young he was.

This evening I did what I do every time I hear about someone who died far too young of natural causes. I hit the exercise bike. Hard. But if a professional athlete can pass away at 44, what chance do the rest of us have? Or as Hannah said "He really wasn't all that much older than we are".

I just can't get over how young he was.

It's scary. My dad's older than Cerutti was, and I can't even begin to imagine what I'd do if he just passed away suddenly like this. I hope that his family can come to terms with this, because it has to be a terrible thing.

I read that news when I got back from the game. I'm still shocked by it. In a way, it won't really hit me until April comes, and Sportsnet has someone else doing the commentary. That's when it'll really hit me, and I'll miss him some more.

I agree. It's always tough to see someone so young die, especially from, what I heard on ESPN was from 'natural causes'.

I just heard this watching SporstNet news, and I was absolutely floored. I had watched the game on TV and just assumed John had gone home early.

My sympathy goes out to John's family and friends.

I just wish this season could have gone away quietly, but I for one will never be able to forget this season and not simply for the poor performance on the field.

Rest in peace, John.

It's been 6 hours since I heard the news, and I'm still shocked. I just can't get it out of my mind. Here's a guy that I've watched and listened to virtually every day for the past 6 months, and now he's gone. Just...gone. No warning whatsoever.

I remember hearing John Cerutti on a radio Sports talkshow that they have over here in BC prior to the 2003 season. I can remember him sounding excited about the Jays...about Halladay, Hinske, Wells, Phelps....In all honesty, it was then that I got back into the Jays. I hadn't paid very much attention to baseball from 1996-2002. But hearing John Cerutti talk about the Jays that night made me think about following the Jays again. I made sure to tune in to the opener against the Yanks, and although the Jays lost, I got hooked on baseball again. I credit my resurgence of baseball interest to John Cerutti. It's such a shame that I can never thank him.

It's absolutely horrible what happened today. Forty-Four years old...he was younger than Julio Franco.

My deepest sympathies to John's family and all the people he reached in his lifetime. Knowing how sad a day this is for all of us, it is impossible to imagine the void he left for those so close to him. A fine broadcaster but from all accounts, an exceptional man.

There's a famous picture of John Cerutti and some other of the 1989 Blue Jays in their practice uniforms standing at a make-shift homeplate on the dirt of a yet-to-be-completed SkyDome. I think that picture would be a very proper image for a memorial for Cerutti. The job he did, and the enthusiasm he gave was a foundation for the Blue Jays franchise. I was looking forward to growing old with Cerutti calling the games on TV. You could sense he loved what he was doing - remember that game this season when he broadcasted his heart out even though some flu bug had claimed his voice? It's hard to imagine a replacement. Cerutti was just entering his broadcasting prime. He should have been the chief ambassador for this franchise for decades. The world seemed a better place knowing that people like Cerutti were in it; the Blue Jays were lucky to have such an individual give the precious little time he had to them.

But if a professional athlete can pass away at 44, what chance do the rest of us have? Or as Hannah said "He really wasn't all that much older than we are".

He was younger than me, and he didn't spend most of his adult life abusing legal and illegal substances, eating a lot of crap, and smoking a pack a day.

Like... well, like me.

But its not that he was so young that gets to me - its that he really was one of the nicest people you'd want to meet.

For some reason, I especially remember one afternoon when I happened to be talking to him before a game. It was a few years. Didn't happen often, usually the TV guys are fairly busy before the game.

For some reason we were talking about odd pitching staffs, and I said that I remembered a team that finished first with just one starter above .500. John says "Yeah, who?"

It was the 1989 Blue Jays of course. He thinks it through - OK Stieb had his big year, but Flanagan struggled... what about Key? No, he was 13-14.

"And I was 11-11" he remembered.

"But you pitched a lot better than that." (He did, 9th in the AL in ERA.)

"Yes I did."

Gonna miss you.

I remember his '89 season. He got no run support at all. I think there was a game where he pitched nine or ten shutout innings and the Jays still lost. That should have been a big year for him but it didn't really come together.

WGN here in Chicago mentioned this. When I heard, I almost choked. Being a Jays fan all my life and ordering a Toronto satellite package primarily for the Jays I always looked forward to Sportsnet games.

I never really liked Faulds but I absolutely loved Cerutti. He was my favorite broadcaster and I was too young to remember his playing days.

He was very young and may God Bless His Soul, and give strength and courage to his family. Amen.

This is some sad news for sure. I have become increasingly impressed with Cerutti's insights and analysis of the game for Sportsnet, more so because I can't stand Rob Faulds. He will truly be missed

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B04300CAL1989.htm
Found it. COMN.

I remember that game, Matthew. I believe that only twice since then has a Jays starter pitched more than 9 innings - Candiotti once in 1991, and Halladay last year.

An even better game than that, though, came a few months later against KC. Cerutti took a no-hitter into the 7th - Brett broke it up with a 2b, and Willie Wilson hit another 2b in the 9th. He ended up with a two-hit shutout against the Royals. August 2, 1989, two days before Dave Stieb's imperfect game against the Yankees.

Here is another great John Cerutti pitching performance, a two-hit shutout versus Kansas City on August 2, 1989. A truly great performance in front of a huge crowd against a great team in the heat of an August pennant race.

John produced a quintessential Cerutti performance, grabbing a few strikeouts early and then settling into a rhythm and inducing groundball after groundball from the Royals hitters. It took the great George Brett to break up the no-hitter, with a double in the seventh. After that, the only other hit was a Willie Wilson double in the ninth, by which time it was all over but the shouting. A great shutout.

Looks like Magpie and I had the same thought. :)

I'm not an expert on computers or the Internet, but I think it might be touching if we could send a list of our thoughts and our names to the Cerutti family, from everyone here. I think it may help to know how big a part of our lives he was, to those who were a big part of his.

I think that's a great idea, anyone know how to get it out?

But if a professional athlete can pass away at 44, what chance do the rest of us have?

I know how you feel. I'm 44 myself (about six weeks younger than he was).

I can still hear Cerutti's voice in my head, and still can't quite believe that he's gone.

I was shocked by the news of the untimely passing of John Cerutti.

He was always a pleasure to watch on the mound, as he always wore his heart on his sleeve. He obviously loved what he was doing on the pitcing rubber, and in the broadcast booth.

He handled both his pitching and his broadcasting with class.

I remember him discussing umpires' strike zones, for example. Instead of ranting and raving at the umpire, if the call went against him, John said he simply asked the umpire for the location. John then said he would try to move the pitch slightly closer.

A desire to work with, and accomodate other people, is a rare gift.

My sincerest condolences to John's wife and young children. From his many mentions of them on air, we all know he loved them very much.

John Cerutti, you will be missed.

By everyone.

Tomorrow will mark one month since my mother passed from cancer at age 56. It is brutally hard for a family to go through the grieving process and pick themselves up again to carry on as normally as possible. As time passes, the only thing that gets easier is finding ways to grive. There will be highs and lows that have to be embraced with tears and laughter as they come. Relying on the support of their family, friends and community, the Cerutti's will emerge from this state of shock to carry forth their father, husband and friend's essance.

Best wishes to the Cerutti family,

Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler

John J. Cerutti, as it reads on the ball I got autographed during Spring Training 2000. What a nice guy he was for the minute or so I spoke with him. From what I read and heard, that wasn't isolated.

The shutout against the White Sox in '86. The first game at skyDome. The Four Lefties of '89. The struggles after he left Toronto. You had to pull for him. He was always so likable. When I would try to pitch left-handed, his was one of the motions I tried to imitate. The precise way he extended his glove hand to balance himself as he strode forward. I enjoyed watching him pitch.

I'm glad I got to meet him. My condolences to his immediate family, and to his baseball family.

Good-bye, John.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article.jsp?content=20041003_161630_5140
Sportsnet.ca has posted an updated story.

As we were leaving the ballpark today, I mentioned to my girlfriend that "at least nothing else can go wrong this year". About an hour later....

I'm still in complete shock. Sportsnet just ran an interview and for a split second when I heard his voice, I thought it had never happened.

My condolences to John's friends and family.

When I heard the news during the afternoon today, like most here I was in shock. I immediately stopped the music I was listening to and just sort of sat in my computer chair for a half hour in silence, not really knowing what to do with myself.

I re-discovered the Blue Jays five or six seasons ago, and I have very fond memories of watching John Cerutti do colour during games on the CBC. I always loved the weekend games on CBC. For whatever reason, I just seemed to enjoy them more than the others. John was a huge part of that, as I found him to be an extremely likeable man who always modestly downplayed his career's achievements and never made me feel as if I was less in-the-know than he was, despite being an ex-ball player. His enthusiasm for a game he loved was always evident, and I imagine that was a large part of why I enjoyed his broadcasting so much.

Earlier, a comment was made about how John Cerutti always remembered that whatever happened on the field, there was still a person behind the uniform and the success or failure. That statement couldn't be more true, and I'm sure this has everything to do with why John was so liked by his teammates and everyone who he touched.

God bless you and your family, John.

Terrible news. Live for today, folks, because there's no reason why this couldn't happen to any of us -- or to our family and friends.

My condolences to the Cerutti family and to the Blue Jays organization.

I know it's been said already, but I need to say it anyway. My condolences to everyone who knew him, it was apparent he was a great guy and I'm sure a very large number of people have lost a good friend.

I have been listening to John Cerutti for as long as I can remember and the things I remember about him are his enthusiasm for the game and especially for the Jays. His insight into pitching was always outstanding and the man had a wealth of knowledge to give and he did so in a fashion that us as fans could truly appreciate and understand. After hearing about his sudden death, it made me think again that in times like these, I try to learn to appreciate what life has to offer, this is a cold hard place that we live in and we should always do our best to find what silver lining we can in our lives.

Mr Cerutti Rest In Peace sir from all the Jays and baseball fans around the world that had a chance to witness your broadcasting.
And All our condolences to his entire family.

Seemed like a really decent guy, you have to feel for his family.

http://www.hardballtimes.com
To Robert, it was very nice to see your note at the Hardball Times on John Cerutti (COMN).
Its clear what kind of person he was from the all the kind notes here. I can only imagine he was excited to spend the offseason with his kids... I hope his family gets all the care and support they can, certainly our thoughts are with them all.

I began following the Jays in 1988 at the age of 11. It was something that my father and I could do together... When my father passed away in 2001 after a lengthy illness, baseball and the Blue Jays took on a new meaning for me. It was something I could watch and follow that made me feel good as I remembered the happy times with my father.
I am lucky enough to say that I had the chance to see John Cerutti as a player and an announcer. His voice on the television became part of the enjoyment of the game, even when the Jays were not doing well. He knew his stuff and his love of the game was evident, which I as a fan appreciated.
I, like thousands of Jays' fans, will miss John. Thanks for the memories.

So sad. My condolences to his wife and children. I remember taking my daughter down to Exhibition Stadium during the ex. We sat outside the players entrance before the game to get his and Garth Iorg's autograph. They were both so gracious. She was too shy to ask and they noticed her blushing and both came over to say hello and give her their autographs. They made a young girl very happy.

Shocking news. I'm happy that John had such a large family to support each other in this sad time.

For those too young to remember him, Cerutti in height and talent was probably mid-way between a Mark Hendrickson and a Jimmy Key. My first memory of him was from the early 80's at one of his first Jay spring trainings. He commented on how different Dave Stieb's pitches sounded hitting the catcher's mitt compared to his own. Isn't it stupid how you remember stuff like that but you can't remember what you did yesterday.

Like so many others, I'm shocked and saddened. Though I'd never had the pleasure of meeting John, it still feels like I've lost a friend. He will be missed greatly.

I posted earlier yesterday, when the news was still fresh and impossible to digest. It was all I could do to write a couple of lines of thanks and condolences. It's not any easier today, although I've had the chance to reflect a little more on John and my memories of him.

I'm not exactly sure why, but I always hoped for the best with John. When I was younger, and like Marc, I was born the same year as the team, my favourite Jays were not the team's biggest stars but players like Barry Bonnell, Garth Iorg, Buck Martinez and Jim Acker. I identified with the guys who played hard and really seemed to enjoy the game. And John was certainly one of those guys. Or maybe he reminded me a little of Jimmy Key, who was also one of my favourites (and the exception to my rule, I guess). But whatever the reason, I was always pulling for John and really savoured each of his performances. I fondly recall those games discussed above, as well as all the times when came out of the bullpen, and did exactly what was asked of him. When he left for Detroit, I was sad as a Jays fan, though happy for him professionally. That it didn't work out quite the way he planned was unfortunate, but everything I would later learn about John suggested he took it all in stride, and enjoyed his years in the bigs without regret.

When he came back to the Jays as a broadcaster in 1997, I was immensely pleased. Those years were not kind to baseball fans in these parts, and hearing John's familiar voice connected those teams to the glory years just past. Though I've lost count of all the play-by-play announcers John worked with over the past eight seasons, John grew as a broadcaster alongside each of them. Though I thought he exuded great promise from the beginning, I agree that he really came into his own in the last two seasons. His enthusiasm for the game and the team were infectious, even during the depths of this season. His intelligent and light-hearted remarks showed that he took the game seriously, but with the right perspective. He must be given credit, I think, for the development of Rob Faulds as a baseball broadcaster, who encouragingly grew immensely this season as well. It was evident that the two shared a warm rapport, and I'm sure this news is very tough on Rob, who has lost a friend and mentor.

This news, of course, is toughest on those closest to John, his wife and three children. I don't know how many of their father's telecasts they watched, but if they had watched even just a handful, they would know how much John treasured them. It's small comfort, I'm sure, but they should know that their husband and father was a great man, who was very good at what he did, and whose memory will long be preserved by those knew him or were touched by him.

This was so shocking. I was reading over the news reports and I was sitting there with my hand over my mouth just feeling completely numb. No-one can know for sure when their time will come. I wish John's family and everyone at Rogers and other members of the media who knew John all the best in this difficult time.

I whipped together a Cerutti tribute image, if anyone wants to use it in a message board signature. COMN.

That's a great banner, too bad TSN couldn't have had an image as nice...

I remember John as being all class.. I remember the day he was sent to the bullpen to make space for David Wells to become a starter, and when they were both interviewed, Cerutti was all, "Whatever the team needs", and you would have thought it was Wells that had been demoted because he was so surly and almost depressed sounding...

I remember watching John pitch at Exhibition Stadium.

I've said a prayer for him and for his family - very sad.

Mrs. Brumfield and I also want to extend our condolences and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of John Cerutti. We heard the horrible news on the FAN as we pulled out of the parking lot after yesterday's game. We were just floored.

Like everyone else here - I also enjoyed his insights, his self-deprecation, his sense of humour, and he never talked down to his listeners. He and Rob Faulds did a great job this season and made Sportsnet broadcasts a joy to watch.

That game Craig B brought up in his post was the first ever game I saw the Jays win at the Dome. A complete game 2 hitter and his no-hit bid was broken up by George Brett, not a bad guy to lose it to. I also remember Cerutti picking off Rickey Henderson in the '89 ALCS, probably the only time they kept him from running wild that series. And he was the winning pitcher in the Jays first victory at the Dome. Just seeing the highlights on the Score today of him wearing those powder blue uniforms was just surreal. I can't believe he's not here with us anymore.

I hope the Jays put Cerutti's name up on the Level Of Excellence for their home opener next year, right next to Tom Cheek's. He deserves to be up there for his excellence as a human being alone. Thanks for the memories, John.

What always struck me about John was not so much that he often talked about education coming before baseball, and family coming for everything else.

Instead, it was that he embodied those principles.

It's tragic but true that bad things happen to good people. My thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family.

Sportsnet News did a nice little piece on Cerutti towards the end of the broadcast. I didn't see the beginning, so I don't know how they originally announced it but towards the end they showed him talking to JaysZone two years ago and he was talking about his best memories as a Blue Jay and his approach to broadcasting. Seeing him and Faulds joking around really brought it home.

I still can't believe it.

See you on the Field of Dreams, John. Toss a brushback pitch to the Babe for us, would you?

John i will miss you!

"See you on the Field of Dreams, John. Toss a brushback pitch to the Babe for us, would you?"

I can imagine John out on the Field right now and they name him starting pitcher for today facing a fantastic line up.

He turns to the Babe and says , thanks for the honour guys but right now I want to watch over my wife and 3 children. I need to send them my love and strength.

I will play baseball with you guys another day.

Rest In Peace John.

Faulds on Fan960 right now, you can Stream live @ www.fan960.com

(Calgary based station).

Says that he had No idea until the end of the broadcast about John, that he seemed perfectly fine when he saw him on Friday.

Whole thing has been upsetting to him and John's family, Cerruti did end up spending time with most of his family on Saturday.

Right now the Autopsy is going to be conducted to determine the cause of death, but foul play is not suspected.

Interview is over.

Also talked about Gibbons having the "interm" tag removed.

My condolences to John and his family, you could hear during the interview with Faulds he is pretty upset as well...

Faulds said John would like to be remembered as "A good man".

I tend to agree, a very fitting idea.

John Cerutti was an outstanding human being who celebrated every moment he was given; he embraced Gil Patterson before he left to go home. John Cerutti is certainly in God's Hall of Fame right now. Our prayers and love to his loved ones. Hopefully the BlueJays will see fit to retire Mr. Cerutti's number before 2005.

I was fortunate enough to know John off the field, we were classmates in Albany back in the 70's. Everything that you all are writing was exactly the way John was, The Perfect Gentleman.
God Speed John

Quite shocking news. John was a quality commentator and I enjoyed what he brought to the games I watched. It's terrible to be taken so young and to leave behind a young family.

Our thoughts are with the Cerutti family.

I have struggled with this since I saw it on CNN. When he wasn't with Rob Faulds yesterday, I thought it odd that he would miss the last game of the season and possibly, Delgado's last with the Jays. Given the accolades I've heard, and his comments over the past few years as an announcer, my scenario for John is this:

A night out with friends and family for dinner, then back to the hotel where for the last time, he called his beloved wife and kids. Then, probably watched highlights from the day's games before going to sleep - the Big Sleep, as it turns out.

Somewhere, he'll be watching and cheering this year's fall classic. But as anybody who has experienced the sudden loss of a loved one, there was always room for one last kiss, one more hug, one more I love you.

Wherever you are John, you are already missed, and were much loved and respected by all who followed your career, or were lucky enough to call you friend.

May your family find some comfort in our shared outpouring of grief.

I went to elementary school with John. He was brilliant, artistically talented, and one of the nicest kids in school. My goal throughout those early years was to beat him on a test... it only happened a handful of times (it's hard to beat an A+). John ALWAYS was exactly the way you all describe him, even at the age of 8.
Thanks John for the great grades!

The death of John Cerutti is particularily disturbing to me.
For one thing, John was three years younger than myself, so it hits close to home for sure.
But what is really troubling is that he seemed to be the picture of
health...he was only 44 and a YOUNG 44 to boot.
So his sudden death serves to underscore once again to all of us how
life can be so precious...and fleeting.
My condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

It came out of absolutely nowhere....
I heard the shocking news yesterday as my mother and i were driving
home from the game
words cant express the shock and sadness that we felt

our thoughts and prayers go to his family

From Tom Cheeks illness to the ballclubs first last place finish since '97 to Mr. Cerutti's tragic death, im sure the blue jays organization is happy to be leaving 2004 in their rearview mirror........

R.I.P #55

I had the good fortune to play with John in the early 80's when we shared the same minor league uniforms in the Jay's orginzation. I will forever remember his ability to compete and his genuine kindness towards everyone he met. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and three children. Our Lord must have needed him at this time. Rest well teammate. T. Luke - Midlothian, Va.

As a family friend of the Ceruttis, I have fond memories of John as a father and husband. I always felt welcome in his home and love his family deeply. My heart aches for you all, I can only imagine how painful this is. I am always here and my love for you will always stretch across the miles. Sending you hugs and kisses and endless prayers. We miss you, John.

Mr. Cerutti's death comes as a tragedy. A shocking, terrible tragedy. And we thought the 2004 Jays season could not get any worse. And yet this puts everything into perspective.

Having never met the man, we, as fans, feel a deep connection to him in a way that we can't understand. It's very hard for me right now to think about the Sportsnet telecasts next year.

My condolences to his family. A class act who will be sorrily missed.

Rest in Peace, John Cerutti. You will always be remembered.

It came out of absolutely nowhere....
I heard the shocking news yesterday as my mother and i were driving
home from the game
words cant express the shock and sadness that we felt

our thoughts and prayers go to his family

From Tom Cheeks illness to the ballclubs first last place finish since '97 to Mr. Cerutti's tragic death, im sure the blue jays organization is happy to be leaving 2004 in their rearview mirror........

R.I.P #55

Our family knew John Cerutti not for his fame in baseball, but as our son's soccer coach and member of our church. John was the best coach that our son ever had. He always encouraged him and helped him. We could also tell that he was a wonderful dad by the way he interacted with his children.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of John's family.

Hearing Mr. Cerutti 6 months during the year, it truly feels as if a friend has been lost. I enjoyed his insight into the game and his commentary. Sincere condolences goes out to his family and friends.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and three children. Our Lord must have needed him at this time.

Well said, Tom. I've been struggling with why this would happen to a seemingly great young guy like John. Then I was led to think about what people would say about me when my time came. Would people say that I "epitomized decency", as Brian Williams said about John Cerutti? Sadly, I think not. And I think that's something we would all love to have said about us in our euology.

Perhaps that is something we can take from this horrible incident, regardless of religious background (or lack thereof for some others). Treat everybody with respect and strive to leave a good impression, just in case you don't get a second chance to patch things up tomorrow.

Thanks for reminding us of this important life lesson, John. You were taken from this earth far too early, but your time here was well spent.

John was a great person. I was a teammate of John's in high school and a competitor during summer leagues. John was guy who obviously went to the big leagues but would never "big league" you. He would always take my phone calls or e-mails even after he had made it to the big leagues.

my condolences go out to his wife and all of his family

I, like many, didn't know him during his playing years. My husband and I met him in the early 90's when we became friends with a mutual friend of his. I knew him to be a wonderful friend, father and husband. He truly was "the nicest man I've ever met". It's so easy to say that about someone but it is the fact with him. My son went through some health problems a few years ago and my husband said that every time John called after that John would spend the first ten minutes of every conversation asking about our son. He was so selfless and genuinely interested in others.
I've cried reading your posts but it makes me feel good in a way to know that he is so widely respected and that his kindness and humility was evident to so many.
Keep praying for his family and friends.

My condolences to Cerutti's family, friends, fans, and the Blue Jays organization.

Back in 1997, longtime Ranger announcer Malk Holtz died after a protracted illness, and I felt like I'd lost a friend. From the comments above, it sounds like we lost a genuinely good man in John Cerutti.

My eyes keep welling up over this horrible tragedy. I consider myself lucky to hold many warm memories of John as a player and broadcaster and would like to offer my most heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

I went to Amherst with John and, while I didn't know him well, I can attest that he was a bright, genuinely warm, and nice guy. He had a close group of friends in the class of '82 who I know are in shock. Amherst will not be the same for them when they return for reunions. I hope they will be there as support for each other and for John's wife and kids. I am sure the wonderful memories of the good old college days they had with John will sustain his family during the long days and nights that follow this untimely and sad event.

bless their family. i go to school with John's nephew and he has seemed really upset all day. God Bless.

I only knew John for 4 days every year ... on the golf course ... but I got to know him well enough to know that if I was going into battle, he was somebody you'd want right by your side ... articulate, personable, engaging and a precision story teller ... why do things like this happen to the truly special people in this world ... I can only guess that its to wake us up and show us what we should and could be like ... you were a great example for us John ... keep grippin' and rippin' it in heaven ... we will miss your presence down here ... God Bless You and Yours

http://www.bellyfuzz.com
John was 2 years behind me at CBA. His brother Dan (1 year behind me) and I were on the Student Council together. John was a baseball "star" by any measure at CBA, but more than anything else he was a nice guy. Watching him pitch at CBA, and then for the Jays always made me proud to have shared some time and space with him.

He was friendly, polite, funny and supremely talented. My heart goes out to Claudia, their children and the whole Cerutti family.

John Cerutti pitched for the Jays the first time I ever went to SkyDome back in 1989. It's a special memory that I will never forget and John was a big part of it. He pitched well and the Jays won.

It's so tragic to see a man pass away in the prime of his life. It certainly doesn't seem fair for his family to have to go through this. It's just awful.

My prayers and best wishes go out to his family and friends.

I came to this page looking for some information on the kind of person John was, as he is the only member of the Cerutti family that I never got the chance to meet. I was looking for words, any kind of consolation that I can offer to my boyfriend Adam, John's nephew. What I found brought tears to my eyes...so many submissions, so many kind words, so many memories of a wonderful person. Some of you have met him personally, most of you haven't, but all of you had something nice to share -- it gives me faith that peace still exists in the hearts of others.

John's family is heartbroken, to say the least. They lost a son, a brother, a husband, a father, an uncle, a friend. Their faith in God and the strength that they find in each other will help them through this painful time, and John's memory will live on forever in each of their lives.

I was trying to think of a way to get these nice messages to John's family, as was previously suggested. The idea of setting up an email account for people to write to occurred to me...I know that there are all kinds of forums and message books out there, but an email account will be somewhere specific for them to go to read thoughts, prayers, etc. if and when they are ready to do so. If you would like to send a message to them, please write to InMemoryofJohnCerutti@yahoo.com and they will have access to it.

On behalf of the Cerutti family, thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you, LB. I've e-mailed you a copy of this thread, which I hope you will forward to the family with our deepest sympathy.

For anyone else wishing to send messages, in addition to InMemoryofJohnCerutti@yahoo.com, there is a guest book at the Albany Times Union site.

I like everyone else am totally shocked and horrified about the sudden death of John Cerutti. I was visiting Toronto the week of Sept.14th to 21st and saw 4 Blue Jay games; I glanced up at the Sportsnet box to see if I could see John and Rob, couldn't but took a pic of it anyway. I thought he was the sweetest, nicest man I ever saw and listened to and one who did a wonderful job as an analyst. I also remember him as a pitcher but moreso in the box with Rob. I didn't catch the last Jays game on TV although I wanted t, as I am a fervant die-hard Jays fan, last place or not, so I didn't have the chance to notice John wasn't with Rob. I returned home to the Maritimes starting Sat. night Oct. 3rd and when I arrived at my flat on the 4th, turned on Sportnet and heard the terrible news, saw Paul Godfrey and Ernie Witt giving their shocked comments..I just couldn't believe it and still can't. As commented before, the wins and losses mean nothing compared to this, a young man cut down in his prime with so much potential and life ahead of him, especially when he looked so healthy and vigoris. I can't seem to get him off my mind. I believe if we knew the specific cause of death it would be more of a closure...my heart goes out to his wife Claudia and their children and the other family members and also to us fans who will neve see his dear face or hear his voice again. Farewell John...you are loved and sorely missed!

I have been a Blue Jays fan all my life and have watched all their games on Rogers Sportsnet. That day on October 3,2004 I taped the game because I wouldn't be able to watch it live. After I got home I turned on the T.V. and watched the game from the seventh inning. I never heard John's voice and I found that odd. I thought that they might have mentioned before the game that John was ill and that Rob Faulds would do the game by himself. I never suspected death. When I found out that John died I was so shocked that I couldn't speak. John Cerutti made the Blue Jays game interesting because he always gave perspectives and differnt points of view. He was never bias and he always had a smile on his face. Even though I have never met John or Rob in person I felt like I knew them. Listening to the Blue Jays games in the future will be differnt. My condolences go out to the Cerutti family in this time of grief.

My condolences to the family of John Cerutti. Watching a Jays game will never be the same.

I had the privilege of coaching both John's son and his oldest daughter. I got to know his youngest five years ago when she was in Kindergarten, where I teach. His children all made an impression in my life, and will be his ongoing legacy.
Claudia is one of the most amazing women you could hope to meet. She is very involved in her childrens' educations and I know she has been the rock for them through all of this, even though she is feeling the same pain and grief.
John always had time to talk and give a kind word to me. He attended as many games as he could and always offered congratulations on a job well done, no matter the result. He was the club champion here locally and I understand that at one point he even made a run at the PGA tour. I think he was the kind of guy that most of us would like to be.
I don't think it is any coincidence that both Ceruttis that I coached were unanimously chose as team captains for their quiet leadership, athletic prowess, and the respect they earned from their peers.
As I sit here tonight before attending a small get together with the Ceruttis tomorrow, I wonder what I could possibly say to them in this time of grief. Nothing I could say could ease their pain, so instead I turn to helping their youngest's friends deal with their own confusion and fears. I think that the greatest thing for them would be to see pages like this, true tributes to John's life and the people he touched. I know they appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers. The school community has bonded together to do what we can for the family, and everyone is shocked and saddened at his passing.
Its nice to see, however, how many people are celebrating his life rather than focusing only on his death.

I met John Cerutti one time in 1987. He was visiting his brother in Austin, TX at the time. I was nine years old, in love with the game of baseball. I had the opportunity to play catch with John in the backyard and still have wonderful, vivid memories of that day. Getting to play catch with a big leaguer was a dream of mine and John was the man that made that come true. He left a lasting impression. My condolences to his family.