Hello Friends: Stories from My Life and Blue Jays Baseball

Howarth, who was the play-by-play radio announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 until 2018, waxes nostalgic on professional baseball and his career in sports broadcasting. Howarth explains that he learned his skills as a broadcaster calling Seattle’s Triple-A baseball games: “It taught me to ad lib; think on the fly; make adjustments.” He also shows the personal touch that was the hallmark of his Toronto years—his “painting the pictures” of the games began when the blind organist of a farm club team asked to sit next to him as he called the game. Throughout, he offers play-by-play descriptions of various Blue Jays games, especially those leading up to the team’s 1992 World Series Championship. His best moments come in his profiles of the players who were the core of the Blue Jays’ 1993 championship, particularly future Hall of Famers Paul Molitor, Roberto Alomar, Jack Morris, and Rickey Henderson. He recalls “the most electrifying moment for Rickey and his Blue Jays teammates,” when, in the dugout, Henderson energized them during game six of the 1993 World Series by insisting that his team would win. Howarth’s book will entertain baseball aficionados and especially delight Blue Jays fans. (Mar.)