Mike Wilner’s radio career wasn’t always a Home Run

As a radio personality on Sportnet’s The Fan 590, Mike Wilner’s voice is a fixture in cars and radios across the country during every Toronto Blue Jays game. However, his path to the booth was rather long and unplanned.

Growing up, Wilner was always a baseball fan, even hiding a radio underneath his pillow at night to catch the end of Blue Jays games. His love of baseball was apparent, but the path to his career was anything but direct.

Entering the University of Toronto, Wilner was studying commerce, expecting to be a lawyer, or an accountant like his dad. However, during Frosh Week, he was drawn to a booth that caught his attention.

“There were all these clubs to join,” said Wilner. “And the radio station was one of them… and the rest is history.”

Although this narrative may seem like a fairytale, Wilner’s story didn’t always seem like it was heading for a happy ending.

“I was 29 making $10 an hour,” said Wilner of his early days in the industry. “You hope you can turn this into a career.”

In fact, there was piece of advice from a co-worker almost 30 years his senior that stuck with him through his days of trying to make it.

“He would say, remember, it’s never too late to go to dental school,” he said, reminiscing on that conversation. “That never left the back of my mind”

Luckily, Wilner never let those words take him off of his path, and soon things started to turn around, all thanks to his hard work and dedication.

“If you get a door to crack open, do great work,” said Wilner. “Meet as many people as you can and leave impressions.”

Wilner took that philosophy, and it led to his first big break. After interning at the Fan 590 eight years earlier, he got a call from then News Director Scott Metcalfe.

“We had an opening, and we needed a baseball expert, and I knew Mike,” said Metcalfe. “He spent so much time following the sport, reading the sport, absorbing the sport. That just makes an impression.”

Thanks to this, Wilner finally had validation to accompany his hard work. It could have been easy for him to slow down and live with stability.

Instead, he continued to rise up the ranks. From being a beat reporter, working alongside his idol, the voice underneath his pillow, Tom Cheek, and even doing play-by-play, Wilner has done it all. However, what he is most known for, is his upfront and direct take at the post-game show.

“A post-game show can be highly charged emotionally,” he said talking about one of his main daily tasks. “I’ve referred to myself as a first responder, because I’m the guy they call and scream at.”

Despite his listeners and callers being in a vulnerable position, Wilner doesn’t stray away from being honest, and most importantly being himself.

“You have to be authentic,” said Wilner. “When you are true to yourself, it’s the easiest thing.

Although Mike has been at the Fan 590 for 18 years, he isn’t afraid to evolve with society.

“Mike knows how to interact with people on social media,” said Shi Davidi, writer for Sportsnet and colleague at Rogers Media. “He understands modern day stats and analytics way better than most people.”

It’s clear that Mike Wilner’s radio career has been a success. However, if he were to give advice, it sounds very similar to advice he was given at the very start.

“It’s never too late to go to dental school.”