By Connie Thiessen
Buck Martinez has announced his retirement after calling more than 4,000 Toronto Blue Jays games.
In a statement released by Sportsnet on Friday morning, Martinez said following the Jays’ World Series run at the end of last season, he and his wife Arlene made the decision it was time for him to step out of the booth after more than four decades in broadcasting.
“It’s hard to believe I came to Toronto in a trade in May of 1981, thinking that would be the end of a very good career,” said Martinez, who retired from Major League Baseball in 1986 following a 17-year career as a catcher for Kansas City, Milwaukee and Toronto. “Little did I know that I still would be associated with the Blue Jays through the 2025 season.”
“It has been a fantastic journey with Sportsnet, the Blue Jays and the wonderful Blue Jays fans all over the world,” he continued. “Thank you all for embracing me and welcoming my family and me in a way that has made us feel like we are part of yours. I will dearly miss my working partners, the leadership at Rogers, and the Toronto Blue Jays baseball club, all of whom made it so much fun to be at the ballpark talking about the game I’ve loved for my whole life. As to the fans specifically, I will miss the ‘selfies,’ the handshakes and the welcoming smiles. I will never forget any of those, nor the unwavering support and generosity, which has meant more than words can say. I look forward to continuing to root for the Blue Jays along with you, and you’ll always be in my heart. My sincere appreciation to all of you.”
“I had hoped to be part of the 50th year of the Toronto Blue Jays but it’s time to pass the torch. Enjoy 2026 and beyond, I will see you down the road.”
Martinez, 77, has been battling undisclosed health issues over the past year. He returned to the Blue Jays broadcast booth in early August of last year after taking three months off, starting in May, and then postponing a previously-scheduled return in June.
His broadcasting career began in 1982 when he covered the American League Championship Series, the World Series and the All-Star Game for the Telemedia Radio Network, while still playing for the Blue Jays. He started as a colour analyst for the team in 1987, which led to a job with TSN, moving on to work with ESPN from 1992 to 2000. Following a one-year stint as manager of the Blue Jays, he returned to ESPN as an analyst, eventually making his way back to the Blue Jays broadcast booth full-time in 2010. Over the course of his career, he also contributed to coverage for the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, XM Radio, TBS, The Baseball Network, and MLB International, among other broadcasters.
“Buck Martinez is a legend in baseball,” Sportsnet president Greg Sansone said in a statement. “His voice is synonymous with summer, and his passion for the sport and dedication to his craft are unrivaled. It has been the highest honour for all of us who have had the pleasure to work with him.”
“Buck has been one of the most prominent figures in the history of the Toronto Blue Jays, dedicating decades to the game he loves and to this organization as a player, manager, and broadcaster,” added Mark Shapiro, president and CEO of the Blue Jays. “Buck has connected generations of fans with his passion, insight, and unparalleled storytelling. His legacy extends far beyond the microphone, and he will always hold a special place in the hearts of Canadian baseball fans.”
Martinez was awarded a Sports Emmy Award in 1995 for his work on ESPN’s coverage of Cal Ripken’s 2,131st consecutive game, and won another for Best Sports Analyst for his coverage of the Baltimore Orioles from 2003-09. In 2023, he received the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Jack Graney Award as a member of the media who has made significant contributions to baseball in Canada.
“From the first day I worked with Buck way back in 1995 right through Game 7 of the World Series, I couldn’t have asked for a better broadcast partner. No one worked harder, no one cared more,” said fellow Jays announcer Dan Shulman. “He’s one of the most significant figures in Blue Jays history, and someone who has meant the world to everyone he worked with at Sportsnet, both as a colleague, and even more importantly, as a great friend.”
