ESPN is pulling out all the stops for its Jackie Robinson Day broadcast featuring the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. The legendary Joe Buck is set to make a special return to the baseball booth for this April 15 showdown at Dodger Stadium. But Buck won't be alone in the booth-he'll be joined by two MLB icons, Orel Hershiser and Ron Darling.
Hershiser and Darling aren't just former All-Stars with a combined 340 victories on the mound; they're seasoned broadcasters who bring a wealth of insight to the game. Hershiser, who honed his skills on the high school fields of Cherry Hill, has been a staple in the Dodgers' broadcast team since 2014, working alongside the highly regarded Joe Davis.
On the other side, Darling has been a familiar voice for Mets fans since 2006, teaming up with play-by-play maestro Gary Cohen and his former teammate Keith Hernandez.
Joe Buck, a broadcasting veteran, was the leading voice for Fox Sports baseball from 1996 to 2021 and also helmed NFL broadcasts from 2002 to 2022. Currently, he calls Monday Night Football for ESPN with former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman. Their partnership dates back to their days as Fox's top NFL duo.
This marks the second consecutive year Buck is stepping back into the ESPN baseball booth for a special one-game appearance. Last season, he called the Yankees vs. Milwaukee Brewers on opening day.
Buck has a knack for these one-off appearances. In 2024, he joined Chip Caray in the St.
Louis Cardinals booth as a heartfelt tribute to their broadcasting fathers. The Caray and Buck families boast a rich legacy in sports broadcasting, with Hall of Fame honors gracing the names of Chip's father Skip, his grandfather Harry, and Buck's own father, Jack.