Buck Martinez Retires After Four-Decade Run With Blue Jays Broadcast Team
After nearly 40 years as one of the most familiar voices in Canadian baseball, Buck Martinez is stepping away from the microphone. The longtime Blue Jays broadcaster officially announced his retirement this morning, closing the book on a career that’s been deeply woven into the fabric of Toronto baseball since 1986.
Martinez first joined the Blue Jays’ broadcast booth as a color commentator in the mid-80s, bringing with him the insight of a former big-league catcher and a natural knack for storytelling. His connection with the team only deepened over time - in 2001, he left the booth to manage the Jays for two seasons, stepping into the dugout to guide the club through a transitional era. After his managerial stint, he spent seven years calling games for the Baltimore Orioles before returning to Toronto in 2010, this time as the play-by-play voice alongside longtime partner Pat Tabler.
That reunion kicked off a 13-year run that became a staple of summer for Blue Jays fans. The Buck-and-Tabby booth was a constant - sometimes quirky, often lighthearted, but always rooted in a deep love for the game. Whether they were breaking down a pitcher’s mechanics or getting sidetracked by something happening in the stands, their chemistry made them feel like old friends keeping you company through the long grind of a baseball season.
In 2023, Martinez faced one of the toughest challenges of his life, stepping away from the booth for the first half of the season to undergo cancer treatment. True to form, he made his return in July, slipping right back into rhythm.
This time, he reunited with Dan Shulman - a pairing that had already proven its strength during their first run together from 1995 to 2000. Their shared history and easy rapport made for one of the most polished and enjoyable local broadcast teams in the league.
Now 77, Martinez leaves behind a legacy that stretches far beyond the box scores. He’s been part of the Blue Jays’ DNA for generations of fans - a voice that’s narrated everything from playoff pushes to rebuilding years, from walk-offs to rain delays.
What made Buck special wasn’t just his baseball IQ, though he had plenty of that. It was the way he made the game feel personal. He could break down a defensive shift or a pitcher’s sequence with the best of them, but he also had a gift for capturing the rhythm and spirit of the game - especially on those slow summer days when the stakes were low but the stories were rich.
There are countless memorable calls and signature Buck moments, but sometimes it was the offbeat ones that stuck. Like the time a fan grilling on a boat in McCovey Cove caught his and Pat’s attention so completely that it derailed the broadcast for several innings. That kind of spontaneity - the sense that you were just hanging out with a couple of baseball lifers who genuinely loved the game and each other’s company - was part of what made him so beloved.
Martinez’s retirement marks the end of an era for Blue Jays baseball. He’s been a player, a manager, a broadcaster - and through it all, a steady, familiar presence for fans across the country. As he and his wife Arlene step into this next chapter, one thing is certain: Buck Martinez gave everything he had to the game, and he did it with heart, humor, and a voice that will echo in Blue Jays lore for a long time to come.