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Buck Martinez Retires as Blue Jays Broadcaster After More Than 4,000 Games

The 77-year-old says he chose to "pass the torch," closing a four-decade run that connected generations of Blue Jays fans.

Overview

  • Martinez announced his retirement Friday in a statement shared by Sportsnet and the Blue Jays, saying he and his wife decided it was time to step away.
  • His final call was Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, which the Dodgers won 5-4 in 11 innings, capping a season he described as “glorious.”
  • A Blue Jays figure since 1981, he played six seasons as a catcher, managed in 2001–02, and worked in the booth across two stints beginning in 1987.
  • He took leaves for cancer treatment in 2022 and again in 2025 before returning to finish the 2025 postseason alongside longtime partner Dan Shulman.
  • Tributes poured in, with Sportsnet's Greg Sansone calling him a legend and Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro and Shulman praising his impact and storytelling.