Longtime Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez announced his retirement on Friday.
Martinez, 77, began as a color analyst for the team in 1987 after his 17-year playing career ended. He would end up managing the Blue Jays in 2001 and 2002 before joining the Baltimore Orioles’ television booth from 2003-2009 before returning to Toronto in 2010.
In a statement, Martinez said that following the 2025 World Series he made the decision to walk away following conversations with his wife saying “it was time for me to step out of the booth and enjoy the years ahead.”
It has been a fantastic journey with Sportsnet, the Blue Jays and the wonderful Blue Jays fans all over the world. 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.
With the utmost gratitude and respect,
As a player, Martinez began his MLB career with the Kansas City Royals in 1969. After eight seasons, Martinez was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers and remained there through the 1980 season. Early in the 1981 season, he was dealt to Toronto, where he would play before retiring in 1986.
In 2022, Martinez announced he was taking a leave of absence from the Blue Jays’ booth after being diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a type of head and neck cancer. After three months of treatment, he returned briefly to a warm welcome from fans.
This past May, Martinez took another leave from his broadcasting duties to undergo treatment for lung cancer before returning late in the summer.
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