It will have been 44 years by the time the run is over.
Joe Bowen, who has been the radio man for the Toronto Maple Leafs for decades, announced his retirement plans.
He announced on social media, with the news shared by the Toronto Sun, that the 2025-26 season will be his last on the airwaves.
“I have been totally blessed to be able to do my dream job for this long, eclipsing the career of my idol Foster Hewitt,” Bowen wrote Friday morning on X. “Thanks so much to all those who have made this wonderful career possible.”
Bowen will have announced 3,800 games in his career by the time he is done.
The 74-year old has been the voice of the Leafs for multiple generations.
Bowen spent a dozen years on TV, but the majority of his career has been on the radio.
“I have worked with the absolute best at my side in the booth,” Bowen wrote. “Harry Neale for 12 years, but none better than my partner of 28 years, Jim Ralph. Most of all, thank-you to the loyal group known as Leafs Nation for allowing me to invade your vehicle, family room and hearts over these wonderful years. You are the most loyal and demonstrative fans on the face of the earth!”
The radio team hasn’t traveled on the road with the Leafs in recent years, but Bowen has still gotten the job done.
He’ll have one more season of brilliant calls. Maybe the Leafs can take him on a postseason ride not seen in generations.
“I sincerely hope that this will be the ‘One Before I am Done’ season for the Leafs as they chase that elusive Cup,” Bowen told the Sun. “I cannot begin to express the emotions I have to the outpouring of messages related to by retirement decision. I am beyond words of gratitude!”
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