The Toronto Blue Jays are just as much about Buck Martinez as Buck Martinez is about the Toronto Blue Jays. Yesterday, the longtime broadcaster announced his retirement from the broadcast booth.

Summers won’t quite be the same without Buck’s signature voice on Blue Jays commentary, as he’s been a fixture on the Blue Jays’ broadcasts from 1987 all the way until Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. He’ll be greatly missed, but Buck had one hell of a career.

Blue Jays games won’t be quite the same without him this year and beyond, but it was an honour to hear his familiar voice call over 4,000 games from the booth. It’s nearly impossible to distil his resume into a few moments, but these are some of the most memorable calls from Buck’s 40-year career.

We’re kicking things off with the salty version of Buck, but he ruffled some feathers during the Blue Jays broadcast when he called out the Yankees for their subpar play on the field. The issue was that the Bronx Bombers had been free-falling the previous month, but went on a tear the final month of the season, including winning 11 of their final 12 games.

Did that comment by Martinez spark the Yankees’ September comeback? They would tie the Blue Jays for the division lead, but by virtue of Toronto having the tiebreaker, the AL East title went to the Blue Jays. Once the Jays dispatched the Yankees in the ALDS, this clip rightfully got tons of play on social media.

Let’s get this out of the way off the rip – let’s not talk about the fact that the Blue Jays blew a 6-4 lead in an ever-important mid-September playoff race. But in the moment, Troy Tulowitzki belted a go-ahead grand slam off the Red Sox, and the excitement in Buck’s voice was palpable.

With Marco Estrada throwing a no-hitter and only six outs away from making Blue Jays history, Josh Donaldson was ready to do his damndest to preserve his teammate’s no-no. Donaldson’s impromptu dive into the stands was one of the more impressive plays by the Blue Jays’ third baseman.

The fact that this play happened in an eerily quiet Tropicana Field only amplified the bewilderment from Buck in the broadcast booth. Like most people, Martinez couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed. Also, sorry to that poor kid in the first row who got absolutely pancaked. He’s probably still telling that story to anyone who will listen.

Maybe it was something in the water, but Steve Peace had a hell of a week for the Blue Jays in late July 2017. He hit not one but two walk-off grand slams in the span of four days. The second of his walk-off homers was even more impressive as the Blue Jays, capping off a 7-run rally as they were trailing 10-7 in the game before Pearce came to the plate.

Of the four walk-off grand slams in Blue Jays history, Pearce owns two of them. And you can bet your bottom dollar Buck lost his mind once the ball leapt off Pearce’s bat and landed in the left field stands.

Considering where radio and TV broadcast teams sit — directly behind home plate — they’re always in the line of fire of foul balls. After all these years of broadcasting, it’s surprising Buck didn’t encounter errant baseballs flying into his periphery more often, but some quick thinking netted him his first foul ball live on the air at Yankee Stadium.

Tensions were running high during a pre-All-Star break series between the Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals, but who knew at the time that this was going to be a preview of the eventual 2015 ALCS? Both teams traded several beanballs and close calls before Aaron Sanchez let one get away from him, and the umpires saw intent and ejected him from the game.

When a baseball lifer like Martinez is stunned, that’s when you know the umpires lost hold of the game. You know you messed up when a veteran broadcaster like Buck utters: “That’s awful!”

2010 was a magical season for Jose Bautista, setting a new single-season franchise record with 54 home runs. It’s a record that might never be broken again, but Joey Bats could do no wrong that season. By this point, he had already eclipsed George Bell’s previous record of 47 home runs, but reaching 50 dingers was a huge milestone for Bautista.

“This is 50!” is a call from Buck that will always be associated with Bautista, but it’s a shame those stands were eerily empty to witness that historic home run.

We’re going back to the well for yet another Bautista highlight, but Buck heaped praise for Bautista after delivering one of his signature “revenge home runs.” Baltimore Orioles starter Jason Garcia threw behind Bautista one pitch prior, and Bautista answered the call by delivering under pressure.

When you’re called “amazing” on the broadcast by a legend like Buck Martinez, that’s how you know you’ve made it.

If you really want to age yourself in a hurry, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was all of 19 years old in this clip, and yes, that was still when the Blue Jays played some of their exhibition games at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Vladdy sent the fans home to break the scoreless tie, the first of many impressive home runs to come from the franchise staple.

But it was Buck’s elongated “Aaaaand right on cue!” that will live on as an earworm in most fans’ minds. Moments before Guerrero’s home run, Buck remarked, “How about a ninth-inning walk-off home run?” and like clockwork, it happened.

Often in the broadcast booth, less is more, and Buck understood the assignment here. During a critical late-season series against the Yankees, Russell Martin hit a decisive three-run home run to help ensure the Blue Jays had a sizable lead over their division rivals.

The Rogers Centre crowd was so loud, you could barely hear Buck’s signature “swing and a drive” call as he set the stage, sat in silence and then let the cacophony of fans take over.

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