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Legendary Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez retires ahead of 2026 season
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Thomas Hall
Feb 6, 2026, 11:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 6, 2026, 11:15 EST
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There’ll never be another broadcaster like the legendary Buck Martinez.
In a statement released by the Toronto Blue Jays’ official television and radio broadcaster, Sportsnet, on Friday, the 77-year-old Martinez officially announced his retirement from broadcasting ahead of the 2026 season. It marks the end of a remarkable career for the Redding, Calif., native, who initially joined the franchise via trade in 1981.
“It’s hard to believe I came to Toronto in a trade in May of 1981, thinking that would be the end of a very good career. Little did I know that I still would be associated with the Blue Jays through the 2025 season,” Martinez said in a statement released by Rogers Communications, which owns the Blue Jays and Sportsnet.
“What a glorious season it was. It was a joy and an honour to be involved in each and every game through Game 7 of the World Series. Only one other outcome could have topped the fantastic year. After the World Series, my wife Arlene and I had plenty of time to think about the past and look forward to our future. After many heartfelt conversations, we both decided it was time for me to step out of the booth and enjoy the years ahead.”
Martinez began his broadcasting career shortly after retiring from Major League Baseball following the 1986 campaign, concluding his six-year tenure as a player in Toronto. He started as a colour analyst with TSN, the only other major Canadian sports broadcast network, ultimately calling over 4,000 Blue Jays games across multiple stints over four decades.
The legendary broadcaster also stepped out of the booth to manage the Blue Jays for one-and-a-half seasons from 2001-02, ending that chapter of his career with a 100-115 record. He left the city after that, spending seven seasons as a broadcaster for the Baltimore Orioles before returning to Blue Jays telecasts as the play-by-play announcer during the 2010 campaign.
Martinez served in that role until Dan Shulman — one of Buck’s long-time broadcasting partners during his tenure at TSN — joined Sportsnet’s broadcast team in ’16.
The former major-league catcher took a leave of absence during the ’22 season after being diagnosed with cancer, but returned later that year and received a standing ovation at Rogers Centre during his emotional return to the booth.
Martinez earned two Sports Emmy Awards in his career, the first coming in 1995 for his performance during ESPN’s coverage of Hall of Fame infielder Cal Ripken’s 2,131st consecutive game. He also received the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Jack Graney Award in 2023, awarded each year to the media member who has made a significant contribution to the sport across the country.
Separate from Martinez’s duties covering the Blue Jays, he also worked as an analyst during the international broadcasts of the World Series from 2016-20 and had served in that same role during each of the last four World Baseball Classics.
Sadly, Martinez won’t be a part of Sportsnet’s coverage of Toronto’s 50th season this year, something he had previously hoped to be involved in. But he admitted that “it’s time to pass the torch” and hopes to see everyone “down the road.”
As far as Level of Excellence candidates go, Martinez needs to be the next member added to the franchise’s ring of honour.

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