Beloved Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez retires on his own terms

Revisit this Conversation with Buck recorded Jan. 6, 2025

On Friday morning, via social media, legendary Blue Jays broadcaster, former MLB catcher and Jays manager, Buck Martinez quietly announced his retirement from the broadcast booth. It came after a very public battle with cancer, from which it was his commitment to return to the booth. He made that amazing return to work and became even more beloved by fans who understood and appreciated his battle. Now he steps aside on his own terms, with memories, friends and admirers as his reward.

No farewell tour, no parting gifts, no cheesy tribute speeches on the field. Buck did it his way, with quiet dignity and empathy for fans and players. His next stop, down the road in 2027, after the Jays celebrate their 50th anniversary as a franchise, should be an entry onto the Rogers Centre Level of Excellence and into the Canadian Baseball Hall-of-Fame. in St. Marys (ON). Take the time to do it right.

Buck was inducted as a Jack Graney Award winner at St. Marys in 2024, for his lifetime of work in baseball media, but the northern California native was more than that and thus the Hall should honour that legacy as soon as possible. This country’s memories of Buck include as a catcher vs. the M’s, completing a double play with a broken leg; as a TV analyst, field manager, 2001-02, analyst again, play-by-play man, analyst again, cancer survivor and beloved icon.

My personal favourite Buck memory — other than the time he was fired as manager and didn’t want to talk to me because of a prescient column I wrote — came on my first road trip as Jays PR man in 2019. President Mark Shapiro gave me the assignment of bringing Jays gifts, player greetings and well-wishes to a couple in a private box at Jacobs Field. The husband had been diagnosed as terminal and they were renewing their vows and watching the Jays with a group of friends as a last wish.

Delivering the gifts and the messages was emotional. When I climbed the stairs back to the press box, I sat with Buck and Pat Tabler at a table in the press dining room about two hours before the game. After I finished my story, Buck gestured, simply, and said, “Let’s go.” I led him back to the suite, knocked on the door and we walked in. Seeing Buck, the room lit up and he spoke to everyone and left them that memory. Nobody asked him to go the extra mile. Like nobody asked him at ghis age and with his experiencve and respect to be down on the field, in the clubhouse and with the manager every day, every game, working harder than reporters half his age.

Attached is one of my favourite Conversations with Griff, recorded in early January, 2025 following his first comeback. Enjoy your retirement, Buck and we will see you for the big moments of the Blue Jays’ 50th season.