Buck Martinez Announces Retirement

[L54]

A Blue Jays legend is calling it a career. Jays games won’t be the same without Buck, but a guy like him should ride off into the sunset and enjoy time with his family instead of grinding through 162. Thanks for the memories Buck

[John_Havok]

2 minutes ago, L54 said:

A Blue Jays legend is calling it a career. Jays games won’t be the same without Buck, but a guy like him should ride off into the sunset and enjoy time with his family instead of grinding through 162. Thanks for the memories Buck

He's been reducing workload the past few years as is, did 100 games last year. For a guy of his health it's probably for the best. I bet he comes back for a series or two here and there.

[Brownie19]

Thanks for all the memories Buck.  Your voice will forever be etched in my mind and associated with Blue Jays baseball.

Any word on who will take over?

[Terminator]

Should we put Buck on the Level of Excellence?

[G-Snarls]

Aw s*** 

Absolute legend and voice of the franchise for so long 

Cheers Buck. Amazing career. 

[G-Snarls]

Just now, Terminator said:

Should we put Buck on the Level of Excellence?

Of course 

Tom Cheek is already there 

[Terminator]

7 minutes ago, G-Snarls said:

Of course 

Tom Cheek is already there 

I agree we should probably put Buck up there but I'm not sure if it helps or hurts Buck's cause to compare him to Tom Cheek lol

[Laika]

Buck on the LOE is weird for me 

He was not a good announcer, for a long portion of his tenure, and was the butt of many jokes 

His play by play was awful lol 

[G-Snarls]

18 minutes ago, Laika said:

Buck on the LOE is weird for me 

He was not a good announcer, for a long portion of his tenure, and was the butt of many jokes 

His play by play was awful lol 

Wasn't a great player or manager either 

But the total package and overall tenure with the team?

[Terminator]

15 minutes ago, Laika said:

Buck on the LOE is weird for me 

He was not a good announcer, for a long portion of his tenure, and was the butt of many jokes 

His play by play was awful lol 

He also wasn't a good player nor was he a good manager

But he is a Jays lifer, having been with the org for 45 years

[The_DH]

Buck is one of the best people in baseball.  He will be missed by me.  

[Omar]

He had a hell of run in terms of post playing career.  He made the right decision to step away.  Bring on Joe Siddall.

[PitaBaby]

One of the best ever. Won't be the same without him, but he gave us MANY great years in the booth!

Time to bring back Tabby.

[ValiantJaysFan]

I used to love listening to him get drunker and drunker as games went on when he was doing play by play lol. Some games he was legit slurring his speech by the 6th inning and I was dying. I liked him a lot better on color, but I did find him a bit irritating. Still, dude is a legend and will be missed.

Just don't know who will take over and I pray to all the gods it isn't Pat Tabler. Know who was AWESOME for the short time he did color for the Jays? Darren Fletcher

[mphenhef]

A well deserved retirement from a man who has impacted this organization in so many different ways.  I wish things would have ended differently in November to send him off on even more of a high!

[newhere]

Cheers Buck! Bring on Shea Hillenbrand and Scott Schoeneweis!

[Governator]

Give him a bobblehead day and a key to the city.

Enjoy your well deserved retirement and thank you for being the voice for all the years.

[Pendleton]

I love how he had the gloves off in his final season, especially with the Yankees comments. All the best to him in his retirement years 

[Jonn]

Honestly I loved Buck. He had a lot of hilarious moments. Butchering names or going on rants that made no sense. But he was "our" nonsense guy. And quite frankly the booth was better with him in it. Just as the color guy not play by play. Dan and Buck were always great together. Wish him nothing but health and success and hope we will see him in Toronto from time to time.

[jaysblue]

Buck Martinez is genuinely one of the nicest guys in baseball. My friend and I bumped into him in an elevator at a hotel in Philly during a Jays series back in 2010, and he couldn’t have been more chill. He noticed us wearing Jays jerseys and he was the one who asked, “How’s it going?” and started up a conversation. Most guys don’t even acknowledge you. Buck was down-to-earth, friendly, and completely genuine.

[Jimcanuck]

Stroman would be a great replacement

[Spanky__99]

Buck's gone fishing folks, what a BJ Legend he absolutely will be put on the LOE, and his replacement is Joe Siddal and Dan's son will fill in I'm sure.

[Olerud363.354]

On 2/6/2026 at 11:23 AM, Laika said:

Buck on the LOE is weird for me 

He was not a good announcer, for a long portion of his tenure, and was the butt of many jokes 

His play by play was awful lol 

Buck Martinez 454 games for Toronto Blue Jays 4.5 fWAR

Joe Carter 1039 games for Toronto Blue Jays 7.5 fWAR

Buck Martinez best hitting season - 1983 .253 .337 .454 .352 wOBA+

Joe Carter best Blue Jays hittings season - 1992 .272 .330 .508 .363 wOBA+

Buck was actually an awesome platoon Catcher - Has pretty big splits so hard to say that he would have been effective full time.   Better player than Joe Carter per game.   Had almost as much fWAR in 82/83 as Carter did in 92/93 playing half as much.  (Cherry picking a bit because Carter best season was 1991, but who would even think Martinez 82/83 is comparable to Carter 92/93)

[Dr. Dinger]

Hope I am wrong, but this reads as he doesn’t have long to live. 
 

I feel like Buck always projected sincere enthusiasm and more years than not I found him entertaining and additive. Was he the most eloquent presenter? Or the most analytical? Or the most sober all the time? No! But I will miss him. 

[Spanky__99]

1 hour ago, Dr. Dinger said:

Hope I am wrong, but this reads as he doesn’t have long to live. 
 

I feel like Buck always projected sincere enthusiasm and more years than not I found him entertaining and additive. Was he the most eloquent presenter? Or the most analytical? Or the most sober all the time? No! But I will miss him. 

Well he was golfing with Ernie and the Babe the day he announced this, it's just time to hang it up. He'll be missed.

[Ryu In My House]

This is sad new for me, personally, because I love him on the Jays broadcasts, but I am really glad he is taking time off to be a grandpa and golf as much as he wants. I would be ecstatic if he came back from time to time to do special games. I hope he continues to be in remission. Good luck, Buck. Love you, man!

[Joltin Joe]

Its time for me to move on. Buck is old school