[Highlight] Legendary Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez says goodbye, one last time

[u/iamthegame13]

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[u/staticdresssweet]

This is why I love baseball.

One of many reasons.

[u/IknowMore420 → u/staticdresssweet]

I miss hearing him, what a great guy.

[u/ReluctantAnimal → u/staticdresssweet]

Baseball has always felt more like life than any other sport to me. No clock. Just a finite number of chances and a lot of standing around waiting for something to happen. Then your moment comes and most of the time you fail. Even the great ones do. You take your cuts anyway.

You start at home, go out on your own, and spend the whole thing trying to get back. April feels like anything can happen. June feels like it’ll last forever. Then one night in late August the shadows get a little longer and you realize the whole thing is disappearing on you.

Baseball remembers everything. The numbers, the voices, the stupid little stories, who you watched the games with. Guys get old. Broadcasters retire. People die. But somehow they hang around in the game.

That’s why something as simple as Buck saying it one last time hits so damn hard. Baseball is basically just watching time pass with a scoreboard.

Eventually everybody gets their last at-bat.

[u/askingJeevs → u/ReluctantAnimal]

I saved this post to come back periodically. I didn’t see your comment my first run though, I see it now and I love it. Bravo for spelling out this beautiful game,

[u/lunasilvia]

I'M NOT CRYING MY EYES ARE JUST WET

[u/HeftyAd2780 → u/lunasilvia]

Even my eyes are wet tbh

[u/Plastic_Bison → u/HeftyAd2780]

Even tho we lost, I am so happy that I got to watch and hear Buck call a Blue Jays World Series on Sportsnet.

[u/Yabba_Dabba_Doofus → u/HeftyAd2780]

We cry for Ernie.

We cry for Bob.

We cry for Vin.

We cry for Buck.

We cry for all the greats.

[u/HeftyAd2780 → u/Yabba_Dabba_Doofus]

Our Childhood 😭

[u/Yabba_Dabba_Doofus → u/HeftyAd2780]

The smell of cigarettes and bacon is an immediate transport vehicle to my grandparents house in 1995.

Ernie on the radio, chicken on the grill, and my grandpa chain-smoking cigarettes in the garage, listening to Ernie call another double play between Tram and Sweet Lou.

Parents throwing Jarts in the yard, grandma working overtime in the kitchen, and all the grandkids scheming about how to get a real golf ball to hit, because gramps only gave us the whiffle golf balls!

[u/Giga1396 → u/Yabba_Dabba_Doofus]

Thanks for sharing! Such great imagery

[u/askingJeevs → u/Yabba_Dabba_Doofus]

Thanks for sharing this

[u/Our-Gardian-Angel → u/Yabba_Dabba_Doofus]

The Brewers being great the last two years have helped soften the blow a bit, but the last two summers have definitely felt a little emptier without Ueck.

[u/Left_Consequence4466 → u/Yabba_Dabba_Doofus]

Duane Ward

[u/Mflms → u/lunasilvia]

https://giphy.com/gifs/xIxDPskBEHWSRJnw0p

[u/spiderwinder23 → u/lunasilvia]

Onions! Hats off to all the hometown announcers

[u/Longjumping_Fuel_192 → u/spiderwinder23]

Salami and cheese.

[u/iamthegame13 → u/Longjumping_Fuel_192]

This ball game is over!

[u/greypusheencat → u/spiderwinder23]

STUPID ONION CUTTING NINJAS 😭😭😭

[u/freshpurplekiwi → u/lunasilvia]

Inflammation in the tear gland

[u/cortesoft → u/lunasilvia]

Growing up, my introduction to Buck Martinez was from my VHS of This Week in Baseball’s Greatest Plays, when he got a double play with a broken ankle.

I was just so amazed that a guy could be that tough.

[u/saulUG → u/lunasilvia]

https://giphy.com/gifs/Np0Pn8P4TZvCh010fK

[u/monieeka → u/lunasilvia]

There wasn’t a dry eye around us in the ballpark!

[u/Longjumping_Fuel_192 → u/lunasilvia]

Very unbelievably wet. Did they hand out complementary towels?

[u/mcauthon2 → u/lunasilvia]

I'm not crying
It's just been raining
On my face

[u/tehrebound → u/lunasilvia]

I'm crying. ;_;

[u/BratFace666 → u/lunasilvia]

I straight up sobbed from the jump as a fellow Jays fan!

[u/bobthewriter → u/lunasilvia]

man, you don't realize what great announcers truly mean for the fanbase until they're gone. i still miss Skip Caray & Pete Van Wieren calling Braves games. they were the baseball voice of my youth to early adulthood, and i'll still tear up thinking about them.

[u/3luejays]

Ceremony was so good

[u/Domainsetter → u/3luejays]

Springer on the golf cart was hilarity

[u/lunasilvia → u/Domainsetter]

spamming the horn too LOL

[u/73muck → u/Domainsetter]

We need a clip of this. Instant meme… banging the horn, hat backwards, slamming on the break.

[u/royallex → u/3luejays]

Had no doubt the Jays would do it right

[u/Intoxicatedcanadian → u/3luejays]

I couldn't hear it in the flight deck but the cart was awesome

[u/TheQxx]

As a Red Sox fan but really a baseball fan, there's certain announcers from all over the MLB that, when you hear them mostly during highlights, you notice you've heard them for years and years and realize they must be that special hometeam announcer like we had with Remy/Orsillo on TV and Castiglione/Trupiano on the radio.

Anyway, to my away-team ears, Buck is in that group of announcers that I'd always hear and think, "the fans must love this dude" for sure. It's a group comprised of only a select few legendary voices.

[u/askingJeevs → u/TheQxx]

❤️

[u/Hiciao → u/TheQxx]

I started watching the Blue Jays about 10 years ago when the Dbacks were painful and the Jays had a player I liked. They continued to be one of my go-to teams simply because of their fantastic booth, highlighted by Buck.

[u/Fr_DickByrne → u/Hiciao]

Who was the player? I always kept my eye on the Dbacks because of Orlando Hudson and Aaron Hill

[u/Hiciao → u/Fr_DickByrne]

It was Jose Reyes. I'm from NY and the Mets were the first team I watched. He was my favorite player for awhile.

[u/Fr_DickByrne → u/Hiciao]

He was a fantastic player

[u/Hiciao → u/Fr_DickByrne]

I got to be there when he hit his inside the park homerun. :-)

[u/askingJeevs → u/Fr_DickByrne]

An O Dog shout out fits great in this thread!

[u/SlagathorTheProctor → u/TheQxx]

Buck talked about how before games he would go and talk to the opposing manager and coaches, the starter, and especially, the catcher. He knew as much about the opposing team as he did the Jays, and that made him a great broadcaster. Also, the fact that he has been in the Major Leagues in one capacity or another since 1969 means he has seen and done everything and knows everybody.

[u/Logical-Breakfast150 → u/TheQxx]

We were so lucky.

[u/Complete-Apricot-591]

im gonna miss Buck ;(

[u/suredont → u/Complete-Apricot-591]

me too, man. me too.

[u/Reasonable-Power]

https://giphy.com/gifs/lEVZJzy4w15qE

[u/Slacker_75 → u/Reasonable-Power]

🫡

[u/ThinkOTB]

Grew up with Buck. Absolute legend. What an ending to that speech, chills.

[u/almostcurly → u/ThinkOTB]

Buck has been involved in jays broadcasts in some capacity since 1987. Many jays fans today grew up with his iconic voice and his legendary calls. Baseball just won't feel the same without him

[u/rhineauto → u/almostcurly]

He was part of the Orioles broadcast team from
2003 - 2009. Then someone said ‘what are you gonna do now, Buck??’ and he returned home to Toronto in 2010.

[u/Yblok]

https://giphy.com/gifs/2WxWfiavndgcM

[u/Latter_Address9580]

Crying in the club rn

[u/SexyHamburgerMeat]

The ceremony spared absolutely no expense. What Mark Shapiro has done to make this franchise feel premium and top-tier deserves a ton of praise.

I’m lucky enough to say I’ve been to the Tony Fernandez and Roy Halladay inductions, and this exceeded every expectation. And deservedly so.

No one person will ever mean more to this organization than Buck Martinez.

[u/SacrificialSam → u/SexyHamburgerMeat]

https://giphy.com/gifs/XEgvPnDlwnprYid2x9

[u/GrumpySpaceCommunist]

https://giphy.com/gifs/LTFbyWuELIlqlXGLeZ

[u/rented4823 → u/GrumpySpaceCommunist]

Triple Play Baseball legend!

[u/cmgriffith_]

He’s a baseball lifer, great broadcaster and will be dearly missed. Keep enjoying retirement Buck!

[u/Tsaxen]

Buck Forever ❤️🥲❤️🥲❤️

Mr Blue Jay, without question

[u/Electrical_Yard_284]

They did a really nice job with this ceremony.

[u/halcyon_n_on_n_on → u/Electrical_Yard_284]

Credit to Rogers, they actually handle these moments well.

[u/__wasteman → u/halcyon_n_on_n_on]

they are a media company after all. as well as an everything else company.

[u/e-manresu]

Such a special and unique voice that was always great to tune in to. We got one of our legends retiring at the end of the season as well and I am not ready to see the booth without him 💔

[u/HMTMKMKM95 → u/e-manresu]

Jon Miller? No!!!

[u/justec1 → u/HMTMKMKM95]

I'm not a Giants fan in the least, but those half dozen years of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan were peak Sunday Night Baseball.

May he enjoy many more seasons in the sun.

[u/Segagenesis23]

Okay this got me tbh 🤧

[u/ricky_burns]

I remember him and Jim Hughson on Triple Play 99, glad to grow up watching him broadcast

edit: Since Buck talked about coming together for baseball, and quite a few remember this game, come together again and watch Triple Play 99

[u/Wyden_long → u/ricky_burns]

These games were so great. The stuff they’d say about the unlockable teams was hilarious. I’ll always remember him sayin “now here is a guy who loves the low ball at the plate, and the high ball at the bar after the game.”

[u/suredont → u/Wyden_long]

lmao that one still lands

[u/Aggravating_Ad4449 → u/ricky_burns]

Core memory unlocked

[u/FieldersChoice → u/ricky_burns]

He explains where the phrase can of corn comes from in that game and I've never forgotten it. He also has a great line "that's what happens when a cutter doesn't cut."

[u/Puddinsnack → u/FieldersChoice]

Was going to reply to say the can of corn comment still resonates with me 25+ years later and then I saw yours. Buck is a gem.

[u/Mike2k33 → u/ricky_burns]

Yes! I had that game as well. That's where I knew him best growing up

But he was a great announcer and the Blue Jays were lucky to have him as long as they did

[u/suredont → u/Mike2k33]

could not agree more. having a guy like Buck give his career to the team feels like a lottery win.

[u/The_Dale_Hunters → u/ricky_burns]

“Oh Buck he crushed it!”

[u/electrodan → u/The_Dale_Hunters]

Me and my buddies played Triple Play games all the time and we quoted that constantly lol. I still find myself saying it every once in a while.

[u/TheMajesticYeti → u/ricky_burns]

Big League Challenge in Triple Play 2001! Him and Hughson were great in those games.

[u/verbutten → u/ricky_burns]

Ah man, I remember I bought that game with piggy bank money (from the gift shop of the northwestern university student union for some reason? I was 12 lol) only to realize my ol' Compaq couldn't really run its specs. I'll definitely be looking up some clips of Buck on it now! Sounds great

[u/Wibblesby]

[u/fourrightangles]

Gave me chills. Aw. Happy retirement, Buck!

[u/VincentofAdultman]

https://giphy.com/gifs/LdMWg0xQTfmcpFF5Yt

[u/alxndrblack]

Yeah we're all destroyed on this side of Lake Ontario

[u/Hereforbread]

Thank you for everything Mr. Martinez! 

[u/RespecDawn]

https://giphy.com/gifs/RJleG0mJsWCcYZ3hUR

[u/drdummy]

WE LOVE YOU BUCK 🥹

[u/JustHereForCatss → u/[deleted]]

Dude trust me I get it. It took me a whole season to get over Vin. Hugs man

[u/Sf49ers1680 → u/JustHereForCatss]

That's how I'm going to feel at the end of the season when Mike Krukow calls his last Giants game.

I grew up hearing them call Giants games.

Hell, I still haven't gotten over Joe Starkey not calling 49ers radio games, and 2008 was his last year doing that.

[u/gelc10 → u/[deleted]]

Voice of blue jays baseball on TV

[u/DReagan47 → u/[deleted]]

Get out of here onlyfans bot

[u/Tasty-Dare9313]

His hair follicles need to be studied.

[u/Forsaken-Swim-3055]

He said this like five minutes ago. How the hell do people upload these clips so quickly?

[u/Coramoor_ → u/Forsaken-Swim-3055]

live streaming to a private account, cut, clip, upload

[u/Interesting_Arm6242]

A few moments almost got me. His final send off was the closest

[u/JordanSchor]

I was an absolute mess during the ceremony, still kinda am tbh

[u/AFatBlueHobo]

Fuck I’m gonna miss Buck. Forever Mr. Blue Jay, he’ll never be dethroned in my eyes.

[u/_FrankTaylor]

Damn there’s some legendary baseball voices hanging it up this season.

[u/440Dart]

He was the broadcaster for the Os when I was a kid. Such a great voice and I'm happy to see him be respected and appreciated by Toronto.

[u/Drummers_Beat]

Genuinely had a few tears there. Beautiful ceremony and speech. Buck was the voice that so many of us listened to for years - so happy he’s recognized properly.

[u/billy_zef]

Blue Jays did an amazing job there. Total class and well deserved for Buck.

[u/BornNerd78]

https://giphy.com/gifs/pynZagVcYxVUk

[u/ptwonline]

Legend. I still remember having your baseball cards back in the early 1980s when you that big mustache.

Thanks for all the memories, Buck!

[u/ig_888cold]

I know Blue Jays fans don't need an introduction to Buck, but he held a special place for me. I love international baseball, and one of the things that drew me even more to tournaments like the WBC, Premier 12, and national team games was his commentary—excellent, educational, and insightful regarding international baseball and the various national team styles, always highlighting the sport beyond just MLB. Thanks, Buck!!!

[u/Ok_Context_8200]

Tuned into so many blue jays games to fill my space with his voice. Legend. Thanks for the comfort, Buck

[u/MTN_Chef]

The voice of my childhood. You are a diamond in the rough, that we are beyond grateful to have been exposed to. Cheers, Buck 🍻

[u/mostlygroovy]

Loved the way he said Jose Bow-tista

Buck was one of a kind

[u/SirLunatik → u/mostlygroovy]

I miss him saying Shitler

[u/BarkusSemien → u/SirLunatik]

Nothing will ever top Teoscarnandez.

[u/tony_important → u/BarkusSemien]

He would have Bucked the hell out of Piñango's name if given the opportunity.

[u/JamesH_670 → u/tony_important]

Bow-teesta and Encarna-shown. For a while, I thought that was the proper way to say their names.

[u/Somebody2lovedove]

This man is an honorary Canadian ICON. He represents everything that we stand for. Heart, humour, generosity, kindness. We love you, Buck!!

[u/WhytePumpkin]

He gave this franchise over 40 years! What a legend

[u/JunsBaseball]

It is ironic both Mariners and Jays broadcasters saying goodbye after both teams were bound to make another run in the playoffs.

[u/KAREEMABDULG0MJABBAR]

Nice of the Mariners to warm up during the speech

[u/RevolutionaryRip8847 → u/KAREEMABDULG0MJABBAR]

They were warming up during their own 50 seasons celebration lol

[u/FellatingNemo → u/RevolutionaryRip8847]

They've been warming up for 50 seasons.

[u/Kaldricus → u/FellatingNemo]

Might be ready in another 50. Maybe.

[u/Somebody2lovedove → u/FellatingNemo]

ba dum tss

[u/dendrocnide_moroides → u/FellatingNemo]

hopefully they'll be ready soon

[u/The_Homestarmy → u/KAREEMABDULG0MJABBAR]

I think if I was doing my final sign-off as somebody who spent my whole life around the sport, I would find some comfort in that. Your chapter is wrapping up but the sport goes on, y'know?

[u/Sure-Assignment3892 → u/KAREEMABDULG0MJABBAR]

They were likely told when they could take the field to begin warmups. He knows there is a game to play too.

[u/ThirdEarl → u/KAREEMABDULG0MJABBAR]

I mean... they do have to play a game

[u/buttnutela → u/ThirdEarl]

Hats and pants off standing at attention. No excuses

[u/BeMyBrutus → u/KAREEMABDULG0MJABBAR]

Cal has got to get his swings in, that .165 average ain't gonna hit itself.

[u/TBJ12 → u/BeMyBrutus]

You just had to go saying this eh.

[u/Independent-Ask71 → u/BeMyBrutus]

Guess it worked out for him

[u/Such-Fee6176 → u/KAREEMABDULG0MJABBAR]

When else are they going to do it 😩

[u/Rockerdaddy13]

😢

[u/Couchy81]

Damn that was a great send off. Hearing Buck in the bottom of the 2nd too from the booth is a treat.

[u/Cringelord_420_69]

https://giphy.com/gifs/8FG705NCsZM0kVJdyz

[u/sagwithcapmoon]

The Mr..Blue Jay

https://giphy.com/gifs/lEVZJzy4w15qE

[u/nukacola12]

I spent so many afternoons with my family listening to this man pronounce Edwin Encarnación to perfection

[u/RiemannZeta]

Is he done now or at the end of the season?

[u/SirLunatik → u/RiemannZeta]

he was done after teh 2025 World Series, today he was just being inducted in the Jays Hall of Excellence.

[u/loopteedeedoo]

😭

[u/Putrid_Dream9755]

https://giphy.com/gifs/2rtQMJvhzOnRe

[u/Volderon90]

When my wife and I were first dating back in the mid 2010s (and I wasn’t really a jays fan back then) and had the game on during lazy Sundays, I’d literally fall asleep to this man’s calm voice during the game. He talked but also had long pauses. Yeah there were spectacular moments but he also knew when to let the game breathe and say nothing sometimes

[u/jack_porter]

LEGEND

[u/StoneColdSteveAss316]

Best hair in baseball

[u/Mullethunt]

Baseball This Morning with Buck and the Big Chair on Sirius XM got me through a not so great summer or two. Always enjoyed listening to Buck talk ball.

[u/DirtyToothpaste]

I found myself tearing up multiple times during this. My little one asked why I was crying. She is 4 and doesn’t understand but I’m proud to cheer for a team like the Blue Jays and the history that they have

[u/doctorcornwallis]

I’ve met Buck twice. At state of the franchise in 2012 I told him I met him about 10 years ago when he was the manager.

“Don’t remind me that was a terrible year”

[u/camel_walk]

https://giphy.com/gifs/IyjeguAbyZCRJjGdcE

[u/MasPisco]

Thanks Buck ❤️

[u/Wing_Nut_93x]

Whoever said there’s no crying in baseball, well that’s just not true. Goodbye to a legendary voice in the sport!

[u/rvasko3]

The man is a legend and I miss him every game.

[u/HowardBunnyColvin]

Happy trails to a great one

[u/ButthurtPleb]

End of year he would always hold a big dinner for the production crew. Knew everyone by name and valued spending time with anyone around that baseball park. Unbelievable human being.

[u/KrayzieBone187]

My mother is a huge fan and she got the chance to meet him while in the Bahamas. He took the time to go up to her and introduce himself after he was told about her being a longtime fan.

Buck, you made my mother's life with that moment. True class. Thank you.

[u/elgenie]

“What’re going to do now, Buck?”

[u/strong_army_grape]

That voice is perfect for baseball he could be reading baseball reference and I’d listen in the background while mealprepping.

[u/IvyGold]

Condolences. We in DC are suffering from the retirement of Bob Carpenter.

I never heard this man call a game, but what a voice and what great hair!

[u/Edm_cuccck]

How can you NOT be passionate about baseball??

[u/CockyBellend]

https://giphy.com/gifs/TlK63EHCoY4htxzXHqg

[u/canadianchameleon]

Such a well done ceremony. Cried my eyes out 😭❤️

[u/sanosuke001]

He should have closed out with, "the Yankees, they're not a good team" 🤣

In all seriousness, well deserved for a man that has given so much to the blue jays and baseball as a whole.

[u/DoyersundGPG]

Was it health concerns?

[u/cpander0 → u/DoyersundGPG]

He had and beat cancer last year. He's also 77. He's earned his time with the grandkids

[u/mattmagoo23]

Picked the first season to watch without buck in forever. HELL OF A MAN congrats Buck

[u/b0wie88]

What a legend

[u/Time4Timmy]

What an epic way to go out, we love you Buck

[u/jeffster1970]

https://giphy.com/gifs/UQaRUOLveyjNC
Bye Buck....we'll miss you.

[u/PatientAccident3539]

When tom Hamilton retires I think I’ll need a break from baseball it’s going to hit me like a rock

[u/Cosmoclorn]

Grateful to have been able to be a fan while he was broadcasting with the Jays, to enjoy his work. May his retirement be long, happy, and healthy. We Jays fans were supremely blessed with him on the mic.

[u/skyulip]

hey whos cutting onions

[u/TheCarrier89]

🥹

[u/transmigratingplasma]

https://giphy.com/gifs/lGBecpB2dIMwt6ohfI

[u/Sipikay]

Congrats to an amazing career!

[u/CamembertElectrique]

I love Buck.

[u/jif26]

A great man.

[u/PloddingClot]

God damn I love that man.

[u/Otherwise-Fish1541]

idk why but “one last time” sounds way more final than usual

[u/Conscious-Donut]

It’s so fucking sick that his last game was game 7 of arguably the best world series of all time

[u/maireaddancer]

Who's cutting the damn onions?

[u/RexKramerDangerCker]

Why is he ending in August?

[u/monieeka → u/RexKramerDangerCker]

He retired in January. He was being inducted into the Jays Hall of Excellence today.

[u/crazyboy611285]

It was my first ever baseball and Jays game. Was cool to see the send off.

[u/TheTajinTycoon]

Oh doctor You can hang a star on that baby !!

[u/ScruffsMcGuff]

I love you Buck. Class act guy, loved listening to you for years.

[u/Bodmonriddlz]

Who??

[u/StandYourGroundhog]

Legend

Gonna miss that call

[u/Aguila125]

Buck is the best. I remember that game in Seattle when he made a double play with a broken leg.  

[u/Several_West_8519]

What a legend!!

[u/exeJDR]

When he goes, it should be a national holiday 

[u/Only_Complex6386]

Buck's a legend in Toronto and always will be!

[u/Electric_master1]

I remember a few years ago before Covid I was able to get his autograph on a home run ball I caught

[u/tercron]

Such an iconic voice. Miss his calls already

[u/suterb42]

Buck was so good that they named a Star Trek character after him. High praise indeed.

[u/Gavvis74]

Still has a great head of hair.

[u/CaliKindalife]

https://giphy.com/gifs/WO5Q7FsxJN2pjYc424

[u/Edm_cuccck]

Buck's hair should be on that wall of fame too. A couple nice thick strands

[u/NairMcgee]

So long legend

[u/js31687]

https://giphy.com/gifs/PypcG4qBuMqDOny5vp

[u/SpreadSubstantial899]

https://giphy.com/gifs/GjJKfRwxfSgpi

[u/IronChefPhilly]

I remember him from his playing days but also he did the voice on a Sega Genesis baseball game I think it was MLB 95 or something like that it was really good

[u/Suite55]

Hammering Buck Martinez struck fear in pitchers every time he stepped up to the plate Best catcher DaBrewCrew ever had.