Buck Martinez stepping down after Yankees criticism

Blue Jays Announcer Buck Martinez Retires After World Series

Legendary announcer Buck Martinez has announced his retirement from broadcasting, concluding his career with the World Series.

On Friday, Martinez revealed in a statement that he and his wife, Arlene, reached the decision to step back from the booth after the season during their discussions.

He expressed gratitude towards the Blue Jays, their fans, and Sportsnet, the team’s broadcasting partner. Martinez mentioned he would especially miss connecting with fans through selfies, handshakes, and the joy he felt seeing their smiles.

Concluding his statement, he said, “While I had hoped to be a part of the Toronto Blue Jays’ 50th anniversary, the time has come to pass the torch. Enjoy 2026 and beyond, and I’ll see you there.”

Before turning to broadcasting, Martinez had a notable 17-year career in Major League Baseball.

From 1969 to 1986, his stats included a batting average of .225, 58 home runs, and 321 RBIs. He spent his last six seasons with Toronto after being traded to the team, which he noted in his statement.

Reflecting on his time in Toronto, Martinez remarked, “I can’t believe I came to Toronto in a trade in May 1981, thinking that would be the end of a great career. Little did I know that I would be involved with the Blue Jays through the 2025 season.”

After wrapping up his playing career in 1986, he quickly transitioned to being a color analyst for the Blue Jays in 1987. He also spent years as a color commentator for the Baltimore Orioles, winning a Sports Emmy Award for his coverage of Cal Ripken Jr.’s 2,131 consecutive games.

Martinez returned to the Blue Jays in 2010, taking a brief leave in 2022 for cancer treatment.

Interestingly, he faced criticism last year after making remarks about the Yankees during a Blue Jays broadcast. Following a significant loss to the Detroit Tigers, he downplayed the Yankees’ abilities, which some found controversial.

Martinez stated, “The Yankees are not a good team. I don’t care about their performance. They throw a lot of wild pitches, make many defensive mistakes, and don’t run the bases well. If they don’t hit home runs, they don’t have a chance to win.”

As his Blue Jays career nearly wrapped up on a high note, the team advanced to the World Series for the first time in over two decades, just falling short against the Dodgers in Game 7.