TORONTO – Summing up Buck Martinez’s remarkable impact on the Toronto Blue Jays as a player, manager and broadcaster is no simple task. Simply put, he’s a giant in terms of what he means to the franchise, a treasure trove of knowledge, stories and lore from the franchise’s early days to its most recent present.
To his Sportsnet colleagues, he is a beloved teammate and as he enters retirement, his caring nature, generosity and spirit will be dearly missed in the day-to-day grind of a long season. Here are some stories that offer a window into what made him so great to work with:
Dan Shulman – I was 28 years old when I got the Blue Jays play-by-play job with TSN in 1995. Prior to getting the job, the extent of my baseball play-by-play experience was one inning on radio in spring training and the audition, which was with Buck. He was probably as surprised as I was that I got the job, but he could not have been more welcoming and helpful to me from Day 1. He taught me so much about baseball and also about being a great teammate on our television crew. One day, early in 1995, he turned to me and said, “If we can make this sound like two guys sitting in a bar, having a beer and watching a game, we’re doing OK.” The best advice I’ve ever gotten. Buck, it was an honour.
Hazel Mae – When I joined the crew full-time, Buck was so welcoming. I knew how well-respected, admired and knowledgeable he was and I never wanted to let him down. I wanted him to know I was pulling my weight and he was such a good example for all of us. Even though he played, managed and worked on the broadcast for years, he still did his research, still spoke to everyone and worked just as hard, if not harder than everyone else. And even though he’s a bit older, he had more energy, too. He’s also the glue that kept us together on the road. It was important for him to have crew dinners, or play a round of golf, to keep us connected and unified in a season that’s so long, when we’re away from our families. I always looked forward to those dinners when he told stories. He’d almost get into character, changing voices, being demonstrative, often capped off with his gregarious laugh. Buck made us better on the field, but he also made us better off the field, too.
Caleb Joseph – Simply put: Buck is baseball. I’ve never met anyone like Buck Martinez. His ability to tell a baseball story is captivating. His enthusiasm for the game and its players is unrivalled. The vast knowledge about the game and its history is remarkable. His feel for the game, its highs and lows, was always perfectly delivered thru the microphone. As a visiting player, I admit, I LOVED hearing him belt, “SWING AND A DRIVE, GET UP BALL, GET OUTTA HERE, AND GONE.” One of the greatest joys in my baseball career was calling games with Buck in 2024. He’s a pro’s pro, the greatest compliment one baseball man can give to another. And beyond that baseball realm, he is one of the most sincere, genuine, honest, and decent humans I’ve ever known. Thank you Buck for the memories, the laughs, the mentorship, and most importantly your friendship. I will cherish that deeply. We hope to see you soon at Rogers Centre!
Madison Shipman – One thing I learned very quickly when I first started working for Sportsnet is that when you think of the Blue Jays, you think of Buck Martinez. It was an honour to work with Buck for three seasons and every time I had a chance to speak with him or listen to a game he was calling, I always learned something new. My favourite memory, though, came last season in September when my family and I made our annual vacation trip to Toronto to watch a series from the stands. We were down on the field watching batting practice and talking to our friends on the Sportsnet staff when my husband and I look back behind home plate to see our son, Kellen, and daughter, Kennedy, holding Buck’s phone taking a selfie of the three of them. That was just one example of the kindness that Buck showed to my family and I every single time that we saw him and for that, I will always be extremely grateful. A legend on the field, a legend in the broadcast booth, a legend in every-day life and a legend in the eyes of my son and daughter who will always remember getting to take a selfie with “Mr. Buck.” Cheers to a wonderful retirement!
Ben Shulman – After growing up watching and admiring Buck as a broadcaster, getting to call games with him is and will stand as one of the top moments of my career. Before working with him, I was admittedly very nervous on how I’d keep up with his incredible knowledge and experience of the game. But I quickly learned that through his enthusiasm and skilled broadcasting, he was the ultimate teammate. He always made me feel welcome, found ways to make things easier for me and was very helpful whenever I needed to learn. He is a great broadcaster and person.
Arden Zwelling – The thing I’ll miss most about interacting with Buck every day is the stories. He’s a walking, talking encyclopedia of the sport. He told me about watching Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Roger Maris play in an all-star game at Candlestick Park. Hitting a go-ahead homer off of Catfish Hunter at Yankee Stadium. Being in the booth when Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played record. It’s been such a privilege to spend time around someone who was present for so many defining moments across eras. That kind of experience and insight is irreplaceable.
Ben Nicholson-Smith –When I first met Buck Martinez, I was a little intimidated. It had nothing to do with Buck – he’s always friendly and warm with newcomers – but he was a legend and I was just starting out, so I first observed from afar. Over the years, I got many chances to talk baseball with him and those chats always taught me something new. For instance: if we were in the dugout before a game somewhere like Cincinnati or Houston I liked asking Buck about old stadiums, the ones that have long since been destroyed, because he’d been everywhere and remembered details you couldn’t otherwise find. When we talked, the depth of his baseball knowledge often stunned me. Anyone can look up facts and figures, but Buck knows things only a baseball lifer would know – like the temperaments of umpires or how much you sweat while catching both games of a double-header. But as much as he knows about history, Buck’s thirst for new knowledge is also contagious. He’d always be seeking information, setting the tone whether it was Day 18 of spring training or Game 7 of the World Series. As time went on and I got to know Buck better, he’d sometimes slap me on the back after a TV hit with a ‘Nice job,’ or ‘Go get ‘em.’ That support meant something to me every time.
Shi Davidi – We were in Montreal in the spring of 2018 for a pair of Blue Jays exhibition games when some discontent emerged about Tony Clark’s leadership of the players’ union. Buck stopped me to ask if I’d seen the news and proceeded to offer the type of perspective that precious few others in the industry have. He’d been part of the union board that fired Ken Moffett in 1983 and later helped negotiate the sixth CBA between the league and its players in 1985, so, like always, he really understood what he was talking about. The conversation, like countless others I’ve had with him, was quintessential Buck – a deep care for the well-being of players, past and present; a boundless love for the game; sharing from his baseball-Google depth of knowledge; and taking the time to help a teammate. Cheers to a legend on a retirement that’s well-earned.
David Singh – I grew up watching Buck on Jays broadcasts in the ‘90s and that was how I learned the intricacies of baseball. Over time, he became a mythical figure in my head and when I was a younger writer, Buck was the one person I didn’t introduce myself to. I was too nervous. Eventually, I finally shook his hand and told him my name. “It’s so nice to meet you too,” Buck said with his trademark smile. From then on, he always made sure to say, “Hello David,” at the ballpark. Fast forward to October when the Sportsnet crew was at LAX after Game 5 of the World Series. I was running off no sleep, tired and dishevelled. My head was down when I suddenly felt a hand grab my forearm. There was Buck, fresh-faced with an ear-to-ear grin. “Morning David,” he said. “Let’s get home.” It was the smallest of gestures, but perspective soon set in and I began to appreciate the moment. Here I was travelling to cover the Blue Jays with one of my childhood baseball heroes. That taught me something about who Buck Martinez is. He exudes such an overwhelmingly positive energy that he can change the trajectory of someone’s day with just a few simple words. He’s probably done that for thousands of people over the years and it’s worth celebrating.
