Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez is making his return to the booth on Tuesday, when the ball club plays the St. Louis Cardinals, after completing cancer treatment in late June.
Martinez, 73, was diagnosed with cancer in mid-April and has been away from the booth ever since while receiving treatment. He played 17 seasons in the majors as a catcher, including the final six of his career with the Blue Jays from 1981-86. After retirement, he began working as a broadcaster, with a brief stint as manager for the Blue Jays for two years in 2000 and 2001.
Martinez has been with Sportsnet calling Blue Jays games since 2010.
“Everybody has been so supportive,” said Martinez prior to the first pitch of the last game before he stepped away. “I got a wonderful crew to work with here, folks, and I’m gonna go away for while, I’ve got cancer and I have to address that obviously.
“I came here in 1981, thought I’d be here for a year or two and here we are, it’s 2022. But my wife Arlene has been very supportive and we’re all positive and we feel very confident we’ll be back here for the pennant race.”
