(Toronto) Buck Martinez, a longtime commentator and analyst of the televised Toronto Blue Jays games, has announced that he will step down after being diagnosed with cancer.
In a statement released by Sportsnet, the broadcaster of the team’s games, Martinez said Sunday’s game between the Blue Jays and the Oakland Athletics will be his last for “a while” when it starts, treatments that will last several weeks.
“I am grateful to have such a wonderful medical team, who have given me a lot of optimism about the chances of successfully overcoming this situation,” said Martinez.
Martinez, 73, said he wants to join his Sportsnet teammates for Jays games later this season.
Martinez’s association with the Blue Jays dates back to 1981, when he began a six-year stint as one of the team’s wide receivers.
Martinez played for 17 years in the major leagues and also played for the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers.
He was hired as the Blue Jays’ manager in 2001, but was fired midway through his second season. Under him, the Toronto team recorded an overall record of 100 wins and 115 losses.
Martinez made his television debut in 1987 as a game analyst for the Blue Jays at TSN.
He also worked on ESPN, TBS, and Baltimore Orioles games before joining the Blue Jays game commentary group at Sportsnet in 2010.
