Holy smokes! Say it isn’t so!
The Seattle Mariners’ upcoming 50th season will be Rick Rizzs’ last, as the beloved broadcaster has announced his intention to retire after over 50 years in the game, 41 years of them calling Mariners baseball.
2026 will be Rick Rizzs’ last season as voice of the Mariners
From “hi everybody” to the “happy totals” to the “we will see you on the radio tomorrow,” Rizzs’ voice has been a part of Mariners fans’ lives for decades, invited into their homes, backyards, cars and kid’s playfields near and far through the radio or app. Day in and day out, he has brought you the game seen through his eyes. He has painted the pictures, put you in the stadiums, told you the stories.
Rick Rizzs has been the friendly voice bringing the game to life as only the greats can do. He puts you in the front row, visually sharing every detail and emotionally building the drama in the big moments. He is there with the stories and observations when the game slows down, and he can shift from zero to 100 with the rapid-fire play-by-play of the quickest, blink-and-you-miss-them situations. Broadcast wizardry on the most impossible plays.
With Rizzs on the call, the good games can become instant classics while the bad games are still a guaranteed good broadcast.
Rizzs has been there for the Mariners’ highest of highs and lowest of lows and always, always leading with an unflagging optimism – not blind, mind you – and rock-solid conviction born out of strong belief that good things will happen. He shares that belief and encouragement with everyone he has encountered, from the players around the batting cage to the executives in the hall, his colleagues in the booth to the not-for-long stranger he meets in the course of his day.
In the community, Rizzs has been the provider of good things, working tirelessly in-season and out in support of Toys for Kids, a foundation he created along with Dave Henderson to assist homeless and disadvantaged children in Washington state. To date, Rizzs has been instrumental in raising over $4.7 million to help those in need.
For the 40 years that Rick Rizzs has been with the organization, the Mariners could not have had a better representative. Having described every day of broadcasting baseball as a dream come true, one can only hope his final sign-off takes place while his beloved Mariners are celebrating the franchise’s first World Series win below him on the field.
As for the rest of the games? A day in, day out gift for Mariners fans as they have been presented an opportunity to enjoy, celebrate and most importantly appreciate Rick Rizzs.
Seattle Mariners news and analysis
• Reports: Seattle Mariners land top international prospect for 2027
• Mariners have league-high seven MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospects
• Mariners acquire RHP Cooper Criswell from NY Mets
• M’s add former Rangers starting pitcher on minor league deal
• Félix makes historic jump in HOF vote, but still has a climb to go
