The voice of the Seattle Mariners for four decades, Rick Rizzs, has announced he will retire after the 2026 season, ending an unparalleled 41-year run with the franchise that defined an era of baseball in the Pacific Northwest.
SEATTLE — The sound of a summer afternoon at T-Mobile Park will forever be tied to the voice of Rick Rizzs. On Tuesday, the Seattle Mariners announced that the 72-year-old broadcaster, the longest-tenured voice in franchise history, will hang up his headset for good at the end of the 2026 season. This marks the definitive conclusion of a broadcasting career that has been the constant soundtrack to Mariners baseball for 41 of the team’s 47 years.
Rizzs’ journey with the Mariners began in 1983, when he was hired to play-by-play alongside the legendary Hall of Famer Dave Niehaus. His tenure is a testament to loyalty and consistency, featuring only a brief three-year departure to broadcast for the Detroit Tigers from 1992-94. Since his return, he has been a fixture in the Seattle booth, calling games through the team’s magical 116-win season in 2021, its first playoff appearance in 21 years, and countless moments that have shaped the identity of the franchise.
His longevity is staggering and officially makes him the Mariners’ all-time leader in broadcasting experience, surpassing even Niehaus’ 34-year run with the team. Rizzs’ career spans an incredible 51 seasons in baseball, including 43 in the major leagues and eight in the minors, a journey that began on Chicago’s South Side and took him through minor league stops in Virginia, Texas, Ohio, and Tennessee before he found his home in the Pacific Northwest.
In a statement released by the team, Rizzs reflected on a life lived in the booth. “I’ve been blessed to live my dream as a baseball play-by-play announcer for the past 51-seasons,” he said, his words a eulogy for a career defined by passion. “I can honestly say I’ve loved every minute, from my 25 years with the great Dave Niehaus… to my current partners, Gary Hill and Aaron Goldsmith.”
This retirement is not just the end of a job; it’s the passing of a torch. For generations of Mariners fans, Rizzs’ voice was the guide through the highs and lows of a team’s history. He was the constant through lean years and the celebrator during rare moments of triumph. His call of Ken Griffey Jr.’s 400th home run, Edgar Martinez’s legendary double, or Felix Hernandez’s perfect game are not just calls; they are cultural artifacts, preserved in the minds of fans who grew up listening to his familiar cadence and signature phrases.
While the Mariners have already begun planning for a post-Rizzs world, the immediate impact is one of profound gratitude and a touch of melancholy. The team’s front office, players, and, most importantly, its fans have all been touched by his presence. “Calling Mariners games has been the highlight of my life,” Rizzs stated, “but especially the great fans here in the Pacific Northwest has made it unbelievably special.” This connection forged over four decades is what truly solidifies his legacy as more than just a broadcaster, but as a central figure in the story of Seattle baseball itself.
The 2026 season will be a final, celebratory lap for Rizzs, a chance for fans to say thank you. For now, the countdown to the final out of his final game has begun, marking the end of an irreplaceable chapter in the life of the Seattle Mariners and the fans who have listened for 41 years.
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