Mariners broadcaster icon Rick Rizzs to retire after 2026 season

Mariners fans will have to get used to a new voice in 2027, with Rick Rizzs announcing this year will be his final season in the radio booth.

This was always going to be a special year, with the Seattle Mariners celebrating their 50th season and aiming to build on coming closer than ever to making their first World Series. Now though, it will be even more special courtesy of a certain Rick Rizzs.

On Tuesday, the Mariners broadcaster icon announced that 2026 will be his final season as the primary radio voice for the club. In a statement, Rizzs said:

“I’ve been blessed to live my dream as a baseball play-by-play announcer for the past 51-seasons, including 43 amazing seasons calling Major League baseball, 40 with the Seattle Mariners, three with the Detroit Tigers and eight in the minor leagues. I can honestly say I’ve loved every minute, from my 25 years with the great Dave Niehaus and my friend, producer-engineer Kevin Cremin to my current partners, Gary Hill and Aaron Goldsmith.”

The M’s will be in safe hands, with Gary Hill Jr. continuing to expand his play-by-play duties alongside his other roles as executive producer and engineer for Mariners radio. However, as with the legendary Dave Niehaus — albeit not in the same sad circumstances — Rizzs’ voice will be sorely missed in the radio booth.

Rick Rizzs a positive force 24/7

What has helped make Rizzs so endearing over the years is his positive attitude and friendly demeanor with everyone he interacts with. He has also always been extremely appreciative of what he gets to do, as he said:

“Calling Mariners games has been the highlight of my life and having the chance to connect with managers, coaches, players, clubhouse personnel, my colleagues in the booth, those in the front office, but especially the great fans here in the Pacific Northwest has made it unbelievably special.”

You can theorize that Rizzs is not disappearing altogether, depending on your perception of the announcement he is stepping away as the Mariners’ primary radio voice. However, this is more likely more about wishful thinking and blatant denial on our part, as he said:

“I can’t thank them enough for the love and support they’ve given me all these years, but the reality is that the time has come for me to step back and spend more time at home with my grandkids. So, with the support of those who have given me the opportunity to broadcast Mariners baseball all these years, I’m ready to let everyone know that the 2026 season will be my final year in the Mariners broadcast booth.”

A dream Mariners duo in the booth

The Blue Island, Illinois native was first hired by the Mariners in 1983 to pair with Niehaus, before heading to Detroit in 1992 to be the lead voice of the Tigers. However, he returned to Seattle in 1995 for arguably the most important year in franchise history with the M’s on the verge of moving to Tampa, and the rest is history.

Rizzs is the longest-tenured broadcaster in Mariners history, with his 40 seasons surpassing Niehaus’ 34-year career in Seattle. In another statement, chairman and managing partner John Stanton said:

“Rick has become the Voice of the Mariners, and his iconic calls, energy and love for our team and this community shine through every call he makes, and every interaction he has with a player, fan, or listener. Fans in the Northwest, and all of us at the Mariners, have been blessed to have two of the great hometown radio broadcasters in baseball history call our games since the start of the franchise in 1977.”

Rick Rizzs’ class extends beyond baseball

Away from baseball, Rizzs’ kind nature led to him co-founding the non-profit Toys for Kids charity in 1995. Since then, the charity has purchased brand new toys for over 360,000 kids in the Pacific Northwest during the holiday season, and in the past 10 years specifically has awarded 80 $5,000 college scholarships in honor of co-founder Dave Henderson.

The reach and influence of the Toys for Kids charity is a true testament to the natural compassion and warmth Rizzs displays on an everyday basis. The charity is a year-round initiative that collaborates on other programs, including providing support to unhoused mothers and their children.

Overall, it’s virtually a 100 percent certainty you won’t find anyone with a bad word to say about the 72-year-old, with anyone who crosses his path all the better for having met him. As Stanton mentioned, he’s had a Hall of Fame caliber career which will hopefully (surely) see him end up in Cooperstown.

Rizzs has continually shown love and respect for Niehaus by using his phrase “Get out the rye bread and mustard, Grandma, it is grand salami time!”, although he has his own signature calls including “Holy smokes!” However, with him retiring at the conclusion of the 2026 season (and promising to be on hand at every postseason game all the way to the World Series), it seems more appropriate to sign off here with another of his oft repeated calls: “Goodbye baseball.”

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Mariners announce 2026 broadcast team

In other broadcasting news on Tuesday, the M’s announced the lineup of announcers for Seattle Mariners Radio and Television this coming season. Most noteworthy after Rizzs’ retirement announcement, Aaron Goldsmith will return as Mariners lead Television announcer in his 14th year with the team.

As already mentioned, Hill will continue to expand his radio call duties, while Angie Mentink, Jay Buhner, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Dave Valle, and Brad Adam round out the announcer crew. Mariners Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications Gregg Greene said:

“We have a tremendous breadth of talent and experience on our broadcast team. Together they create the soundtrack to summer for fans throughout the Northwest. They share not only the action on the field, but the stories that make Mariners Baseball so special.”

Photos court​‌esy of Mariners Media

What are your abiding memories from Rizzs’ time in the radio booth for the Mariners? Do you have any particular call or calls which stand out as your favorite? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.