It is always a happy-sad moment when we have to say goodbye to a legend. But this time, it is not someone who made an impact on the field. But off the field, he made us feel every play like we were sitting at the T-Mobile Arena, watching the Mariners play.

It was just announced by the Seattle Mariners that, “After 41 years in the Mariners broadcast booth, Rick Rizzs will be stepping away from the mic at the end of the 2026 season.”

He began in 1983 alongside Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus and worked with him for twenty-five years. Rizzs spent three seasons with the Detroit Tigers from 1992 to 1994 before returning to Seattle in 1995. His forty seasons surpass Niehaus’s thirty-four, making Rizzs the longest-tenured broadcaster in Mariners history.

Rizzs plans to call all home games and a limited number of road games in 2026 before retirement.

Fans have heard his voice during historic moments, including the Mariners’ 1995 playoff run that energized Seattle. He has connected with managers, players, and front office staff, providing consistent coverage over decades of team evolution.

His broadcasts have shaped how fans experience summer baseball in the Pacific Northwest.

Off the field, Rizzs co-founded Toys for Kids in 1995, supporting thousands of children across the region. The program has delivered over 360,000 brand-new toys and awarded eighty $5,000 scholarships in Dave Henderson’s honor.

Plus, Rick Rizzs’s Locker program has provided baseball gloves and bats to children in need, extending his impact beyond broadcasting.

Rick Rizzs leaves behind forty-one years of Mariners history etched in every broadcast and interview. His voice turned routine games into vivid experiences. The Seattle Mariners nation and players alike will remember Rizzs not just as a broadcaster, but as a living record of Seattle baseball.

Mariners fans tip their hats as Rick Rizzs says goodbye

If you’ve spent any summer listening to MLB on the radio, you know the rhythm of a Mariners season has Rick Rizzs written all over it. Forty years of calling games, from the highs of playoff runs to quiet July nights, have made his voice inseparable from Seattle baseball. Now, as the Mariners prepare for 2026, the city is bracing for a season without the steady beat of Rizzs behind the mic.

“If his final call isn’t ‘The Seattle Mariners are World Series champions,’ we will riot.” Seattle fell one win short of reaching the World Series, October unfinished, and fans were restless. This season’s roster shows depth and pitching strength built from last year’s playoff-tested core. That path keeps alive the chance Rick Rizzs could sign off with history made.

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“It won’t be the same without Rick,” one fan said. His work extended beyond broadcasts, supporting Mariners families and Seattle kids. Fans saw generosity firsthand, from holiday drives to equipment programs reaching neighborhoods across Seattle.

“All-time great guy! I have a blast talking baseball with Rick!” another wrote. For decades, his radio calls shaped how Mariners fans understood games, moments, and seasons. Listeners recall conversations at ballparks and broadcasts where Rizzs treated fans like peers. “Can’t wait to celebrate your career this year,” reflects broadcasts connecting preparation and steady presence.

“Let’s go win a pennant this year, Mariners for Riz!!!” Fans rally around Rizz’s season. The call frames motivation, pushing Seattle to chase a title honoring Rizzs. The fan also floated successors, naming Shannon Drayer and Angie Mentink deeply tied to the Mariners. It reflects trust built through years of coverage and clubhouse access around the Seattle baseball community.

“A true broadcasting treasure,” Andrew Luftglass wrote, reflecting nights spent listening without team allegiance. He described late drives and postgame rides where Rick Rizzs remained his broadcast choice. Luftglass called Rizzs “the most enjoyable listen in MLB,” crediting voice and rhythm always. The praise from a fellow broadcaster shows how Rizzs reached audiences beyond Mariners fandom.

Rick Rizzs leaves the Seattle Mariners after 2026, closing a broadcasting chapter MLB rarely replicates. Seattle listened, learned, and measured summers by innings, proving consistency still matters on the radio.