Mariners Iconic Radio Voice, Rick Rizzs, to Retire After 2026 Season
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - After a year saluting the legends that have helped to build their franchise, celebrating their 50th anniversary season, the Seattle Mariners will see another icon call it a career. Rick Rizzs, who has been the radio voice for the ballclub for 40 years, has announced that he plans to retire following the conclusion of the 2026 MLB season. Just prior to the news about the Mariners' broadcast team for the upcoming year, it became public that Rizzs 2026 will be his last as the final primary radio broadcaster for the Mariners, concluding his 51-year career in baseball.
“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.”
Seattle Mariners radio broadcaster Rick Rizzs at different moments throughout his career. (Photos by Ben Van Houten, provided by the Seattle Mariners)
Rizzs is planning to broadcast every home game of the Mariners’ season, while taking on a reduced road-game schedule throughout the year, stating that he’ll be on hand for “Every Postseason game all the way to the World Series!”
It will be difficult for many Seattle fans and baseball fans around the country to see Rizzs retire, as he has become synonymous with Mariners baseball over the last 40 years. The Mariners originally hired Rick to pair with Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus in 1983, where he stayed until 1991, as he took over as the lead voice of the Detroit Tigers for a three-year stint to replace Hall of Fame award winner Ernie Harwell. Following that brief time in Detroit, Rizzs returned to the Pacific Northwest for the magical 1995 Mariners season, staying on as the voice of the ballclub ever since. His 40 seasons with Seattle make him the longest-tenured broadcaster in club history, beating out Dave Niehaus’ 34-year tenure with the Mariners.
Seattle Mariners radio broadcaster Rick Rizzs taking part in charity work and lighter-hearted moments. (Photos by Ben Van Houten, provided by the Seattle Mariners)
Rick’s story in the Pacific Northwest is etched well outside the world of baseball, as his “Toys for Kids” charity has purchased brand-new toys for over 360,000 kids during the holiday season in the Pacific Northwest over the last 30 years. Rizzs helped co-found the charity back in 1995. Over the last decade, “Toys for Kids” has awarded 80 $5,000 college scholarships in honor of co-founder and baseball legend Dave Henderson. The charity has continued to add ways to give back to the community, including the “Rick’s Locker” program from “Toys for Kids,” a recent development that ensures kids in need have a chance to receive a brand-new baseball glove and bat.
While their big time of the year is the holiday season, “Toys for Kids” is a year-round initiative that collaborates on other programs, including providing support to unhoused mothers as they care for their children while working to find employment and housing, as well as assisting school children experiencing challenges with food scarcity and/or acquiring back-to-school basics.
While Rick isn’t native to Washington, growing up on the South Side of Chicago, a 1975 graduate of Southern Illinois University, he’s become like a family member to so many in the Pacific Northwest and those who support the Mariners around the world. Rizzs is an institution of baseball, packed into a kind-hearted man who is happy to call anyone he meets “buddy” or “pal.” Often, when describing a friend or family member, they are likened to a warm hug. Rizzs embodies this to a tee: always thrilled to meet fans out in public, to show up at the ballpark each day and share stories with anyone who approaches him, and to make time for anyone who wants a quick minute with the legendary broadcaster. From the laughs he shares on the broadcasts to being your friend throughout the Spring, Summer, and early Fall, Rick has undoubtedly become part of the lives of so many who support the Seattle Mariners. Here’s to cherishing every minute he’s on the radio this season.
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Cover photo and photos in article by Ben Van Houten, provided by the Seattle Mariners.
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