Toronto, ON – In a moment that transcends the crack of the bat and the roar of the SkyDome crowd, beloved Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez has announced he’ll channel his entire future pension from the team straight to a youth center in Toronto – a heartfelt pledge born from the fires of his own fight against cancer. “These kids are our tomorrow,” the 76-year-old Martinez shared in an emotional video from his Florida home, his voice steady but eyes glistening. “I’ve been given so much by this game, by this city. Now, it’s time to give back every penny I can.”
The gesture, revealed just days after a young fan’s viral Terry Fox Run tribute touched his heart, has Blue Jays Nation in tears, flooding social media with #ThankYouBuck stories of the man who’s narrated their joys and heartbreaks for decades.
Martinez, a cornerstone of Jays lore since catching for Toronto in the ’80s and managing the squad to glory in 2001, stepped away from the booth earlier this year amid a grueling recurrence of aggressive prostate cancer that spread to his lungs. Diagnosed first in 2022, he battled back to call games, only to face this latest round with the same grit that defined his 17-year MLB career – 866 games behind the plate, a World Series at-bat heroics, and a broadcasting run that’s made him the voice of summer for Canadian fans.
Now, post-chemo at Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center, Martinez isn’t just surviving; he’s soaring. “Buck’s the ultimate warrior,” said Jays GM Ross Atkins, who shared the news with the team. “His spirit lifts us all – on air, in the fight, and now in giving.”
The unnamed Toronto youth center – a hub for at-risk teens offering baseball clinics, mentorship, and safe spaces amid the city’s urban pulse – will receive the full stream of Martinez’s pension, estimated in the six figures annually, starting post-retirement. It’s no small gift: Martinez, married to Arlene since 1975 and dad to daughter Casey, has long championed youth baseball and cancer research. Fans recall his charity swings at Jays Care events, raising millions for underprivileged kids. One commenter gushed, “From calling Vladdy’s bombs to building dreams for Toronto’s next stars – Buck, you’re immortal.”
As the Jays chase the AL East crown, with Guerrero Jr. mashing and Berrios dealing, this off-field homerun reminds us: Baseball’s true MVPs wear heart on their sleeve.
In a season of trades and triumphs, Martinez’s vow isn’t just philanthropy – it’s a beacon for every fan who’s ever cheered through the lean years. From the ’93 heartbreak to the ’92 pennant, he’s been there. Now, his legacy ensures Toronto’s youth swing for the fences too. Jays faithful, share your Buck memories below – let’s honor the legend who’s giving it all back.
Leave a Reply