Joe Buck’s time as the national voice of baseball is over. But don’t confuse that with thinking that the 54-year-old won’t ever call a baseball game again.
In an appearance on “The PBP: Voices of Baseball,” Buck pushed back at the idea that he’s closed the door entirely on calling the sport that’s made his family into one of the most distinguished in play-by-play broadcasting history.
“I think I will [do baseball again]. I’ve never said that before,” Buck said. “But I just feel like I’m 53, basically 54, I think it’s too early to say nevers at this point in my life. I think at some point, I’ll get the itch again.”
Buck departed FOX in March of 2022, signing a five-year deal to join ESPN, where he’s now the voice of Monday Night Football alongside long-time NFL partner Troy Aikman. By leaving FOX, Buck relinquished the title as the network’s No. 1 baseball voice, which included calling both the MLB All-Star Game and World Series 20+ times.
Joe Davis – also the television voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers – replaced Buck as the lead play-by-player for MLB on FOX last season. Between his work in the postseason and the World Baseball Classic, Davis has already built up a very loyal following among listeners.
And rest assured, if Buck does call baseball again, he won’t be making a power play to usurp Davis and reclaim his former role.
“It would be local,” Buck said. “Doing a handful of games in St. Louis, doing a handful of games if we move to Denver, doing a handful of games in Minnesota… It’s not going to be ‘Hey, welcome to the World Series! This is my 25th.’ I’m done with that. That’s enough.”
For as much time as Buck spent as MLB’s national voice, the only Phillies games he called in the postseason came during the 2007-2011 golden era. While he did call the final out of the team’s 2008 World Series title on TV, more fans remember Harry Kalas’ local radio call of that moment. But Buck’s “into the night” call of Matt Stairs’ titanic home run in Game 4 of the 2008 NLDS has been played ad-nauseum by Phillies fans.
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