Ottawa Blue Jays fans know the sound of Buck Martinez's voice the way they know the crack of a bat. It's woven into the fabric of summer baseball evenings across the country. Now, the Toronto Blue Jays are making it official: Martinez will be the first inductee into the franchise's brand-new Hall of Excellence.
From Level to Hall of Excellence
Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro announced the change in a video posted to X, revealing that the organization is retiring the old "Level of Excellence", where the names of team greats were displayed in the upper decks of Rogers Centre, in favour of a new, physical Hall of Excellence exhibit on the 100-level right-field concourse. The new hall is set to open this coming August, just in time for the heart of the 2026 season.
"As we transform the Level of Excellence into the Hall of Excellence, there is no more fitting first inductee into this new Hall than Buck Martinez," Shapiro said. "Buck has played so many important roles for this franchise. First as a player, then as a manager, and then for decades as our broadcaster."
Who Is Buck Martinez?
For anyone who may have just started following the Jays, here's a quick primer: Buck Martinez, now 77, wore a lot of hats during his decades-long relationship with the Blue Jays. He played catcher for the team, later managed the club (briefly, in the early 2000s), and then spent years as the beloved colour commentator alongside play-by-play partner Joe Siddall on Sportsnet broadcasts.
Martinez announced his retirement from broadcasting in February, a moment that hit many longtime fans hard. His warm delivery, encyclopedic baseball knowledge, and genuine love of the game made him a constant companion through more than 15 years of Blue Jays broadcasts.
What It Means for Ottawa Fans
While the Blue Jays are Toronto's home team by geography, they've always belonged to all of Canada, and Ottawa is no exception. The capital has a passionate Jays fanbase, and many local fans grew up listening to Martinez call games on hot summer nights. Whether you were watching at a Centretown bar during playoff runs or catching a road trip down the 401 to Rogers Centre, Martinez was the voice of those moments.
The new Hall of Excellence exhibit will give fans visiting Rogers Centre a dedicated, permanent space to celebrate the franchise's greatest contributors, and Martinez's induction gives Ottawa fans yet another reason to plan a summer trip to catch a game in person.
Plan Your Visit
The Hall of Excellence is set to open in August 2026. If you're thinking about making the drive to Toronto this summer, it's worth timing your trip to catch an early August game and check out the new exhibit. Tickets for Blue Jays games can be found on the official team website.
Until then, Ottawa fans can tip their caps to Buck Martinez, a true Canadian baseball institution who made watching the Jays feel like home, no matter where you were tuning in from.
Source: blogTO
