Mariners fans listened extra closely Sunday as Rick Rizzs, the man known for his “holy smokes” and “goodbye baseball” catchphrases, said farewell to the broadcast booth he’s occupied for four decades.

“It has been a privilege, a joy, and an honor to be your voice of Mariners baseball for 41 seasons,” Mariners broadcaster Rizzs told the crowd after Sunday’s final out, his voice breaking. “Thank you so much. I love you very much.”

Rizzs called his final game as the Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 7–3 at T-Mobile Park, closing his 41st season with the club and his 52nd in professional baseball.

For generations of Seattle Mariners fans, Rizzs was more than the voice calling balls and strikes. He was company, a familiar and steady presence for both those inside the ballpark and those tuning in around the world.

Mariners fan Dominick Sciola began listening to Rizzs as a child, secretly turning on the radio after his parents sent him to bed.

“He always told you a really good story that made you even more enthralled in the game,” Sciola said. “He kind of helped you do that, even as a kid trying to understand what this life is all about.”

Over the years, Rizzs supplied the soundtrack for some of the biggest moments in franchise history: Félix Hernández’s perfect game, Ichiro Suzuki’s “laser beam” throw to third, and Cal Raleigh’s home run that ended Seattle’s 21-year playoff drought.

He was also witness to some quieter but equally memorable events in Seattle baseball. In an August interview with KUOW’s Soundside, Rizzs described watching father and son Ken Griffey Sr. and Griffey Jr. play side by side.

“It’s still, to me, one of the greatest stories in the history of baseball,” Rizzs told KUOW’s Jason Burrows. “I don’t know if we’ll ever see that again.”

For fans, memories of Rizzs go well beyond the highlights he brought to life with his voice. In a tribute video played at Sunday’s game, dozens of people recorded messages for Rizzs. One described falling asleep with a Walkman under a pillow. Another said listening helped them through illness and grief, while another shared their gratitude of being able to grow older with Rizzs’ familiar voice nearby.

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“You think you’re just doing a baseball game, and you realize the impact you have on people’s lives is a lot more than a baseball game,” an emotional Rizzs said after watching the messages. “It’s bringing them a little bit of joy if they’re having a rough day.”

The Mariners stretched the farewell across the weekend. Fireworks lit the sky Friday. Rizzs threw Saturday’s ceremonial first pitch. Catcher Cal Raleigh wore a custom chest protector covered with images from the broadcaster’s career.

As Rizzs told KUOW, “Radio’s power comes from going wherever the listener goes and from putting fans in the front row through words alone.”

Mariners fan Sciola believes the special connection Rizzs created with listeners will not be easily replicated and will likely leave a void next season when the team and fans return to T-Mobile Park.

His message to Rizzs was simpler: “Thank you for giving me a very valid excuse to stay up past my bedtime.”

Kathryn Stone is a reporter with KUOW. This story comes to you from the Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.

It is part of OPB’s broader effort to ensure that everyone in our region has access to quality journalism that informs, entertains and enriches their lives. To learn more, visit our journalism partnerships page.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/09/28/rick-rizzs-mariners-baseball-broadcaster-last-game/