Joe Buck is making a return to the Major League Baseball national booth for the first time in four years. He will call the Opening Day game between the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers on ESPN on March 27.
This assignment is a special one for Buck. He made it clear that this is not the start of a full-time return to baseball. He wants to focus on the game and the excitement of Opening Day rather than on himself. “I feel like the right way to do it is to act like I’ve been doing it for the past four years, even though I haven’t,” he shared in an interview.
At 55 years old, Buck has had a storied career, having called the most World Series games in history. He stepped back from national baseball broadcasts after his 24th World Series in October 2021. In 2022, he took a new path and joined ESPN as the voice of “Monday Night Football” under a significant contract.
While baseball isn’t part of Buck’s current ESPN deal, Mark Gross, a senior vice president at the network, has a close working relationship with him. Gross recently reached out to Buck about the Opening Day game, and Buck was intrigued, especially when he learned it would take place at Yankee Stadium. Despite his earlier reluctance to return to baseball, the opportunity was hard to resist.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Buck said, reflecting on the offer. He opted to work with Joe Girardi for the Yankees’ perspective and Bill Schroeder for the Brewers, emphasizing the excitement of covering such a storied team on Opening Day.
Yankee Stadium holds special memories for Buck. He called all five Yankees’ championships during their golden era from the late 1990s to 2009. He feels energized about returning to a venue where he’s had many memorable moments.
While he will be in the spotlight, Buck often recalls advice from his late father, Jack Buck, a legendary announcer. During a drive to Louisville for Joe’s first Triple-A broadcasting job, Jack said, “Just remember, nobody cares who is calling the game.” That wisdom reminds Joe to keep the focus where it belongs—on the game and the fans.
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Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, MLB, Sports Business
