For Cincinnati Reds radio play-by-play voice Marty Brennaman, 2019 will be his final season in the booth.
The veteran broadcaster announced his decision to retire at the end of the upcoming season while attending the annual Reds Radio Network affiliates lunch on Wednesday. After the conclusion of the 2018 season, Brennaman was unsure if he would come back for another year, but the 76-year old broadcast icon ultimately made the decision to return. Brennaman has worked under year-to-year contracts since his last multi-year deal expired in 2016.
“After a lot of thought, I announced today that after 46 years, after the completion of the 2019 baseball season, I’m retiring as a broadcaster for the Cincinnati Reds. To say that it’s been an incredible ride, that’s what it’s been,” Brennaman posted in a video on Facebook.
“And you folks have had a lot to do with it. You’ve accepted me as one of your own many years, when I came here in 1974. I feel like I’ve had a love affair that’s gone through four and one-half decades because you all have been so good to me. So I felt like you needed to know from the man himself, and that’s me, that nobody can love you as much as I do.”
Brennaman joined the Reds radio booth in 1974 replacing Al Michaels, having never called a Major League Baseball game when he was hired. Brennaman’s 46th and final season for the Reds coincides with the franchise celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Cincinnati Red Stockings, baseball’s first professional team.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
