The Mariners paid their respects to the longtime broadcaster on his final day in the booth.
SEATTLE — Sunday marked a bittersweet day in the history of the Seattle Mariners.
Despite beating the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 at T-Mobile Park, the Mariners season ended with a record of 76-86 and questions about 'what could have been' for a team that began 2026 with World Series hopes.
It also marked the last day in the legendary career of broadcaster Rick Rizzs.
Sunday marked the last calls in the 50-plus-year career of Rizzs, 41 of which were spent with Seattle.
The whole weekend was spent honoring Rizzs, with a fireworks show, him throwing out the first pitch and one last video of him singing "That's Amore" on the video board.
Players and coaches paid homage to Rizzs as well, first saluting him from the field before the game started. When Logan Gilbert exited his outing, he gave an extra tip of the cap to the soon-to-be Mariners Hall of Famer.
Rizzs spent the game calling portions of the game with team legends such as Jay Buhner and Ken Griffey Jr. and, after the game, he addressed the fans to much applause.
After the game, Dan Wilson, who spoke to the media to confirm he would no longer be manager of the Mariners, still found the time to pay respect to Rizzs, who called the majority of Wilson's game as a player.
"Let me just say, too, congratulations to Rick," Wilson said after the game Sunday. "'Retired, not expired' is such a classic Rizzs line, I love it. ... Calling him a friend and calling him a broadcaster, I've said oftentimes — he's a Mariners Hall of Fame broadcaster but a better person. That's what's important, is who you surround yourself with, and Rick Rizzs is certainly one of those people. Love him dearly and just wish him the best in his retirement."
Many players stayed out in the dugout to watch Rizzs' final speech to the crowd, including former Seattle and now-Los Angeles reliever Tayler Saucedo, who grew up a Mariners fan.
Catcher Cal Raleigh wore a chest protector with Rizzs' likeness and popular catchphrases earlier this weekend. He gifted it to Rizzs.
"Rick's been a staple here for 40-plus years," Raleigh said after the game Sunday. "It's a bittersweet day. You're happy to see Rick go out like this, get a whole weekend, get to see all the fans and all the cool stuff going on to celebrate him, but in another way, it's sad. He's walking away. Another great person that has been part of this organization, fans' hearts, players, coaches, he's touched so many people. ... I'm just happy that he gets to ride off in the sunset and hang out with his family and do what he wants to do."
With the exception of the weekend not predating a playoff berth, there might not have been a better way to send off one of the most iconic voices in the recent history of the baseball, and a man who has been synonymous with the team for multiple generations.
Rizzs has said that though he is leaving his daily role as the voice of the Mariners, he will still be around the team. He expects to be at the ballpark and at spring training, and he's told fans to come up and talk to him when they see him around.
