After 41 years as the voice of the Seattle Mariners, Rick Rizzs is retiring. Rizzs’ retirement marks the end of an era for Mariners baseball and for the countless fans who grew up listening to his enthusiastic play calls and memorable catchphrases. The announcement was made official at T-Mobile Park, leaving listeners across the Pacific Northwest reflecting on the impact Rizzs has had on their summers. Rizzs joined the Mariners broadcast team in 1983 and quickly became a staple of Seattle summers. His voice provided comforting background noise, whether someone was grilling in the backyard or stuck in traffic during a long commute.
Over the years, Rizzs called thousands of games and built a connection with listeners that went far beyond just baseball. Instead of focusing on the press conference, the real story is about the lasting effect he leaves behind. To many, Rizzs’ voice brought baseball to life, even when the team was struggling or had a late night road game. For fans, listening to Rizzs felt like sharing the baseball experience with a friend.
Many North Creek students have their own memories of Rizzs calling Mariners games. “Listening to Rick Rizzs was like having a friend in the booth every game,” said senior Ben Ojeda. His classmate, Joshua Stewart (12), agreed. “Even if I couldn’t watch the game, it was easy to picture what was happening on the field with Rick describing it.”
That connection to Rizzs isn’t just limited to students. Matt Edgar, a teacher at North Creek, also grew up with Rizzs’ voice as a constant companion. “He was my entire life as a Mariners fan. I grew up listening to him every day, and he was like a member of my family,” he said. When Rizzs announced his retirement, Edgar described it as “well deserved, long successful career, he earned the opportunity to rest and watch the games as we do, but it’s sad to see him go.”
