Rick Rizzs To Be Hall Of Famer

 In a night that honored the 50 greatest Mariner players, one of the team's greatest broadcasters would get a big surprise.  In what seemed like a routine introduction, Mariner Chairman and CEO John Stanton announced that Rick Rizzs, Mariner announcer since 1983, save for a few years with the Detroit Tigers, would was unanimously selected to be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. 

Rizzs, who will be retiring after this season, will join his former broadcast partner, the late Dave Niehaus, in the Hall. 

2026 Baseball Season To Be Last For Rick Rizzs

Rick Rizzs, Mariner announcer for decades and a familiar voice in the Seattle area will retire after the 2026 baseball season.

Rizzs started with the Mariner in 1983, he left, however, to replace Detroit Tiger legend Ernie Harwell.  The switch left him in the firing line with fans upset with Harwell's firing and Rizzs.  The Tigers wound up bringing Harwell back. 

In 1995, Rizzs returned to the Mariners.  He was once again teamed with beloved Mariner announcer Dave Niehaus, as the teams started enjoying success on the field. 

In 2010, Dave Niehaus, passed away, the city was devastated. This time, Rizzs, again, stepped into the shoes of a legend, and found that this time, they fit him just fine. The fans found that they still had a familiar and comforting voice to announce the action. 

I have met Rick and he is very easy to talk to.  A real humble man.

Root Sports Ends After 2025 Baseball Season

 Root Sports, a channel and station that has carried Mariners and a handful of other teams is going away after this season according to Media Maven, a local broadcasting blog. 

The channel/ station/ network has gone through many iterations, starting as Northwest Cable Sports in 1988.

In 2013, the Mariners purchased the majority stake in the network, although it has at times featured teams such as the Seattle Kraken. 

The Seattle Times reports that MLB will take over production of regular season Mariner games for 2026 and beyond on a yet unnamed channel. 

On-camera crew, such as Brad Adam and Angie Mentink (pictured above) are expected to transfer to the new network. However, production crew and advertising sales people are not expected stay on   The network has been headquartered in the Eastgate section of Bellevue. Announcers like Aaron Goldsmith and Rick Rizzs are employed by the team.  

Mentink To Become Mariner Commentator

 

Angie Mentink will make history as a Mariner commentator, according to an article in the Seattle Times. 

She is the first woman in the club's history assume that role.  The team needed to replace departing announcers Dave Sims, who left to become lead announcer for the Yankees and Mike Blowers.

Aaron Goldsmith will become lead TV play by play announcer , with a rotating group of color analysts, including Mentink, Dave Valle, Ryan Rowland-Smith, and the return of Jay Buhner. 

Rick Rizzs will continue to do play by play on the radio, joined in the booth by

Brad Adam and Jen Mueller will continue their roles on the TV broadcasts. 

Hutch Award Given To Marlin Pitcher

Once again, I attended the Fred Hutchinson Awards Luncheon at Safeco Field. This year's award winner was Miami Marlin pitcher Dustin McGowen (top picture), the soft spoken McGowen was interviewed by Mariner announcer Rick Rizzs, when it became clear that he was uncomfortable giving a speech.  McGowen has overcome Tommy John surgery and diabetes. 
The luncheon is to honor Fred Hutchinson, a Seattle Rainier pitcher and a Major League manager who died of lung cancer.  His brother Bill Hutchinson, a surgeon, help found the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.  Every year, the MC will ask everyone whose life was touched by themselves or someone in their family having cancer and nearly everyone stands. 
Hall Of Fame Red Son Left Fielder  Jim Rice gave the keynote speech and he broke tradition by taking questions from the audience.  Perhaps it was to contrast himself from last year's keynote speaker who gave a rambling, and what I thought, was a rather inappropriate speech.
Master Of Ceremonies Rizzs noted "this is the unofficial start of the baseball season."

Griffey's Number 24 Retired In Safeco Ceremony

 

Ken Griffey Jr's became the first Seattle Mariner to have his number retired as of last night.  Griffey, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame a few weeks ago was in Seattle this weekend for the ceremony.   Not only were Griffey's former teammates on hand, but baseball legend Hank Aaron spoke on the big screen. Aaron's appearance  built the anticipation that another baseball great the wore the number 24,  would appear.  MC Rick Rizzs  introduced various number 24s until Willie Mays, appeared on the big screen with his taped greetings. Then the above plaque was unveiled.  It is next to Jackie Robinson, whose number is retired throughout baseball. I found it ironic that Griffey's number is the reverse of Robinson's.
  Thank you to Root Sports, who carried the ceremony on TV before the Mariner's game with the Angels.  The M's wound up sweeping the Halo's in the weekend series.

Royals Star Honored At 50th Annual Hutch Awards

Alex Gordon, a gold glove outfielder, who helped the the Kansas City Royals battle to the World Series received the 50th Fred Hutchinson Award at a luncheon at Safeco Field.  The award is given to the player who exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication of the late Fred Hutchinson, a Seattle native who became famous as a pitcher and a Major League manager and whose career was cut short by lung cancer. Proceeds go to supporting the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
 Gordon is credited with raising more than 1 million dollars for research through the non-profit Alex's Lemonade Stand.  Gordon spoke movingly of  his mother surviving breast cancer.
Hall of Fame player Dave Winfield  (bottom picture with me) was the keynote speaker. Winfield, voted best all-around athlete by ESPN, was drafted by 4 teams in 3 different sports.  Unlike Bo Jackson and Dion Sanders, he stuck with baseball where he would eventually play for 6 teams and carve out a 22 year career.  Of course, he spun old baseball anecdotes, including being snubbed by Bob Gibson as his career was beginning.  Winfield was no stranger to Seattle, since his father had moved here after Dave's parents split.  Winfield mentioned his family's humble beginnings in St Paul Minnesota He also spoke movingly of losing his mother to cancer.
Host for the afternoon event were former talk radio host Mike Gastineau, Mariner reporter Shannon Drayer, and Mariner play by play man Rick Rizzs.

Ken Levine Should Be Full Time Mariner Announcer

Two years after the sad passing of  legendary announcer Dave Niehaus, the Seattle Mariners have announced they will begin the search for a full time replacement.  My choice would be the man who had the position in the early 90s.  Ken Levine replaced Rick Rizzs, who departed for a brief time to work for the Detroit Tigers.  Of course Rizzs was chosen to replace retiring Ernie Harwell.  When Harwell was talked out of retirement, Rizzs came back to the Mariners, where he has been ever since.  After the sudden death of Niehaus, the Mariners decided it was not a good idea to replace such an icon immediately, they instead, rotated amongst several former players and announcers, Levine was amongst those in the mix.
Levine is an author, a comedy TV writer and a blogger.  He loves the game of baseball and has a distinct descriptive style.  In a current poll on the Seattle PI web site, Levine is running ahead of other proposed replacements.  But first and foremost, he wants the job.

Meet Ken Levine

Part time Mariner announcer Ken Levine will be signing copies of his book "The Me Generation By Me" Monday August 20th at the Mariner team store.  Levine, also a TV writer, will be at the store from 5 until 7.  A ticket to the game is not needed to get in.  Levine rotates with several other announcers  as sidekick to Rick Riczz as the Mariners have not found a replacement for the Late Dave Niehaus.  In addition to Ken's book, you can also get Ichiro gear at half price.

Ken Levine Featured On KIRO Blog

You may not have heard of Ken Levine ,but chances are, he has entertained you. Ken Levine, who temporarily replaced Rick Rizzs in the early 90's as Dave Niehaus' broadcast partner in the Mariner's booth, is back as one of the rotating group of former announcers brought back to partner with Rizzs.
With a distinct voice and a flair for for description, baseball is the moonlight gig for Levine, who also is one of televisions foremost comedy writers. Levine has written for "Cheers", "Frasier", "MASH," and many more. Levine is featured on KIRO's My Northwest blog.

Levine also has a blog of his own. He is known for sharing behind the scenes stories on some of America's most loved TV shows.

Braves Pitcher Wins Hutch Award

For the second year in a row I attended the Fred Hutchinson Award luncheon. The award (also known as The Hutch Award) is named for the Seattle native whose Major League managing career was cut short by cancer. Fred's brother, the late Bill Hutchinson, was a renowned cancer surgeon. The legacy of the brothers is the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

This year's winner was Atlanta Braves pitching great Tim Hudson (top picture). The featured speaker was Hall of Fame Second Baseman and Baseball TV analyst Joe Morgan (lower picture).

Rick Riccz and Mike Gastineau were MCs. Also in attendance were former Mariner pitcher Jamie Moyer and the Auburn team that went to the Little League World Series last season.

Barers Of Maple Valley Attend The Hutch Award Luncheon

I attended the annual Fred Hutchison award luncheon for the first time today. The award (commonly known as the Hutch Award) is presented in honor of Fred Hutchison, a Seattle native and former major league player and manager who passed away from cancer. This year's award went to Chicago White Sox infieler Mark Teahen (in video above). Channel 13 Anchor Bill Wixey also spoke of his cancer battle. The keynote speaker was Dave Dravecky, a major league pitcher whose struggle with cancer caused him to lose his pitching arm during the prime of his career. The luncheon was attended by most of the area's sports VIPs. Some of those in attendence were Mariner GM Jack Zduriencik, Mariner Manager Don Wakamatsu,former Mariner pitcher Jamie Moyer, and radio voices Rick Riccz and Dave Niehaus. TV news anchor Steve Raible and afternoon radio personality Mike Gastineau were co-hosts. I asked Dave Niehaus how he could get up for games even when the team is having a bad year. Dave's reply (paraphasing) was that every game has something unique about it.

Old Friend Ken Levine Returns To Mariners Broadcast Booth

Ken Levine, the brilliant TV comedy writer who moonlighted in the early 90s as a Mariner play by play announcer will return on a fill in basis during the Mariner series against the Tigers next weekend.
Levine was added to Mariner team ironically when Rick Rizzs left for a short time to join the Tigers broadcast team. When veteran Tiger broadcaster Ernie Harwell returned, Rizzs returned to the Mariners.

How The Mariners Announcers Stack Up

I think when the tarp is laid over Safeco Field for the last time this season come September, 2006 will go down as a "transitional" year. The Mariners will be much closer to the .5oo mark than in the 2 previous seasons. Jamie Moyer will probably depart the good ship and Felix Hernandez will give us plenty of hope for the next few seasons. As we wrap up the All Star Break, I wanted to focus some attention on the Mariner Broadcasting crew.
As in previous seasons, Dave Niehaus does the first 4 1/2 innings on TV and the last 4 1/2 on radio. Rick Rizzs does the first half of the game on radio and the last on TV. Add a couple of "Daves" who alternate and Ron Fairley and you have a crew.

Dave Niehaus: The Mariners original, began announcing games on KVI with Ken Wilson at the inception of the team. One of the best in the business if not the best, he can bring chills with his "My Oh My" in an exciting moment. He will always be the Mariner's living "Sound Bite".

Rick Rizzs: Excellent straightman for Niehaus, although now they seldom work together. A warm voice with just the right touch of inflection. He is a vet, starting with the Mariners in the 8os with a short departure in an ill-fated gig with the Detroit Tigers.

Ron Fairley: He is probably my favorite. He played baseball in the 60s, about the time that I started following the game. His anecdotes bring memories and he is very articulate. Ron works with Rick and Dave on radio.

Dave Henderson: Just a fun guy to listen to. Always happy and pleasant. An ex Mariner. He gained most of his fame as a slugger with the Oakland A's and Boston Red Sox. I guess you have to take the bad with the good.

Dave Valle: My least favorite. He was a popular catcher and an asset to the community. It's just that when he is paired with Rick, you get 2 straightmen and not much insite into the game. His voice is hard to listen to. I always hope that Dave Henderson is on when I watch.

The second half of the season is starting so Let's Go Mariners!