Bob Costas, a seasoned voice in Major League Baseball broadcasting, is retiring.
He has decided to step down after 44 years behind the microphone, following the expiration of his contract, New York Post reported.
The 72-year-old broadcaster began his Major League Baseball announcing career in the 1980s and became a familiar voice for fans, especially during the 1990s when he frequently called World Series games for NBC. Costas recently concluded his broadcasting duties as part of the TBS announcement team.
His journey in sports broadcasting started with NBC 44 years ago, where he first showcased his talent in calling MLB games. Over the decades, Costas built a reputation for his eloquent commentary and deep knowledge of the game.
In what was to be his last game, Bob Costas called Game 4 of the American League Division Series, where the New York Yankees triumphed over the Kansas City Royals. This broadcast marked the end of an era for Costas, following the recent expiry of his contract with Turner Broadcasting System's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Despite his retirement from play-by-play duties, Costas will not be departing from the sports media scene entirely. He plans to remain with the MLB Network as an on-air contributor, although he will no longer call live games.
The announcement of his retirement was met with a mix of nostalgia and scrutiny. Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, a renowned sports commentator, discussed Costas' recent performances, highlighting some moments that attracted criticism.
Following a broadcast that received mixed reviews, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo remarked:
I watched a George Brett documentary last night and a baseball game broke out — the old Rodney Dangerfield line. I mean, what are they doing? And I love George, but jeez, six questions in the middle of a playoff game? You know, Bob had a tough night.
Russo criticized not only the interruptions during the game but also some errors in play-call descriptions, suggesting Costas might have allowed his storytelling to overshadow the immediacy of the live sports action.
He blew the call in left, the home run that he thought Judge hit, obviously, the bottom of the eighth on the single and he thought it was a single and it was out. He loves telling you the stories. We learned a lot about ballpark construction with the foul territory last night too, he brought that up.
Nonetheless, Russo expressed sympathy for Costas, acknowledging his legendary status in sports broadcasting.
As Costas steps away from play-by-play, his contributions to sports broadcasting will not be forgotten. His narrative style and depth of knowledge enriched the viewing experience for countless baseball aficionados.
Although his presence will be missed in future MLB broadcasts, his influence will persist through his continued contributions to the MLB Network.
