On October 3, 2004, Marc Griffin, a Montreal Expos radio broadcasts analyst, concluded the final report in the baseball club’s history with the statement: “Let me remind you of the final score: 1969-2004.” Today, he could conclude his report by stating “1940-2026.”
Jacques Doucet, Griffin’s long-time broadcast partner and mentor, known as the “Voice of the Expos” for calling the team’s games for 33 seasons, passed away on Thursday evening at the age of 86, as confirmed by his daughter Martine on social media on Friday. The cause of his death was not disclosed, but Doucet had revealed in 2024 that he was battling Alzheimer’s disease.
Griffin expressed in an interview with The Canadian Press on Friday, “He was certainly a giant, and his loss is immense. His voice was part of our lives for generations. He’s the one who made me fall in love with baseball.”
Tributes poured in for Doucet, a broadcaster whose voice became synonymous with baseball for generations of francophone fans in Quebec. Denis Casavant, a broadcaster who worked alongside Doucet, expressed gratitude for Doucet’s influence on his career. RDS baseball broadcaster Alain Usereau mentioned that the entire baseball community was mourning Doucet’s passing.
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette also paid tribute to Doucet, stating that the province had lost “a voice that left its mark on generations of baseball fans.” Doucet, born on March 8, 1940, in Montreal, began his career as a sports journalist and later covered the Expos for Montreal newspaper La Presse. He became the team’s full-time French-language radio play-by-play announcer in 1972.
Doucet called over 5,500 Major League Baseball games during his career and was recognized with several awards for his contributions to baseball broadcasting. Despite the challenges of the Expos leaving Montreal and being overlooked for broadcasting awards, Doucet’s legacy in the baseball community remained strong.
Following his time with the Expos, Doucet continued his broadcasting career with various teams, including the Quebec Capitales and the Toronto Blue Jays, before retiring in 2022. He received multiple awards for his contributions to baseball broadcasting and promoting the sport among francophone fans. Additionally, he played a crucial role in developing French-language baseball terminology and authored several books on the sport.