Sportsnet confirmed on Friday that Windsor's Joe Siddall will assume a full-time position in the television broadcast booth for the Toronto Blue Jays this season. This significant promotion represents the most substantial role of his broadcasting career, which now enters its 13th year.
A Seamless Transition from Field to Booth
For the 58-year-old Siddall, donning a broadcast headset has become as natural as wearing his old catcher's gear. "This is my 13th season and in June I will have been in broadcast as long as I played," Siddall reflected. "I retired in early June of my 13th season. It's like a new life. It's like my playing time was a lifetime ago."
Filling Big Shoes
Siddall steps into the broadcast chair previously occupied by Buck Martinez, who announced his retirement in February. Last season, Siddall divided his time between the broadcast studio and game telecasts while Martinez was on medical leave. This year, he will handle the majority of television broadcasts—more than 125 games—alongside play-by-play commentator Dan Shulman, with Caleb Joseph providing coverage during Siddall's absences.
"What a journey it's been," Siddall expressed. "I never thought it would lead to this. I would say it's the greatest job in the world. I'm talking for a living. It's what I love, my passion for sure and they pay you for it."
From Quarterback to Catcher to Commentator
Siddall's path to broadcasting was anything but conventional. He abandoned a football scholarship at Central Michigan University, where he played quarterback, to sign with the Montreal Expos as an amateur free agent in 1987. The left-handed hitter eventually reached the majors with Montreal in 1993, later playing for the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers over four seasons, hitting his sole career home run during this period.
After concluding his playing career with Class AAA Pawtucket in 2000, Siddall returned home and began working with the Tigers organization. "I was assisting with batting practice," he recalled. "I always thought I'd get into coaching. I never envisioned broadcasting."
A Life-Altering Turning Point
Siddall's trajectory changed dramatically in the fall of 2013 when his youngest son, Kevin, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Kevin passed away on February 4, 2014, at just 15 years old. From this profound loss emerged an unexpected opportunity in broadcasting.
"I got an email from Jerry Howarth with condolences," Siddall explained, referring to the legendary Blue Jays radio voice. "I knew who he was, but it's not like we were friends. When I replied, I thanked him and told him it was thoughtful. I said something like, 'I'll see you June or maybe in the broadcast booth one day.' I meant see him in Detroit or when he was up in the broadcast booth, it was off the cuff. His reply was, 'How about right now.'"
That exchange ultimately paved the way for Siddall's broadcasting career, which has now culminated in this full-time television role with Canada's premier baseball franchise.
