‘Play-by-play wizardry’: Shannon Drayer reflects on Rick Rizzs’ storied career

The longtime voice of the Seattle Mariners, Rick Rizzs, announced Tuesday that the 2026 season would be his final year calling games for the club.

Shannon Drayer, Mariners insider with Seattle Sports, joined “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio to applaud Rizzs’ storied 40-plus-year career, crediting his sheer love for the game as the driving force behind his longevity.

“He’s like family to all of us in the booth, we absolutely love him, and I know the fans do,” Drayer said. “He’s been a constant in Seattle, and for any Mariner fan for over 40 years now, which is just tremendous. He, first and foremost, is an absolutely incredible person, and that is something that you feel the minute you meet him. You’re no longer a stranger; you have a friend.”

Mariners broadcaster to retire following the 2026 season

Even though all good things must come to an end, Mariners fans will have one more year to celebrate Rizzs, with a farewell tour planned alongside the M’s push to get over the hump and into the World Series.

“We’re going to have a year to celebrate him. So we will have different features, and we’ll do different things with him throughout the year on Seattle Sports,” Drayer said. “The most important thing that I wanted to get out is, how often do you have the chance to not just say goodbye, but to appreciate him for this length of time? Take in the broadcast; you might not hear something quite like it again.

“Take in the lightning-quick play-by-play that he can do on the most impossible plays. I call it play-by-play wizardry at times where you’re still trying to catch up 10 seconds later, and he nails it the first time,” she continued. “We have got a year to enjoy him, embrace him, appreciate him, and celebrate him above everything else. And I think that that is an absolute gift to Mariners fans.”

One trait that has defined Rizzs throughout his career is his unwavering optimism, something Drayer said is essential for navigating the ups and downs of a 162-game season.

“One of the things that really strikes me about him is just his optimism for all things. He is somebody who has just a deep, rooted belief that there are going to be good things and good things are going to happen,” Drayer said. “In a game that’s played 162 days a year, there are ups and downs, and there are years and years, sometimes of failure. What an important thing to have.”

Rizzs’ radio calls are an ‘art’ mixed with ‘a bit of theater’

For Drayer, Rizzs’ dependability and his emphasis on bringing the game to life for listeners, no matter where they are, are a unique art form.

“You see the game through Rick Rizzs’ eyes. He brings it to you wherever you are, day in and day out. Can’t watch tomorrow, that’s fine. He’ll be there the next day,” Drayer said. “It’s one of the magical things about baseball on the radio, you can form some pictures in your head, and you can also be led and shown and put in the front row. Baseball on the radio is almost art, and a bit of theater.”

Drayer noted that Rizzs’ passion for the game is evident in his daily routine, but said his decision reflects a desire to spend more time with family, though he won’t be a stranger around Seattle.

“He’s the first one at the park every day. He grabs his coffee in the clubhouse, and he’s behind the cages talking to guys, talking to reporters, and he just loves every aspect of the game, but also, there comes a time when I think you want a little bit more of your life with your family,” Drayer said. “I think we’ll see him quite a bit. I don’t think he’s gonna go far. But there comes a time when you kind of look around, and you maybe start noticing some of the things you might be missing a little bit. You want that quality time.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

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