ESPN’s Dan Shulman to call selected Blue Jays games

He’s returning home. Dan Shulman who called Toronto Blue Jays games between 1995 and 2001 will be back in the 2016 season calling about 30 games for Sportsnet in Canada. It means a reunion with Buck Martinez as the two called Blue Jays games. It also means that Martinez who has been calling play-by-play for the Jays in recent years will move over and become an analyst once again. And for some selected games, Martinez’s partner, Pat Tabler will join in for a three man team.

Shulman will continue his duties with ESPN calling Sunday Night Baseball, the MLB Postseason on ESPN Radio and college basketball. The agreement will last through the 2017 season.

Shulman began his career in radio hosting various talk shows before being tapped to become the TV voice of the Blue Jays in 1995.

His duties for Sportsnet will also include appearing on Blue Jays-centric programming such as pregame shows. In a statement from the official announcement, Shulman said he’s looking forward to calling Blue Jays games once again:

“I’m thrilled to once again be calling Blue Jays games,” said Shulman.  “As someone who was born and raised and still lives in the GTA (greater Toronto area), the opportunity to come back home is very exciting for me. I’m looking forward to being part of the Sportsnet team, alongside Buck, Tabby and all the other great people on the crew.”

Here’s Dan and Buck when the Blue Jays were on TSN in 1998:

And from Shulman’s final year with the Blue Jays, here’s him and Pat Tabler discussing David Wells’ return to Toronto after being traded by the team to the White Sox during the offseason:

In addition to calling baseball and college basketball at ESPN, Shulman has called NBA games, was a weekend host on ESPN Radio and has called the last five World Series also for ESPN Radio. He’s been full-time with the Worldwide Leader since leaving the Blue Jays in 2001.

[Sportsnet]