On October 3, 2004, Marc Griffin, a Montreal Expos radio broadcasts analyst, concluded the final report in the history of the baseball club with the phrase: “Let me remind you of the final score: 1969-2004.”
Now, he could wrap up his report with “1940-2026.”
Jacques Doucet, Griffin’s longtime broadcast partner and mentor, known as the “Voice of the Expos” for his 33-season tenure calling the team’s games, passed away at the age of 86 on Thursday evening.
Martine, his daughter, confirmed his demise on social media the following Friday. Although the cause of death was not disclosed, Doucet disclosed in 2024 that he had Alzheimer’s disease.
In an interview with The Canadian Press on Friday, Griffin expressed, “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.”
Griffin further added, “His honesty, his frankness, the way he described things… He was in everyone’s living room, so when people ran into him on the street, they felt like he was their buddy. He talked to them every night about what was happening with the Expos. There was a unique bond.”
Tributes flooded in for the broadcaster, whose voice became synonymous with baseball for many generations of French-speaking fans in Quebec.
Denis Casavant, a broadcaster who worked alongside Doucet at CKAC and TVA Sports, expressed his gratitude to Jacques for his influence on his career. Alain Usereau, an RDS baseball broadcaster, mentioned that the entire baseball community was grieving the loss of Doucet.
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette also honored Doucet, acknowledging his profound impact on generations of baseball fans in the province.
Born on March 8, 1940, in Montreal, Doucet began his career as a sports journalist with The Canadian Press in 1959. He later covered the Expos for Montreal newspaper La Presse when the franchise started playing in 1969.
Initially working about one game a week, Doucet became the team’s full-time French-language radio play-by-play announcer in 1972. He held this role until the franchise relocated from Montreal after the 2004 season to become the Washington Nationals.
Doucet’s broadcasting career spanned over 5,500 Major League Baseball games, including calling Dennis Martinez’s perfect game for the Expos on July 28, 1991. He also provided French-language broadcasts for Major League Baseball playoff and World Series games for many years.
Despite the challenges, Doucet’s passion for baseball remained strong. His legacy lives on through his induction into various halls of fame and the significant role he played in popularizing French-language baseball terminology.
Furthermore, Doucet authored several books, including collaborations with former major-league pitcher Claude Raymond and Marc Robitaille. In his autobiography published in 2014, titled “Mémoires d’un micro,” he shared insights into his broadcasting journey.
The impact of Jacques Doucet’s contributions to baseball and broadcasting will be cherished for years to come.
