Veteran Broadcaster Bob Costas Concludes 42-Year Baseball Play-by-Play Career

After a remarkable 42-year career as a baseball play-by-play announcer, Bob Costas has officially retired. Costas, who has most recently called games for MLB Network and TBS Sports, wrapped up his final assignment in the American League Division Series between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals this season.

Costas' contract with TBS expired at the season's end, though his retirement had been planned well in advance, having considered stepping away from baseball play-by-play duties over a year ago. The Athletic first reported on Costas' decision, which he intends to address publicly at a later time.

Baseball has long been Costas' passion, as evident from his extensive career in the sport. He began calling games for NBC in 1982, remaining with the network until 2000. His work included roles as an announcer for the 1995 World Series and the lead play-by-play broadcaster for the 1997 and 1999 World Series games.

Since joining TBS in 2021, Costas initially served as the studio host for the National League Championship Series before moving into play-by-play for the last three seasons. TBS acquired a regular-season Tuesday night game package, complementing its postseason coverage in 2022.

Additionally, Costas contributed to MLB Network's broadcast team since its inception in 2009. While stepping away from full-time announcing, he will remain involved with MLB Network, covering significant events, such as the Baseball Hall of Fame announcement.

In recognition of his contributions, Costas was honored in 2018 with the Ford C. Frick Award by the Baseball Hall of Fame, a prestigious accolade for excellence in broadcasting. Beyond baseball, Costas was well-known as NBC's prime-time Olympics host from 1992 through 2016 and appeared on CNN as a commentator on broader sports issues.