JUPITER, Fla. -- Longtime Marlins broadcaster Tommy Hutton, a fan favorite for his honest analysis and on-air rants, announced on Monday that he will retire following the 2026 season.
Hutton, who turns 80 on April 20, will enter his 28th year broadcasting Marlins games, 23 of which have come in the TV booth. During four of those seasons, he spent time on the “Marlins Live” pregame and postgame sets.
“The best answer I can give is that it's just time,” Hutton said. “I'm healthy, I feel good. I have an opportunity to make the decision myself, I think is part of it. So look forward to this year. I've had great years here.”
The Emmy Award-winning Hutton began his Marlins coverage in 1997, coinciding with the franchise’s first World Series championship campaign. He was let go after the 2015 season by the previous ownership but returned in ‘22 as part of a rotation of in-game analysts under current owner Bruce Sherman.
“Tommy has been the voice of Marlins baseball for an entire generation of fans in South Florida,” Sherman said in a statement. “Across a 61-year professional baseball career, including 12 seasons as a Major League player and more than 40 years in broadcasting, he has represented the game with authenticity, insight and integrity. His impact on this franchise and this community is lasting. We are proud to celebrate his extraordinary career alongside our fans.”
Hutton’s presence in the booth became synonymous with Marlins baseball, as his voice narrated the club’s highs and lows alongside play-by-play partners Joe Angel, Dave O'Brien, Len Kasper, Rich Waltz, Paul Severino and Kyle Sielaff. From Henderson Alvarez’s walk-off no-hitter to Dan Uggla home run calls, Hutton was there.
His candid analysis, often goaded by Waltz, endeared himself to underdog Marlins fans who felt seen and heard. That, more than anything, will be his lasting legacy.
“I never really thought about that that much until I was let go and didn't work and I read some nice things that were said by the fans, so I was happy that they were pleased with the way I approached the game,” Hutton said. “I think I've always been honest. I know I haven't been a homer, but I've been honest. And I guarantee people knew who I wanted to win, and that was always important to me. I used to tell young guys, for me, a successful broadcast was if somebody was watching, if they learned a little something about the game, and if they had a couple of laughs, then it was a great broadcast. And that's the way I look at it.”
Hutton played 12 Major League seasons with his hometown Dodgers, Phillies, Blue Jays and Expos in a career that spanned 1966-81. When his playing days came to an end, he held broadcasting roles with the Expos, Yankees and Blue Jays while also appearing on national telecasts for ESPN, ABC and NBC prior to joining the Marlins’ broadcast.
At the end of Hutton’s presser on Monday, Marlins vice president of public relations & communications Jon Erik Alvarez had a final surprise: Waltz on FaceTime.
“You're not 80, c'mon,” Waltz said. “In all seriousness, just congratulations, man, what you've done. Through all the different ownership changes, all the different changes with the rosters and stuff, you've been the best ambassador for Marlins baseball in South Florida for the longest time, and I'm so happy that you get to take one giant victory lap here in this upcoming season.”
A Palm Beach Gardens resident, Hutton is a Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
Fans can tune in to Hutton's finale season with a Marlins.TV Seasonal Package, which allows viewers to stream regular-season games in the Marlins home territory with no blackouts (subject to national exclusivities). For more information, click here.
“Speaking of fans, I would say thank you for the support that you gave me and are giving me,” Hutton said. “And I'm not going anywhere. That I got all these years, that's the one thing that I'm most proud of right there.”