On October 3, 2004, Marc Griffin, a Montreal Expos radio broadcasts analyst, closed the final chapter of the baseball club’s history with the words: “Let me remind you of the final score: 1969-2004.”
Today, he could conclude his report by stating “1940-2026.”
Jacques Doucet, Griffin’s longtime broadcast partner and mentor, known as the “Voice of the Expos” due to his 33-season tenure calling the team’s games, passed away on Thursday evening at the age of 86, as confirmed by his daughter Martine on social media the following day. Although the cause of death was not disclosed, Doucet had revealed in 2024 that he was battling 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.”
Doucet played a crucial role in shaping and popularizing the French-language baseball terminology, aiding countless francophone fans in understanding a sport predominantly described in English. Tributes poured in for the broadcaster, whose voice became synonymous with baseball for Quebec generations.
Denis Casavant, a broadcaster who worked alongside Doucet at CKAC and TVA Sports, expressed his gratitude and condolences, acknowledging Doucet’s influence on his career as a play-by-play announcer. RDS baseball broadcaster Alain Usereau noted that the entire baseball community was mourning Doucet’s passing.
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette also paid tribute, acknowledging Doucet’s significant impact on generations of baseball fans in the province.
Born on March 8, 1940, in Montreal, Doucet began his career as a sports journalist in 1959 with The Canadian Press and later covered the Expos for La Presse when the team debuted in 1969. Initially uncertain about broadcasting, Doucet eventually became the team’s full-time French-language radio play-by-play announcer in 1972 until the franchise relocated after the 2004 season.
Over his career, Doucet called more than 5,500 Major League Baseball games, including Dennis Martinez’s perfect game for the Expos in 1991. Despite being overlooked for the Ford C. Frick Award, Doucet’s impact on Expos fans and the francophone community was profound.
Following the Expos’ departure, Doucet continued his broadcasting career with the Quebec Capitales and later returned to Major League Baseball broadcasts with TVA Sports. His final innings behind the microphone concluded in September 2022.
Doucet’s accolades include inductions into the Quebec Baseball Hall of Fame, the Expos Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. He received various awards and honors for his contributions to baseball broadcasting and the promotion of French-language baseball terminology.
In his extensive career, Doucet also authored several books, including collaborations with former major-league pitcher Claude Raymond and a detailed history of the Expos franchise with Marc Robitaille. His autobiography, “Mémoires d’un micro,” was published in 2014.