ESPN’s Joe Buck hasn’t broadcast baseball for two years now. He served as Fox’s prime-time host with Troy Aikman during that span, and calls for Joe Buck to return to baseball grew during the past few postseasons. He has always been a fan of Cardinalsbut he tried to keep that fandom hidden while announcing games, even the famous Game 6 of the 2011 World Series.
National advertisers aren’t putting down roots. Promise. Pass it on. The work is too hard for this sort of thing. People in stl think I don’t like maps. They’re part of my DNA, but when the headset is on, there’s no room or even idea for it. https://t.co/QhJ0NpKChl
-Joe Buck (@Buck) November 14, 2023
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Traina and Buck discussed numerous topics ranging from his broadcast milestones to various football-related topics with Troy Aikman. The article summarizing the interview is available hereand the podcast version of the interview is available here.
Traina asked Joe Buck some pointed questions about the upcoming return to baseball. Buck said he has been away from the game for so long that he would have to spend hours brushing up on various players, connections and stats that make the game interesting for fans to hear. Buck said, “I watched some of the playoff game last night and I don’t know who 70% of these players are. I’ve never heard of any of them.”
Joe Buck went on to say that there would be an instance in which he would consider returning to the press box one more time.
“So if the Cardinals need me or want me to come play with Chip Caray one day to get Buck and Caray together again, maybe I’ll do that just for fun.”
– Joe Buck
Harry Caray and Buck’s father, Joe Buck, were together broadcasters of St. Louis Cardinals games on KMOX from 1954 to 1969, when Harry Caray was fired. Joe Buck would be ready to reunite the Buck-Caray booth duo one last time; it would be hard to miss the nostalgia and banter between these two. While it seems unlikely that Joe Buck will return to announce for the Cardinals, it would be fun to listen and watch these two just once.
