Rich Waltz (born October 22, 1962) is an American television play-by-play commentator currently calling college football, basketball for CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network. Waltz also calls MLB for MLB Network's Showcase telecasts and Apple TV's Friday Night Baseball. The past two seasons he has filled in on TV for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Angels on Bally Sports. Waltz also called the Phoenix Regional of the World Baseball Classic for MLB Network and MLB International. A three-time Emmy winner, Waltz is formerly known for calling television broadcasts for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball from 2005 to 2017. Waltz's dismissal by Fox Sports Florida and the Marlins was criticized by fans and media. Over the past few years, Waltz has called MLB for MLB Network and Turner Sports,[3][4] including the Cubs' Alec Mills no-hitter, the sixth MLB no-hitter he has announced. Waltz also called the 2020 AL Wild Card Series for TBS alongside Jimmy Rollins.
Rich Waltz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 22, 1962 Martinez, California, U.S. |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Play-by-play announcer |
| Employer | CBS Sports |
Broadcasting career
editMajor League Baseball
editFrom 2012 to 2015, Waltz called games on Fox's Saturday Baseball package, and he has filled in on MLB Network's Thursday Night Baseball coverage. Waltz has called four World Baseball Classics (WBC) for MLB Network; in 2013, 2017 and 2023 he partnered with Buck Martinez and called two rounds of the WBC in Japan and Arizona.
Waltz joined FSN Florida from FSN Northwest. He has also called Major League Baseball games for Fox, ESPN, ESPN Radio, and FX nationally along with the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays broadcasts on CBC Television in Canada. Waltz's no-hitters include Aníbal Sánchez's in September 2006, Roy Halladay's perfect game on May 29, 2010, and Henderson Alvarez's no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers on the final game of the 2013 Major League Baseball season.
Other sports
editSince 2014 Rich's College Football and Basketball has been with CBS Sports and CBS Sports Network. His CBS analysts have included Adam Archuleta, Aaron Murray, and Aaron Taylor. From 1997 to 2002, Waltz called college football games for ESPN, ESPN Radio and ABC in the Big Ten, SEC and ACC conferences. His football experience also includes NFL Europe for Fox, Pac-12 Football for FSN, and NFL preseason games for the Seattle Seahawks.
From 2010 to 2012, Waltz called games on ACC College Football Saturday and SEC Saturday Nights produced and distributed by Fox Sports Net and Raycom Sports. His college basketball work has included games in every major conference for Fox, ESPN, CBS, CBS Sports Network, and Raycom. In 2018 Waltz called the NBA Playoffs and the NCAA Tournament East Regional on TNT's VR platform.
Waltz's ESPN assignments included the Women's NCAA basketball tournament, Arena Football, NCAA College Softball World Series, Little League World Series Regional Finals, and Major League Soccer. Waltz has also called both ATP and WTA events on Tennis Channel, including 2015 events from Dubai, Doha, and Buenos Aires.
In the 2019, NCAA Super Regional on ESPN, he called the 19-strikeout no-hitter by Vanderbilt's Kumar Rocker.
Philanthropic work
editIn 2006, Waltz helped create and organize the FSN Fantasy Auction, which in 12 years raised more than $1.2 million for the Marlins Community Foundation. In 2008, he was honored by the Marlins with their Community Service Award.[citation needed]
Playing career
editWaltz played college baseball, first for Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, California,[1] then at the University of California, Davis. He was a starting infielder for the Aggies on two conference championship teams.[2][5]
References
edit- ^ a b Waltz, Rich (March 13, 2012). "Broad Casting and Beyond". Stories of Success. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
- ^ a b Honbo, Mark (Spring 2012). "Aggie broadcasters cultivate their talents on campus radio". UC Davis Magazine. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
- ^ "Fox drops Marlins TV play-by-play man Rich Waltz, two former Marlins". miamiherald. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
- ^ "Fox Sports Florida dismisses Rich Waltz, Jeff Conine and Preston Wilson from Marlins' broadcasts, provokes outrage". Awful Announcing. Archived from the original on January 1, 2018.
- ^ "1985 team". UC Davis Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 25, 2013.