After a distinguished 42-year career in baseball broadcasting, Bob Costas is stepping down from his role as a baseball play-by-play announcer. Known for his eloquent commentary and deep connection to the game, Costas recently called his last games during the American League Division Series between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals for MLB Network and TBS Sports.
Costas’ contract with TBS concluded at the end of this season, aligning with his decision to retire from regular baseball play-by-play duties—a move reportedly in preparation for over a year. “The Athletic” was the first to break the news, and Costas has stated he will address his decision in a future statement.
Baseball has always been at the core of Costas’ broadcasting career. His work as an announcer for NBC spanned two major stints from 1982 to 1989 and again from 1994 to 2000. During that time, he provided commentary for significant events, including the 1995 World Series, before serving as the lead play-by-play announcer for the World Series in 1997 and 1999.
Costas joined TBS in 2021 as the studio host for the National League Championship Series and subsequently took on play-by-play duties for the past three seasons, which included TBS’s regular Tuesday night games since 2022. Additionally, Costas contributed to MLB Network since its inception in 2009, providing coverage for key events and continuing his involvement with the network for events such as the Baseball Hall of Fame announcement.
His achievements in sports broadcasting were recognized in 2018 when he received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame, underscoring his impact on the sport. Beyond baseball, Costas also gained widespread recognition as NBC’s prime-time host for Olympic Games coverage from 1992 through 2016 and for his appearances as a sports commentator on CNN.
As Costas transitions from baseball play-by-play, his contributions to sports broadcasting remain significant, particularly for the dedicated baseball audience he has served for over four decades.
