Blue Jays' announcers Dan Shulman, Joe Siddall, pay tribute to Canadian broadcasting legend Rodger Brulotte
Photo credit: https://www.mlb.com
Canadian baseball has lost one of its most iconic voices.
Rodger Brulotte, one of the voices of Montreal Expos baseball alongside Jacques Doucet and later Denis Casavant, who went on to call Toronto Blue Jays games in French, has died. He was 79.
The wave of grief, condolences, and heartfelt tributes pouring in across social media following Rodger Brulotte's passing speaks volumes about the man he was and the legacy he leaves behind.
In recent years, Brulotte teamed up once again with Denis Casavant as the official French-language broadcast duo for the Blue Jays on TVA Sports.
During the Blue Jays' 2025 season, Brulotte was forced to step away from the booth to undergo surgery to remove a tumor from his spine.
Casavant was the first to reflect on their final moments together, recalling that the last time he saw Brulotte was in September.
That day, Brulotte had to leave mid-game due to intense pain, a moment that, in hindsight, marked the end of their time in the booth together, though neither could have imagined it at the time.
Le 9 septembre dernier, Rodger n'avait pas été en mesure de terminer le match des Blue Jays en raison de la douleur au dos.
Jamais je n'aurais pu imaginer que ce serait notre dernier match ensemble.
40 ans de merveilleux souvenirs! Merci partner🙏
Jamais je n'aurais pu imaginer que ce serait notre dernier match ensemble.
40 ans de merveilleux souvenirs! Merci partner🙏
For generations, French-Canadian audiences grew up listening to Brulotte's voice.
Blue Jays fans became familiar with him over the past 15 years after his move from RDS to TVA Sports, where he brought his signature passion to Toronto broadcasts.
One of his most memorable calls came in 2018, when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched a walk-off home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during a spring training game at Montreal's Olympic Stadium.
Brulotte's electrifying call... «Vladimir! Vladimir! Vladimir! Bonsoir! Bonsoir!», remains etched in the memories of Blue Jays fans.
Tonight, we're watching this on repeat. Chills. Good rest, Mr. Brulotte ❤️
The outpouring of tributes from colleagues, players, and fans highlights Brulotte's immense impact on baseball in Quebec and across Canada.
Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Dan Shulman shared sorrow and condolences to his family.
Sad news...Rodger worked for many years on Expos games and then for the last 15 years or so on Blue Jays games on TVA in Quebec. Condolences to his family.
While Sportsnet analyst Joe Siddall, who first met Brulotte during his playing days with the Expos, reflected on his unique and passionate broadcasting style.
Rodger's energy was infectiousa pleasure to meet him in the early 90's expos days
Perhaps the most fitting tribute came from Mitch Garber, who captured Brulotte's significance to French-Canadian baseball fans:
"If you built a pyramid of all the people that loved Montreal, loved baseball, loved the Expos and loved all the people who loved those things , at the top of that pyramid would be Rodger Brulotte . Rest in peace Rodger. Bon soir! Bon soir !"
This spring, Blue Jays camp in Dunedin, Florida, felt noticeably quieter without Brulotte's annual visit, a tradition where he would reconnect with the team ahead of a new season.
It would have marked his 58th year in Major League Baseball, a remarkable journey that began with the Expos decades ago.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 21|107 ANSWERS Blue Jays' announcers Dan Shulman, Joe Siddall, pay tribute to Canadian broadcasting legend Rodger Brulotte As a Blue Jays fan do you remember Rodger Brulotte's famous call on Vladimir Guerrero Jr's walk off homerun at Olympic Stadium? | ||
| Yes | 58 | 54.2 % |
| No | 49 | 45.8 % |
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