2014 marks Waltz's 10th year as the television play-by-play voice of the Marlins on Fox Sports Florida's Emmy Award Winning coverage. This is his 20th consecutive year covering Major League Baseball. As well, since 2012 Rich has served as one of the voices of Fox's National Saturday Baseball coverage.
Last season, Waltz was one of the primary voices of the World Baseball Classic for MLB Network and MLB International. In March of 2009 Waltz also called games in the WBC, including two of the biggest upsets in International Baseball history as the Netherlands twice stunned the Dominican Republic.
Waltz's baseball experience includes MLB Network's coverage of Thursday Night Baseball, ESPN, ESPN Radio, and FX. Prior to joining FOX Sports Florida, Waltz served as the fill-in announcer and pregame host for the Seattle Mariners television and radio networks. In 2000, he served as the fill-in voice of the Toronto Blue Jays on CBC across Canada. His minor league stops included Spokane, Wichita, and Las Vegas.
This past Winter Waltz called College Basketball for CBS Sports Network, the Pac-12 Network, and Fox Sports Net. His College Basketball also spans every major conference for the ACC Network, Fox Sports, ESPN, ESPN Regional and Turner Sports. From 2010 through 2012 Rich was the voice for the ACC Football Game of the Week and SEC Saturday Night Football for Fox Sports Net.
From 1997-2002, Waltz called College Football for ESPN, ESPN Radio and ABC in the Big Ten, SEC and ACC conferences; including many Bowl and Championship Games. Waltz's ESPN assignments also included: Major League Baseball, NCAA Basketball, Arena Football, NCAA College Softball World Series, Little League World Series Regional Finals, and Major League Soccer. His football experience also includes NFL Europe for Fox, Pac-10 Football for FSN and NFL Preseason games for the Seattle Seahawks. As well, Waltz has called ATP and WTA Tennis events for Tennis Channel and IMG.
In 2006, Waltz helped create and organize the Fox Sports Fantasy Auction, which in eight years has raised more than $615,000 for the Marlins Foundation. In 2008, he was honored by the Marlins with their Community Service Award.
Raised in Martinez, Calif., Rich was a starting infielder on two championship teams at the University of California-Davis. Waltz resides in both South Florida and Issaquah, WA with his wife and two daughters.
Guest Name
Rich Waltz
Guest Category
Guest Occupation
Play-by-Play Broadcaster
Guest Biography