Montreal Canadiens mourn the tragic passing of a broadcasting legend
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Montreal Canadiens issued a heartfelt statement following the passing of Jacques Doucet, the broadcaster who spent more than three decades as the French-language voice of the Montreal Expos.
Doucet died Thursday evening at age 86, and tributes have poured in from across the Quebec sports community.
The Canadiens are saddened to learn of the passing of Jacques Doucet, the legendary voice of the Expos for more than 33 seasons. Jacques was an incredible ambassador for baseball in Quebec, and was part of memorable broadcast tandems with Claude Raymond and later Rodger Brulotte. Jacques was notably known for his impeccable French on air and his iconic voice. The organization would like to extend its most sincere condolences to his family, friends and loved ones in these difficult times.
A Voice That Shaped a Generation of Fans
Doucet began covering the Expos as a newspaper reporter for La Presse when the franchise arrived in Montreal in 1969.
He moved into the broadcast booth soon after, becoming the team's full-time French-language play-by-play announcer in 1972, a role he held until the club relocated to Washington in 2004.
Along the way, he called more than 5,500 Major League Baseball games and helped build much of the French baseball vocabulary still used by broadcasters today.
Why His Legacy Still Resonates
Doucet's influence extended well beyond the diamond. He became a nightly presence in homes across the province, turning baseball into something deeply personal for francophone fans who had never followed the sport before.
After the Expos left, he continued calling games for the Quebec Capitales and later Toronto Blue Jays broadcasts on TVA Sports, staying connected to the game until 2022.
His work earned him spots in the Baseball Quebec Hall of Fame and the Expos Hall of Fame, along with the Jack Graney Award for his contributions to Canadian baseball media.
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette also honored Doucet, saying the province lost a voice that left its mark on generations of fans.
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