Jacques Doucet Obituary, MONTREAL, Quebec — Jacques Doucet, the iconic French-language voice of baseball in Canada and one of the nation’s most influential sportscasters, died on August 27, 2026, at the age of 86. His passing marks the loss of a broadcaster whose voice, passion and dedication shaped how generations of baseball fans experienced the game.
Born March 8, 1940, in Montreal, Quebec, Doucet began his journalism career in 1959 as a translator for the Canadian Press. He moved into sports reporting in 1962 when he joined La Presse, where he covered the Montreal Expos franchise beginning in 1968. His work as a beat writer and official scorer helped establish the foundation for a broadcasting career that would span more than five decades.
Doucet began working behind the microphone in 1969, filling in as a color commentator on Expos radio broadcasts. In 1972, he became the team’s full-time French-language play-by-play voice, a position he held through the Expos’ final season in Montreal in 2004. His warm delivery, extensive knowledge of baseball and distinctive voice made him a beloved figure throughout Quebec and among French-speaking baseball fans.
During his career, Doucet called more than 5,000 Major League Baseball games. Among the most notable moments he described were two perfect games: Dennis Martínez’s historic 1991 performance and David Cone’s perfect game in 1999 against the Expos. His contributions to baseball broadcasting were recognized through inductions into the Quebec Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002, the Montreal Expos Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.
Doucet was frequently compared to legendary broadcasters, including Jaime Jarrín and Vin Scully, reflecting the stature he achieved within baseball broadcasting. Although his French-language broadcasts were not heard as widely outside Quebec, his influence among French-speaking fans was significant. For generations of listeners, his voice became closely associated with summer baseball and the Montreal Expos.
Following the departure of the Expos from Montreal, Doucet continued working to promote baseball in Quebec. Beginning in 2005, he served as a spokesperson for Encore Baseball Montréal. He later returned to the broadcast booth as the play-by-play voice of the Québec Capitales from 2006 to 2010 before becoming the French-language voice of the Toronto Blue Jays on TVA Sports in 2011. He remained in that role until his retirement in 2022.
Doucet also contributed to baseball’s history through his writing. He co-authored the two-volume history of the Montreal Expos, Il était une fois les Expos, which was published in 2009 and 2011. His work in print and broadcasting reflected a lifelong commitment to documenting and promoting baseball for French-speaking audiences.
Jacques Doucet leaves behind a lasting legacy in Canadian baseball broadcasting, remembered for his devotion to the game, his distinctive voice and his connection with generations of listeners. His career helped preserve the story of the Montreal Expos and strengthened the place of baseball within Quebec’s French-speaking community. Condolences go to his family, friends and all those who knew and appreciated his work as his memory continues to endure through the game he loved.
