Jacques Doucet

Early career in journalism

Jacques Doucet was born on March 8, 1940, in Montreal, Quebec. He entered the media world in 1959, beginning his professional career as a translator for the Canadian Press news agency. After a brief stint in 1960 and 1961 as a sports journalist for the short-lived daily newspaper Nouveau Journal, Doucet joined the prestigious Montreal newspaper La Presse in 1962. He worked there as a sports journalist for a full decade, remaining on staff until early 1972. During a prolonged strike at La Presse in 1964, Doucet gained his first experience in sports broadcasting, providing commentary for Montreal Alouettes football games. When Major League Baseball awarded an expansion franchise to Montreal in 1968, Doucet was immediately assigned as the Expos beat writer for La Presse, and he also served as the official scorer for games at the team's first home, Jarry Park.

Becoming the voice of the Expos

Doucet's transition from print to broadcast happened organically during the Expos' inaugural 1969 season. He was occasionally asked to replace colour commentator Jean-Pierre Roy on the French radio broadcasts aired on CKLM 1570, as Roy moved to television work once a week. This opportunity led to his major career break in 1972 when CKAC 730 became the Expos' new French radio flagship station. His duties expanded beyond regular season games to include the MLB All-Star Game, League Championship Series, and World Series games, as well as a selection of pre-season Expos contests. This appointment marked the beginning of an unbroken streak where Doucet called every Expos season until the team's departure after the 2004 campaign.

The broadcast rights and network affiliations evolved over his long tenure. When Télémédia merged with Radiomutuel on September 30, 1994, to form the Radiomédia network, Doucet became a direct employee of the Montreal Expos. He continued his play-by-play duties, which were carried primarily on CKAC 730 until the end of 2003. His voice was also heard on other stations for specific periods, including CKVL 850 in 1995 and CJMS 1040 in 2002 and 2003. For the Expos' final season in Montreal in 2004, CHMP-FM 98.5 served as the French radio flagship. Throughout this period, Doucet's descriptive and passionate style made him a fixture in the lives of Quebec baseball fans, chronicling the team's greatest moments and players.

Major broadcasting milestones and statistics

Over the course of his illustrious career, Jacques Doucet described the action for more than 5,000 Major League Baseball games. This immense total encompasses his decades with the Expos, his later work with the Blue Jays, and his coverage of postseason events. Among these thousands of contests, two stand out as historic perfect games. Doucet's longevity and consistent presence behind the microphone established a record of service to a single MLB franchise that remains a unique achievement in Canadian broadcasting history.

Post-Expos career and advocacy

Following the Expos' relocation to Washington, D.C., after the 2004 season, Doucet remained deeply committed to baseball in Quebec. In March 2005, he became the official spokesperson for Encore Baseball Montréal, an organization initially formed to try to keep the Expos in the city and later focused on promoting the sport at all levels within the province. His expertise and passion for the game's language were highlighted in a June 2005 front-page story in the Wall Street Journal, which detailed his efforts to create and standardize a French-language version of baseball terminology. This work was crucial for francophone broadcasters and fans, ensuring the game's nuances could be fully appreciated in French. Doucet returned to the broadcast booth in 2006, becoming the play-by-play voice for the home games of the Quebec Capitales, an independent league team in the Can-Am League. He called their games on CHRC 800 in Quebec City until 2011, a role that kept him connected to professional baseball in Quebec and demonstrated his dedication to the sport beyond the Major League level.

Published works and literary contributions

Beyond the microphone, Jacques Doucet was also an author who contributed to the literary record of baseball. In collaboration with Claude Raymond, he published a book titled Les secrets du baseball in 1980. Later, in collaboration with Marc Robitaille, he published a two-volume history of the Montreal Expos titled Il était une fois les Expos. The first volume of this history was published in 2009 and the second volume was published in 2011.

• Les secrets du baseball (1980): Co-authored with former Expos pitcher Claude Raymond, this book explored the intricacies of the game.
• Il était une fois les Expos, Volume I (2009): The first of a two-volume history of the Montreal Expos, co-written with Marc Robitaille.
• Il était une fois les Expos, Volume II (2011): The concluding volume of the exhaustive team history, completing the definitive French-language account of the franchise.

These books, particularly the two-volume Expos history, serve as an essential archival resource. The history project preserves the stories and statistics of the team from the perspective of its most constant chronicler. The work captured the full narrative of the Montreal franchise. It ensures the team's memory endures in print.

Honours, awards, and Hall of Fame inductions

He was inducted into the Quebec Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002, followed by the Montreal Expos Hall of Fame in 2003. The highest national honour came in 2004 when he was enshrined in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, Ontario. These accolades reflected his status as a foundational figure in Canadian sports broadcasting. Despite these honours, recognition from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown via the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters eluded him, though he was a finalist for the award five times, including in 2011. Observers have noted that the language barrier, as Doucet broadcast exclusively in French, may have limited his exposure to the predominantly English-language voters for the award, and some have suggested his non-American status was also a factor in not winning the award.

Death and legacy

Jacques Doucet died on August 27, 2026, at the age of 86. His passing marked the end of an era for French-language sports broadcasting in Canada. Doucet's legacy is that of a pioneering voice who, for over half a century, was the primary conduit through which Quebec experienced Major League Baseball. From the excitement of the Expos' early years at Jarry Park and Olympic Stadium to the modern era of the Toronto Blue Jays, his articulate and passionate calls defined the soundtrack of summer for millions of fans. He is remembered for his historic tenure and descriptive ability, and also for his work in developing French baseball terminology and for authoring key historical texts. This ensured the game's rich history is preserved for future generations in both official languages, securing his place in Canada's sporting culture.

Questions about Jacques Doucet

Was Jacques Doucet inducted into any Halls of Fame?

Yes, Jacques Doucet received several hall of fame inductions. He was inducted 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. These honours recognized his monumental contribution to broadcasting and promoting baseball in Canada. He was also a multiple-time finalist for the Ford C. Frick Award at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

How many MLB games did Jacques Doucet broadcast?

Over his career, Doucet described more than 5,000 Major League Baseball games. This includes two perfect games. The first was by Dennis Martínez in 1991 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The second was by New York Yankees pitcher David Cone against the Expos in 1999.

What books did Jacques Doucet write?

Jacques Doucet co-authored three books on baseball. In 1980, he published 'Les secrets du baseball' with former Expos pitcher Claude Raymond. Later, in collaboration with Marc Robitaille, he wrote a definitive two-volume history of the Montreal Expos titled 'Il était une fois les Expos'. The first volume was published in 2009 and the second volume followed in 2011, providing a comprehensive French-language account of the franchise.

How long did Jacques Doucet broadcast Montreal Expos games?

Jacques Doucet broadcast Montreal Expos games for every year of the team's existence, from 1969 to 2004. His broadcasting career with the Expos began in the middle of their first season in 1969 when he occasionally replaced Jean-Pierre Roy as colour commentator on CKLM. In 1972, he was hired by the Télémédia network to do play-by-play for all Expos games. He continued this role through network changes, including the merger that created Radiomédia in 1994, and remained with the team until their final season in Montreal in 2004. Over his career, he described more than 5,000 Major League Baseball games for the franchise.

What did Jacques Doucet do after the Expos left Montreal?

After the Expos left Montreal, Jacques Doucet remained active in baseball broadcasting and promotion. In March 2005, he became the official spokesperson for Encore Baseball Montréal, an organization focused on promoting baseball in Quebec. From 2006 to 2010, he was the play-by-play voice for the home games of the Quebec Capitales of the Can-Am League. In August 2011, he was hired by the new TVA Sports channel as the French play-by-play voice of the Toronto Blue Jays. He held this role until his retirement after the 2022 season, concluding a long and distinguished broadcasting career.

When did Jacques Doucet retire and when did he die?

Jacques Doucet retired after the end of the 2022 Major League Baseball season. He had been serving as the French play-by-play voice for the Toronto Blue Jays on TVA Sports since 2011. He died on August 27, 2026, at the age of 86. His death marked the end of a legendary broadcasting career that spanned over five decades, beginning with his work for the Montreal Expos in 1969. He was widely celebrated for his contributions to French language baseball commentary in Canada.

Sources and further reading

• Jacques Doucet (Wikipedia)
• Jacques Doucet (baseballhalloffame.ca)
• In Memoriam: Jacques Doucet (sabr.org)
• Jacques Doucet, the 'Voice of the Expos' for 33 seasons ... (globalnews.ca)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-30.