San Diego Sportscaster Ted Leitner Steps Away From Baseball

Sportscaster Ted Peitner

Ted Leitner, for 41 years the beloved play-by-play radio voice of the Padres known as "Uncle Teddy," will transition to the role of team ambassador, moving away from the booth, the team announced Friday.

MLB.com reports Leitner's radio partner Jesse Agler will assume the role of full-time radio play-by-play man, with Tony Gwynn Jr. joining the booth as a full-time analyst.

Leitner, who paired an affable down-to-earth style with unfettered baseball opinions and a knack for storytelling, has been a staple of Padres baseball since he began calling games in 1980.

"I will miss everything about the Padres broadcast that I have been privileged to be a part of for so many years," Leitner said in a statement. "I've had the best seat in the house in San Diego for over four decades, and I've had the honor of working alongside Hall of Fame broadcasters while watching the greatest players to ever wear a Padres uniform.

"While the broadcast booth will always be in my heart, I look forward to working more closely with the San Diego community and our loyal fans in the future."

Leitner will remain as the lead play-by-play man for San Diego State football and basketball, but his role with the Padres will shift to a community-centric one. Leitner, who was named co-sportscaster of the year in California by the National Sports Media Association in 2020, has long been a staple at charitable events hosted by the Padres in the community.

Leitner’s decision to leave the broadcast booth was due to a collection of factors, he said Friday in a video call, citing his age and his health among them. But he specifically cited pictures of his grandchildren juxtaposed with life on the road during a baseball season.

Leitner's work in San Diego began in the late 1970s as a TV anchor for CBS 8. He presided over both Padres National League pennants in 1984 and '98.

Leitner is perhaps best known for his work alongside Hall of Fame broadcaster Jerry Coleman, who passed away in 2014. Coleman, a former Marine and World Series-winning second baseman with the Yankees, is as beloved as nearly any sports figure in San Diego.