'The Gub'nuh,' longtime voice of D-backs, to retire after '23

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When he stepped into the radio booth to call Arizona Diamondbacks games during the team’s inaugural 1998 season, Greg Schulte had one goal.

“I went into that first year and I was thinking to myself, ‘I hope I'm good enough at this to just keep it going, you know, for another year,’” he said.

This year will be Schulte’s 26th as voice of the D-backs, and it will also be his last, as he will head into retirement at season’s end. Schulte, nicknamed "The Gub'nuh," will call most, if not all, of the D-backs' home games this year, and there’s a chance he will call a select number of road games near the end.

Schulte, who will turn 72 this year, was originally hired by D-backs managing general partner Jerry Colangelo in 1995, just after the franchise was awarded by Major League Baseball and three years before the team would play its first game. When all is said and done, he will end up having called just shy of 4,000 games.

“I had no idea it would develop into something like this,” Schulte said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some great partners over the years. I can’t say enough good things about the way the Diamondbacks have treated me. They have been so supportive over the years. I’m very thankful for that.”

After not missing a game for years, Schulte’s schedule has been reduced recently as he has cut back on travel. Not being on the road as much has been disappointing for Schulte, who enjoys seeing other ballparks and other broadcasters.

However, complications from radiation and chemotherapy, which he underwent as part of a battle against cancer in 1992, have caught up to him recently; he has lost some feeling in his right foot, which has made climbing plane and bus stairs more challenging.

Schulte underwent a second battle with cancer last year, which limited the number of games he was able to call at home.

The decision to cut back on travel and to retire after this year is certainly not because Schulte has lost any of his enthusiasm for the game of baseball. He still loves the preparation, and the anticipation that he might see something he hasn’t seen before.

Growing up in Western Illinois, Schulte would listen to Harry Caray and Jack Buck call Cardinals games on the radio and dream of one day doing it himself.

“Baseball has always been my one true love,” Schulte said. “I think by the time I was 8 or 9 years old, I was determined that I wanted to be a Major League Baseball broadcaster if I couldn't be a player. So, you know, a lot of times your dreams don't come through, but mine fortunately did. Still to this day, when I ride to the ballpark, I’m excited for what the game is going to bring, because you never know what you’re going to see and there’s always a chance you’ll see history.”

Schulte has seen plenty of that during his time with the D-backs. He’s called six no-hitters -- three by D-backs pitchers and three by opponents -- including Randy Johnson’s perfect game in 2004 and a four-homer game by J.D. Martinez in 2017. To top it off, he was on the mic when Luis Gonzalez’s walk-off single dropped into shallow left-center field in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.

“Greg has been the voice of the D-backs since our inception and has been the standard for a team play-by-play broadcaster,” D-backs team president and CEO Derrick Hall said. “He is enthusiastic every day he arrives at the ballpark and has a true passion for getting in the booth and putting on the headset. He is a true example of longevity and professionalism, and I have consistently said he belongs in the broadcast wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.”

With his retirement, Schulte and his wife, Nancy, plan to do some summer traveling, something they haven’t been able to do in over a quarter-century. He’ll still follow baseball closely, and the two may even go watch some Minor League Baseball. But that’s for next year, as right now, his focus is on the upcoming season.

The D-backs figure to be competitive in 2023, with a young core of top prospects making their way to the big leagues, which should give Schulte plenty to talk about this summer.

“I’m excited about the ballclub,” Schulte said. “I really like the way they play, it’s a young and exciting, fun team. I like the young kids and like the coaching staff, Torey Lovullo and company, and you know, we'll see what it brings.”