Blue Jays drummer 'Rockin' Rick' hanging up his sticks, retiring from busking

If you’ve ever walked by the Rogers Centre during a Toronto Blue Jays home game, chances are you’ve seen — or at least heard — Rick Donaldson. 

Sporting a Blue Jays jersey and always tapping out a tune on his drum set, ‘Rockin' Rick’ has been a fixture outside the ballpark since he first started busking in 1989. Now, after 36 years, he’s announced that he’s hanging up his sticks and retiring from busking after this season.

“I remember kids coming to games, who are now bringing their kids to games,” he told CBC News in an interview. “It’s overwhelming sometimes.”

Donaldson said his own family factored into his decision, too.

“I also really want to spend more time with my grandkids, taking them to games and such," he said.

For some fans, Donaldson's drum beats are as quintessential to the Blue Jays experience as hotdogs and traffic while trying to get home from a game.

“I’ve been a fan of Rick my whole life, I first saw him when I was 15,” said Laurie Wulfand. “My son is 21 now and Rick has watched him grow up … we definitely teared up when we heard he was retiring.”

Blue Jays fan Michelle Beer said Donaldson has become a "beloved staple" for the baseball community.

“He's part of the experience of going to a ball game,” she said, adding that she thinks the city should consider a statue or photo to commemorate his work. 

“They could use some really nice historical pictures with a little plaque. He needs to be acknowledged permanently at that stadium, around the spot where he played for all those years.”

Despite his notoriety in 2025, Donaldson's presence at Blue Jays home games was almost cut short before it could even start. He told CBC News the first time he tried performing outside of what was then known as Skydome