Joe Castiglione, whose four decades of broadcasting Boston Red Sox games earned him a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, will be honored Sunday at Fenway Park as he transitions into retirement. The club plans to honor him in a ceremony before the final game of the season. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is expected to present a proclamation about his career.Sen. Ed Markey entered a tribute to Castiglione into the Congressional record last week. Castiglione, 75, began calling big-league baseball games in 1979 and started as the Red Sox’s lead radio voice in 1983.He was honored this summer with the 2024 Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented annually by the Hall of Fame for excellence in baseball broadcasting.”After 42 years and some 6,500 games, I think its time to hang up the microphone, at least on a regular basis, and announce the retirement here,” he said earlier this month. Castiglione says he will remain with the Red Sox in retirement, working as an ambassador for the team, involving special event appearances, and will occasionally participate in a game call from the broadcast booth. “While I will miss the daily interactions with baseball people and talking to the fans of Red Sox Nation, I think this is the right decision for my family and myself,” he said.”After working with him for over two decades, I have come to appreciate that Joe’s talent in the broadcast booth is an attribute equaled only by his unfailing kindness. He is down-to-earth and one of the most authentic individuals I’ve ever had the privilege of working with,” said Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy. “It’s difficult to have imagined a better voice or a finer person to serve as the narrator of Red Sox baseball these past four decades and he has certainly earned a very well-deserved retirement.”In 1983, Castiglione joined the Red Sox broadcast team and has been with the organization ever since. He was on the radio broadcast for four Boston championship runs — 2004, 2007, 2013 and 2018 — and famously called the final out of the historic 2004 World Series Game 4 victory.”The Boston Red Sox are the world champions! For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won baseball’s world championship. Can you believe it?” Castiglione said in 2004. Last July, the Red Sox honored his four decades in the radio booth with an on-field ceremony at Fenway Park.Video below: Joe Castiglione receives call from Baseball Hall of FameRed Sox Hall of Fame pitcher Roger Clemens presented Castiglione with a plaque that will hang outside Fenway’s radio booth and reads: “Joe Castiglione Booth.” Castiglione’s four decades on Red Sox radio mark the longest tenure of any team broadcaster on radio or television. “We are grateful for his more than four decades of dedication and for sharing his love for baseball and the Red Sox with all of us night after night,” principal owner John Henry said in a statement. Castiglione is the father of WCVB SportsCenter 5’s Duke Castiglione.
Joe Castiglione, whose four decades of broadcasting Boston Red Sox games earned him a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, will be honored Sunday at Fenway Park as he transitions into retirement.
The club plans to honor him in a ceremony before the final game of the season. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is expected to present a proclamation about his career.
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Sen. Ed Markey entered a tribute to Castiglione into the Congressional record last week.
Castiglione, 75, began calling big-league baseball games in 1979 and started as the Red Sox’s lead radio voice in 1983.
He was honored this summer with the 2024 Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented annually by the Hall of Fame for excellence in baseball broadcasting.
“After 42 years and some 6,500 games, I think its time to hang up the microphone, at least on a regular basis, and announce the retirement here,” he said earlier this month.
Castiglione says he will remain with the Red Sox in retirement, working as an ambassador for the team, involving special event appearances, and will occasionally participate in a game call from the broadcast booth.
“While I will miss the daily interactions with baseball people and talking to the fans of Red Sox Nation, I think this is the right decision for my family and myself,” he said.
“After working with him for over two decades, I have come to appreciate that Joe’s talent in the broadcast booth is an attribute equaled only by his unfailing kindness. He is down-to-earth and one of the most authentic individuals I’ve ever had the privilege of working with,” said Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy. “It’s difficult to have imagined a better voice or a finer person to serve as the narrator of Red Sox baseball these past four decades and he has certainly earned a very well-deserved retirement.”
In 1983, Castiglione joined the Red Sox broadcast team and has been with the organization ever since. He was on the radio broadcast for four Boston championship runs — 2004, 2007, 2013 and 2018 — and famously called the final out of the historic 2004 World Series Game 4 victory.
“The Boston Red Sox are the world champions! For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won baseball’s world championship. Can you believe it?” Castiglione said in 2004.
Last July, the Red Sox honored his four decades in the radio booth with an on-field ceremony at Fenway Park.
Video below: Joe Castiglione receives call from Baseball Hall of Fame
Red Sox Hall of Fame pitcher Roger Clemens presented Castiglione with a plaque that will hang outside Fenway’s radio booth and reads: “Joe Castiglione Booth.”
Castiglione’s four decades on Red Sox radio mark the longest tenure of any team broadcaster on radio or television.
“We are grateful for his more than four decades of dedication and for sharing his love for baseball and the Red Sox with all of us night after night,” principal owner John Henry said in a statement.
Castiglione is the father of WCVB SportsCenter 5’s Duke Castiglione.