Boston Red Sox radio announcer Joe Castiglione announced on Sunday that he will retire at the end of the season, completing his 42nd year calling the team’s games.
Castiglione, 77, made his retirement announcement during the WEEI broadcast while the Red Sox were batting in the fourth inning against the New York Yankees.
“For him to be part of our family is amazing. For him to spend more time with his family is great,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora after a 5-2 loss. “We talked a little bit yesterday about it. I think everybody here and everybody in the (Red Sox) nation knows what he means to this organization.”
Castiglione will continue with the team in an honorary ambassador role. The Red Sox plan to honor him before their last regular-season game on September 29 against Tampa Bay.
Castiglione joined Boston’s broadcast team in 1983, during Hall of Fame outfielder Carl Yastrzemski’s final season. He is the longest-serving play-by-play announcer in the team’s history.
He was on the air when the Red Sox ended an 86-year championship drought by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004, and he also called three more championships in 2007, 2013, and 2018.
Last July, Castiglione received the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2014 alongside Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, and Nomar Garciaparra. In 2022, the home radio booth at Fenway Park was named the Joe Castiglione Booth.
“After 42 seasons with the Red Sox and more than 6,500 games, I have decided it’s time to retire from a regular broadcast schedule,” Castiglione said in a statement from the team.
“While I feel I am at the pinnacle of my career … it’s time to spend more time with Jan, my bride of almost 53 years, my kids, and grandkids.”
Castiglione started his broadcasting career at WFMJ-TV in Youngstown, Ohio, before working as a broadcaster for Cleveland (1979, 1982) and Milwaukee (1981). He also called games for the Cleveland Cavaliers and college basketball on NESN.
“Joe is one of the greatest in baseball broadcasting,” said Red Sox principal owner John Henry in a statement. “His recognition by the Hall of Fame in July punctuated a career of vivid storytelling that has brought the game to life for generations of listeners.”
