Jerry Remy: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|American baseball player and broadcaster (1952–2021)}}

|caption=Remy in 1978 with the [[Boston Red Sox]] in 1978

|birth_date ={{Birth date|1952|11|08}}

|birth_place=[[Fall River, Massachusetts]], U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|finalleague = MLB

|statleague = MLB

'''Gerald Peter Remy''' (November 8, 1952 –– October 30, 2021) was an American professional [[baseball]] player and [[Sports commentator|sports broadcaster]]. RemyHe played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) as a [[second baseman]] for ten seasons — threeseasons—three with the [[California Angels]] (1975–771975–1977) and seven with the [[Boston Red Sox]] (1978–841978–1984). After retiring from professional play, heRemy served for 33 years aswas a [[color commentator]] for televised Red Sox games for 33 years until his death.

Remy began commentating with the cableTV channel [[New England Sports Network]] (NESN) in 1988, and later expanded to [[Terrestrial television|over-the-air television]] in 1995. A native of [[Somerset, Massachusetts]], Remy was a popular local figure, known for his exuberance, humorous [[Non sequitur (literary device)|non-sequitur]] game commentary, and thick [[New England accent]] that endeared him with Red Sox fans. He was given the nickname "RemDawg" and was elected "President" of [[Red Sox Nation]] in 2007. Remy also owned restaurants in the Boston area, and wrote books about baseball.

Gerald Peter Remy was born in [[Fall River, Massachusetts]], on November 8, 1952, and grew up in nearby [[Somerset, Massachusetts|Somerset]].<ref name=sl360>{{cite web|last1=Alice|first1=Lynette|title=Jerry Remy|url=http://www.sportinglife360.com/index.php/biography-jerry-remy-44009/|website=Sporting Life 360|access-date=October 1, 2014|date=May 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102417/http://www.sportinglife360.com/index.php/biography-jerry-remy-44009/|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Richard|date=October 31, 2021|title=Jerry Remy, Red Sox Player and Longtime Commentator, Dies at 68|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/31/sports/baseball/jerry-remy-dead.html|access-date=October 31, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He attended [[Somerset Berkley Regional High School|Somerset High School]] and [[Roger Williams University]] in [[Bristol, Rhode Island]].<ref name=BR>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/remyje01.shtml|title=Jerry Remy Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref> He was of [[French Canadian]] descent.<ref>{{cite web|title=The other side of Jerry Remy|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2009/04/19/the-other-side-jerry-remy/JmAlA7uVvk6jdZH1mODRtL/story.html|website=BostonGlobe.comBoston Globe|access-date=June 23, 2018}}</ref>

After 1988, Remy found success in [[broadcasting]], working for the [[New England Sports Network]] (NESN), as the regular [[color commentator]] for NESN's Red Sox broadcasts. Initially paired with [[Ned Martin]] through 1992 and [[Bob Kurtz (sportscaster)|Bob Kurtz]] from 1993–2000, from 2001 through the end of the 2015 season, he teamed with play-by-play announcer [[Don Orsillo]]; starting with the 2016 season, Remy worked with [[Dave O'Brien (sportscaster)|Dave O'Brien]]. Beginning in 1995, he also replaced former color commentator [[Bob Montgomery (baseball)|Bob Montgomery]] on the over-the-air Red Sox broadcasting team, paired with [[Sean McDonough]] for those broadcasts through 2004, when Orsillo took over for McDonough on the over-the-air games as well. He also ran a web sitewebsite, The Remy Report, which covered Boston Red Sox news and information.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theremyreport.com/|title=The Remy Report - For all things Red Sox and Remy|access-date=June 16, 2019|archive-date=June 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616141911/https://www.theremyreport.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Remy Report : Case Study |url=https://www.cvwp.com/case_remy_report.cfm |website=Crystalvision |access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref>

In 2012, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of [[Fenway Park]], former then-Red Sox playersecond baseman [[Dustin Pedroia]] authored a sixth book in the series, ''Wally The Green Monster's Journey Through Time''.

On August 12, 2009, Remy went to Fenway Park and attended Red Sox manager [[Terry Francona]]'s pre-game press conference. He told both NESN and ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' that he had every intention of returning to broadcasting Red Sox games during the remainder of the 2009 season. He entered the NESN's broadcast booth during the top of the second inning during the night's game to speak with broadcasters [[Don Orsillo]] and [[Dennis Eckersley]]. It was the first time he had been in the booth since he took his leave of absence in April. In between the top and the bottom of the second inning, Remy, still in the booth, was shown on Fenway's center field scoreboard display, to which he received a standing ovation from the crowd attending the game. He revealed during the visit that he had suffered from depression following his physical problems of 2008 and that he was receiving therapy.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/08/remy_in_the_bui.html Remy visits TV booth during tonight's game]</ref> On August 19, 2009, Remy released a statement announcing his return to commentating on August 21, 2009, against the [[New York Yankees]]. He stated that he would likely skip some road trips. He returned full-time for the 2010 baseball season. In April 2013, he announced that he had suffered a relapse that offseason when cancer was found in a different spot on his lungs during his regular six-month [[CT scan]] that January. <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/media/2018/08/07/jerry-remy-cancer-battle|title=Jerry Remy is facing another battle with cancer|date=August 7, 2018|work=Boston.com|access-date=August 7, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

Remy took time off starting May 28, 2013, due to a bout of pneumonia. He returned to the booth on June 25, 2013.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/touching_all_the_bases/2013/06/jerry_remy_says_he_will_return.html Jerry Remy says he will return Tuesday] Chad Finn, boston.com, June 19, 2013</ref> On August 16, 2013, he announced that he would be taking an indefinite leave of absence after his [[Jared Remy|son]] was arrested for murder; Remy did not return to the broadcast booth until the beginning of the 2014 season.<ref>{{cite newsmagazine |last1=LoGiurato |first1=Brett |title=Jerry Remy to return to Red Sox broadcast booth |url=https://www.si.com/si-wire/2014/01/28/jerry-remy-return-leave-absence-red-sox-announcer |access-date=November 1, 2021 |workmagazine=Sports Illustrated |date=January 27, 2014 |language=en-us |quote=Longtime Boston Red Sox announcer Jerry Remy, who took a leave of absence last August after his son Jared was arrested and charged with murder, told reporters Monday that he will return to the broadcast booth this season.}}</ref> He had another leave during the 2016–17 off-season, missing most of the 2017 [[spring training]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Christopher |title=NESN's Jerry Remy arrives at spring training after cancer relapse |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2017/03/jerry_remy_boston_red_sox_nesn_1.html |access-date=November 1, 2021 |work=masslive.com |date=March 9, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

On June 12, 2017, Remy announced that his lung cancer had returned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19617335|title=Red Sox analyst Remy tweets cancer relapse|date=June 12, 2017|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> In January 2018, he announced via [[Twitter]] that he had completed treatments at [[Massachusetts General Hospital]] (MGH).<ref>{{cite news |url=httphttps://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22123586/jerry-remy-boston-red-sox-television-analyst-says-cancer-treatment-over |title=Red Sox analyst Jerry Remy finishes cancer treatment |website=[[ESPN]] |date=January 16, 2018 |access-date=August 7, 2018}}</ref> A fourth diagnosis of cancer was announced on August 7, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy again diagnosed with cancer|url=httphttps://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24312244/boston-red-sox-broadcaster-jerry-remy-again-diagnosed-cancer|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=August 7, 2018|access-date=August 7, 2018}}</ref> After undergoing treatments, Remy announced in early November 2018 that he was cancer-free.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2018/11/10/jerry-remy-announces-hes-cancer-free |title=Jerry Remy announces he's cancer-free |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=November 10, 2018 |access-date=November 10, 2018 |via=[[Boston.com]]}}</ref>

On June 11, 2021, Remy left Fenway Park during the third inning of a game he was commentating on, due to shortness of breath, and was admitted to MGH.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/jerry-remy-leaves-boston-red-sox-nesn-broadcast-friday-because-of-shortness-of-breath-e2-80-98resting-comfortably-e2-80-99-at-mass-general/ar-AAKYVuj |title=Jerry Remy leaves Boston Red Sox NESN broadcast Friday because of shortness of breath, 'resting comfortably' at Mass. General |first=Christopher |last=Smith |website=MassLive.com |via=MSN.com |date=June 12, 2021 |accessdate=June 14, 2021}}</ref> He was released from the hospital five days later,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2021/06/16/jerry-remy-resting-at-home-after-being-released-from-hospital/ |title=Jerry Remy resting at home after being released from hospital |first=Chad |last=Finn |website=[[Boston.com]] |date=June 16, 2021 |accessdate=June 17, 2021}}</ref> and returned to broadcasting on June 20.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/06/jerry-remy-to-return-to-boston-red-sox-nesn-broadcast-sunday-for-series-finale-vs-royals.html |title=Jerry Remy to return to Boston Red Sox NESN broadcast Sunday for series finale vs. Royals |first=Christopher |last=Smith |website=MassLive.com |date=June 20, 2021 |accessdate=June 20, 2021}}</ref> On August 4, Remy announced that he would be stepping away from NESN for lung cancer treatment.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nesn.com/2021/08/jerry-remy-cancer-nesn-red-sox-broadcast/ |title=Jerry Remy Steps Away From NESN Red Sox Booth For Cancer Treatment |first=Dakota |last=Randall |website=NESN.com |date=August 4, 2021 |accessdate=August 4, 2021}}</ref> On October 5, he appeared at Fenway Park to throw out the [[ceremonial first pitch]] before the [[2021 American League Wild Card Game|AL Wild Card Game]], in what ended up being his final public appearance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/jerry-remy-throws-ceremonial-first-pitch-before-red-sox-yankees-wild-card-game/ar-AAPaOfc |title=Jerry Remy Throws Ceremonial First Pitch Before Red Sox-Yankees Wild Card Game |website=[[CBS Boston]] |via=MSN.com |date=October 5, 2021 |accessdate=October 5, 2021}}</ref>

Remy and his wife Phoebe had three children, [[Jared Remy|Jared]], Jordan, and Jenna.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Other Side of RemDog|access-date=March 23, 2014|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=April 19, 2009|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2009/04/19/the-other-side-jerry-remy/JmAlA7uVvk6jdZH1mODRtL/story.html}}</ref>

Jordan was selected by the Red Sox in the 49th round of the [[1999 Major League Baseball draft|1999 MLB draft]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Edes|first=Gordon|title=Here's a homer pick: Fla. State's McDougall|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=June 4, 1999}}</ref> but he did not play professionally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=remy--000jor |title=Jordan Remy Leagues Statistics & History |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref>

Jared worked for the Red Sox as a security guard, but was fired in 2008 after another guard told the [[Massachusetts State Police|State Police]] that Jared had sold him [[steroids]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sox fired two in steroids case|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/08/02/sox_fired_two_in_steroids_case/|access-date=August 17, 2013|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=August 2, 2009}}</ref> On August 16, 2013, Jared was arrested in the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend, Jennifer Martel, a charge he pleaded guilty to on May 27, 2014. Jared Remy was sentenced to life in state prison without the possibility of parole.<ref>{{cite news | first = Eric | last = Moskowit |author2=John R. Ellement | title = Jared Remy, son of Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy, under arrest for fatal stabbing in Waltham, an official says | date = August 16, 2013 | url = http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/08/16/officials-investigate-fatal-stabbing-waltham-one-person-custody/JIZ9yd9NNs9W4TunYMLXGL/story.html | work = Boston.com | access-date = August 16, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first = O'Ryan | last = Johnson | title = Jared Remy arrested for killing girlfriend | date = August 16, 2013 | url = http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2013/08/jared_remy_arrested_for_killing_girlfriend | work = Boston Herald| access-date = August 16, 2013}}</ref> Jordan was selected by the Red Sox in the 49th round of the [[1999 Major League Baseball draft|1999 MLB draft]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Edes|first=Gordon|title=Here's a homer pick: Fla. State's McDougall|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=June 4, 1999}}</ref> but he did not play professionally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=remy--000jor |title=Jordan Remy Leagues Statistics & History |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref>

*[http://www.theremyreport.com The Remy Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070728140400/http://www.theremyreport.com/ |date=July 28, 2007 }}

[[Category:BaseballAmerican playerspeople fromof MassachusettsFrench-Canadian descent]]