My earliest real memories of baseball fandom involve the 1978 Boston Red Sox. Things didn't end very well for that terrific team, but one of the guys on that team imprinted on me, and stayed with me for five decades.
But to a little fella who happened to play second base, the guy who occupied that position for his favorite team was way more than just a guy. Remy begat Marty Barrett begat Jody Reed begat Jose Offerman ultimately begat Dustin Pedroia. Those are my guys.
Remy's second act was likely more impactful than his first. After retiring from the Sox in 1984, he took over as the color commentator on the Sox' flagship network in 1988. With his combination of playing experience, New England upbringing and accent, and ready laughter, Remy was beloved across Red Sox Nation.
He was first diagnosed with cancer in 2009, and dealt with fully seven different recurrences of that motherfucker. He threw out the first pitch of the AL Wild Card game on October 5, just 25 days before cancer claimed his life.
Back in the early part of the century, I had the MLB Extra Innings package, and I probably listened to Remy and Don Orsillo call 50-60 Sox games a year. Their chemistry was spectacular, and reached the sublimely ridiculous on many an occasion, as the Boston Herald catalogued in 2015.
For my money, two moments stand out. In the first, Sox roving reporter Dan Roche tells what we'd call today a Dad joke. And it sends Remy into apoplectic spasms of laughter to the point that he can't finish the inning. It's just the best.
In this next clip, Lenny Clarke and Denis Leary joined Remy and Orsillo in the booth for an extended stretch. At about the 10 minute mark, Leary realized that Kevin Youkilis was Jewish, and an already funny segment was elevated. And Jerry Remy could not keep his shit together.
RIP, Jerry Remy, and thanks for the years of joy.
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