Sox Radio Team Announced, Live Blog, Part III

BOSTON (December 15, 2006) – Entercom Boston and the Boston Red Sox today announced the new radio broadcast team for the 2007 season. Veteran play by play man Joe Castiglione returns for his 25th season of calling Red Sox games, to be joined by Dave O’Brien, currently the play by play announcer for ESPN Monday Night Baseball and the World Series on Major League Baseball, and Glenn Geffner, former radio voice of the San Diego Padres.
The versatile O’Brien, a native of Quincy, MA, who split his time growing up between the Boston area and New Hampshire, has held a variety of broadcasting play by play roles since arriving at ESPN in 2002, including Major League Baseball, College Basketball, and the NBA. He was also the voice of the 2006 World Cup Soccer Tournament televised by ABC. Prior to joining ESPN, he was the voice of the Florida Marlins from the team’s inaugural year in 1993 through 2001. From 2003-2005, O’Brien was the television voice of the New York Mets on WPIX-TV. He has also done play-by-play for the Atlanta Braves and called college football and basketball games for the University of Georgia and the University of Miami.

Geffner has spent nine of the past 16 years broadcasting more than 650 games of baseball play-by-play at the major league, minor league, and college levels. The resident of Lexington, MA, holds the unusual distinction of having done baseball play by play at each of the following levels: college (Northwestern, his alma mater), short-season A (Lowell Spinners in ’06 on NESN), full-season A (Greensboro Hornets on a fill-in basis in 1992), double-A (Portland Sea Dogs in ‘06 on NESN), Triple-A (Rochester part-time in ’90, full-time from ’93 thru ’96, and Pawtucket in ’06 for NESN and as a fill-in on radio), and the majors (San Diego on a part-time basis in 2000 and 2001, full time in 2002, and on a fill-in basis with the Red Sox in ‘05).

“Joe Castiglione is synonymous with the Red Sox and we’re thrilled to have him back on board to lead this new team,” said Jason Wolfe, Entercom Boston Vice President of AM Programming. “I’ve followed Dave O’Brien’s career for many years. He is an incredibly gifted announcer whose experience, credibility, and passion for the game made him a natural choice, and we are also excited to work with Glenn who brings terrific energy, experience, and unsurpassed knowledge of the Red Sox organization to our broadcast team. He drew positive reviews from listeners when he pinch hit on two Red Sox broadcasts on WEEI in 2005.”

Mike Dee, Chief Operating Officer for the Red Sox added, “The new team of Joe, Dave, and Glenn will provide Red Sox fans with both an entertaining and insightful broadcast. Baseball on the radio remains a cornerstone of the team’s connection to its fans, and we look forward to this new broadcast team launching a new tradition on our new flagship station WRKO 680 AM in 2007.”

The 2007 season initiates WRKO’s new 10-year partnership with the Red Sox. The station will air all regular season games with the exception of Wednesday nights and weekday afternoons, which can be heard on sister station WEEI 850 AM. In addition, WRKO will carry 15 Red Sox Spring Training games from Florida beginning February 28 against Minnesota. The regular season begins April 2 in Kansas City; the Red Sox’ home opener is Tuesday afternoon, April 10, versus Seattle.