The Red Sox Castiglione called the final out for three of the Red Sox’s last four World Series victories, along with many other memorable moments. Joe Castiglione’s 42-year tenure as one of the radio voices of the Red Sox will end on Sunday. (Daniel Parhizkaran/Global Staff)
Joe Castiglione’s legendary tenure as one of the radio voices of the Red Sox will come to an end on Sunday.
The popular radio broadcaster will call his final game when the Red Sox close out the 2024 season against the Rays. Castiglione announced earlier in September that he would retire from his role as one of the Red Sox radio announcers after 42 seasons.
As the Red Sox will honor their longest-serving broadcaster before Sunday’s game, let’s remember some of Castiglione’s most memorable calls, from “Can you believe it?” For a couple of his funny moments in the cabin.
Dave Roberts’ steal and Bill Mueller’s game-tying hit in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS
Arguably the most pivotal sequence in Red Sox history was called Castiglione. You probably know the story by now, but in case you need a refresher, Roberts pinch-ran to Kevin Millar after a leadoff leadoff home run in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS.
In the run, Roberts looked to steal second with Mueller at the plate and Yankees closer Mariano Rivera on the mound.
After several starting attempts and Castiglione reciting Roberts’ stolen key stats, the speedster finally took off.
“Rivera to the group, he goes, and the pitch goes out. And here’s the throw. Roberts dives and it’s safe! ‘Stolen base, Dave Roberts,'” Castiglione said in his call of the moment. “He tied a run at second base. He entered with a hand sign. Jeter took the throw and it was a very close second.
After two throws, Mueller scored the equalizer for Roberts, 4-4.
“Roberts goes 1-1. He’s not going to strike out. “He swings and makes a single line up the middle in center field, and it’s a base hit,” Castiglione described the moment. “Roberts hits third, and here he comes! Bernie Williams’ layup is blocked and the game is tied! Rivera cut off the throw and Bill Mueller tied it with a single up the middle. We are knotted at 4! Rivera made the save and the Red Sox kept alive.
Johnny Damon’s grand slam and final out in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS
David Ortiz gave the Red Sox an early 2-0 lead in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees with a two-run homer. But Damon blew the game open in the second inning after Javier Vazquez took over with the bases loaded.
“Johnny vs. Vazquez, 2 for 14 this year – both home runs. Bases loaded, 2-0 Boston. Kevin Millar on third, Bill Mueller on second, Orlando Cabrera on first. Vazquez to the set, here’s the pitch : Swing and hit a high pitch to right field! Back to the corner, Sheffield looks up – a grand slam with one swing of the bat gives the Red Sox another four-run lead 6-0! Javier Vazquez to the right field seats,” Castiglione described the moment.
Castiglione was also on the call when Pokey Reese’s Ruben Sierra was ejected in the final game of the series.
“1-0 pitch, swing, and ground ball to second base. Bucky Reese has it, throws it to first, and the Red Sox have won the American League pennant! They rally Alan Embrey on the mound. The Boston Red Sox have the greatest victory in team history!” In the 104 years of the Boston Red Sox, this was the most important of all as the Red Sox won the pennant, beating the Yankees, their archrival, in seven games: “They lost the first three games,” Castiglione said in calling the final of the 2004 ALCS series and became the first team ever to win the next four games and the championship.
“Move, baby! The American League champion Red Sox! They’re on the field attacking each other by the pitcher’s mound as the Yankees slowly walk toward the clubhouse. An amazing comeback story here in the Bronx.”
Final match of the 2018 World Championship
Castiglione has called the final out in three of the Red Sox’s four World Series victories since 2004. He was on the mic in their last win over the Dodgers in 2018, calling Chris Sale’s strikeout for Manny Machado.
“Machado swings the bat, nobody on base, two men out, bottom of the ninth, 5-1 Red Sox,” Castiglione began. “Sale winds, shoots, swings and misses! Hit three! Done! The Red Sox have won the World Series! The Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-1. They have won the World Series by four games to one. The Red Sox have won the World Series, 5-1. The Sox are the first team in the 21st century to win four World Series, can you believe it?
“They’re starting out in the bullpen. They’re starting out of the dugout. They’re attacking each other between third base and home plate. The Boston Red Sox are the 2018 champions. They’ve won their 119th game of the season. Can you believe it?”
Final of ALCS 2007
Castiglione has been on call for three of the Red Sox’ pennant victories since 2004 as well. He called the final game of the 2007 ALCS, when Boston’s Coco Crisp made a messy catch to help him beat Cleveland.
“Swing and a high fly ball to right-center field. Coco comes back, and still comes back, to the triangle, and comes back, and makes a great catch in the triangle! It’s down, and it sticks, and the Red Sox win the pennant! Coco Crisp, with another exciting play in the triangle – caught He threw it over his shoulder, hit the wall, and held on to it!
Final match of the 2007 World Championship
A week after calling the Red Sox’ ALCS win over Cleveland, Castiglione called the final game of their sweep over the Rockies in the World Series.
“Papelbon lays down, at the belt, the pitch: Swing and miss! Over! The Red Sox have swept the Colorado Rockies! The Red Sox are the 2007 World Series of Baseball Champions! The Boston Red Sox become the first team in the 21st century to win two Major League titles World! Can you believe it?
Andrew Benintendi’s catch to win Game 4 of the 2018 ALCS
Benintendi made perhaps the greatest defensive play in franchise history in Game 4 of the 2018 ALCS. With the Red Sox leading 8-6, the Astros loaded the bases in the ninth inning and were threatening to tie or win the game.
With two outs, Craig Kimbrel got Alex Bregman to line out to left, with Benintendi making a memorable diving catch.
“Kimbrel comes into the group, gives a pitch to right, and the pitch: he swings and takes a line drive to left field, Benintendi comes in, jumps, and did he catch the ball? He did! He got it!”
The catch was so amazing that Castiglione fell out of his seat after exclaiming: “He got it!”
“I was just stunned in my chair. Oh, wow! What a catch Andrew Benintendi!”
The catch gave the Red Sox a 3-1 series lead before winning the series in five games. It also gave Castiglione a moment of humor.
David Ortiz’s 500th home run
There were many memorable postseason moments that Castiglione recalled in his regular season tenure. Arguably the biggest individual accomplishment he came into contact with was when Ortiz hit his 500th career home run in Tampa Bay on September 12, 2015.
“Moore got the sign, and the end, 2-2: Swing and there’s a drive to right field, deep, on the way back, No. 500 David Ortiz! And he did it, a shot into the right field stands! He scrambled for the 500th ball. The Red Sox are out in style.” A crowd from the dugout clapping for Ortiz when he hits third and shaking hands with Brian Boutfield jogs to the plate, steps onto home plate, and points skyward in honor of his mother, and the Red Sox walk out of the bullpen where they will form a line to salute and congratulate Big Papi on his 500th home run. .
Not you, Siri!
Sometimes, technology won’t be kind to you. Castiglione found that out the hard way when he called a Red Sox game against the Rays in 2023. When Rays outfielder Jose Siri got to the plate, he activated his iPhone as he announced the hitter’s name.
“So, first and second, there’s still only one, for Jose Siri,” Castiglione began before she could hear Siri on his iPhone saying something to him.
Castiglione and his broadcast partner for that game, Will Fleming, were initially puzzled as to where the sound was coming from. But the veteran broadcaster discovered what had happened a moment later.
“It was Siri! It was Siri,” Castiglione said with a laugh. “It came via iPhone. Walk on the board. I’m not asking you, Siri. “Not that Siri, that Siri.”
Shane Victorino’s grand slam in Game 6 of the 2013 ALCS
The Red Sox hit a pair of giant grand slams in an ALCS win over the Tigers in 2013. Dave O’Brien called the first for the Red Sox radio network, serving as the play-by-play man when Ortiz hit the game. -Home link in game 2.
Castiglione got his turn to call a grand slam when Victorino hit a four-run blast that gave the Red Sox a 5-2 lead in the seventh inning of Game 6, which ended up deciding the series.
“0-2 count, there it is: swing and high fly ball, left field, deep, down the line, toward the wall, grand slam!” Shane Victorino with a grand slam and the Red Sox lead! 5-2 Boston! Victorino pumps his fist as he rounds first base. He hits home plate, and his teammates attack him. Shane Victorino, with a single, turned his series on its head, giving the Red Sox a 5-2 lead!
Final match of the 2004 World Championship
It was fitting that Castiglione was on standby for the final game of the Red Sox’ first World Series victory in 86 years. Apparently, many New Englanders found their radios when the ninth inning of the Red Sox’ Game 4 win over the Cardinals arrived.
If you’re among that group, you probably remember Castiglione’s exact words when Edgar Renteria hit a ground ball to Keith Faulk.
Faulk to the set, 1-0, here it is: A swinging shot and a ground ball by Faulk, he’s got it, he’s got the bullpen in the first, and the Boston Red Sox are the World Champions! For the first time in 86 years, the Boston Red Sox have won the World Series For baseball, can you believe it?
“The Red Sox are now attacking Keith Faulk and each other between home and first. As Ned Martin said in 1967, ‘There’s pandemonium on the field! The greatest victory in team history!’
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