Don Orsillo
Encyclopedia
Don Orsillo is the play-by-play announcer
for Boston Red Sox
games on the New England Sports Network.
where he often dreamed of being a broadcaster for the Red Sox. He moved to and grew up in Madison, New Hampshire
and was educated at John H. Fuller Elementary School. At the age of 12 he attended Kennett Middle School in nearby Conway, New Hampshire
. Don's family moved west just before high school. He is a 1987 graduate of Miraleste High School in Rancho Palos Verdes, California
, where he played on the Marauder basketball and baseball teams.
Orsillo graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Communication Studies. While at Northeastern, he interned under Red Sox radio voice Joe Castiglione
.
Before doing Major League Baseball
games, he worked in the minor leagues announcing Pawtucket Red Sox
games on the radio from 1996 to 2000, having previously done games for some of the New York Mets
minor league affiliates. Don started with the Pittsfield Mets
of the New York – Penn League for the 1991 and 1992 season and then moved up within the organization.
season (his first game included a no-hitter
thrown by then Red Sox pitcher Hideo Nomo
against the Baltimore Orioles
). He also called Cal Ripken Jr.'s final game, as well as the no-hitters thrown by young Sox pitchers Clay Buchholz
and Jon Lester
in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Orsillo works with color commentator and former Red Sox second baseman Jerry Remy
. During the 2009 season while Remy was out due to health problems, Orsillo worked with color commentators including Dennis Eckersley
, Nick Cafardo, Sean Casey, Dave Roberts and Frank Viola
. He is sometimes referred to by fans as "announcer boy," after he was given that nickname by Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield
in a NESN commercial.
on NESN. He is also the play-by-play announcer for Providence College
men's basketball for Cox Sports
. Orsillo has also called Big East basketball for the Big East Network which is run by ESPN Regional Television. Orsillo was tapped by TBS to work the 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 playoffs. He was also a Springfield Falcons
(AHL) broadcaster and voice of the Falcons from 1994 to 1996.
Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez were named by TBS
as commentators for the 2011 Playoff Division series between the Tampa Bay Rays
and Texas Rangers
.
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
for Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
games on the New England Sports Network.
Early life and career
Orsillo was born in Melrose, MassachusettsMelrose, Massachusetts
-Government:Robert J. Dolan is the mayor. Melrose is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by Paul Brodeur . Katherine Clark is the state senator for wards 1 through 5 and Thomas McGee is the state senator for wards 6 and 7. Melrose is part of the seventh Congressional...
where he often dreamed of being a broadcaster for the Red Sox. He moved to and grew up in Madison, New Hampshire
Madison, New Hampshire
Madison is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,502 at the 2010 census. Madison includes the village of Silver Lake.- History :...
and was educated at John H. Fuller Elementary School. At the age of 12 he attended Kennett Middle School in nearby Conway, New Hampshire
Conway, New Hampshire
Conway is a town, the largest in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,115 at the 2010 census. Parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the west and north. Cathedral Ledge and Echo Lake State Park are in the west...
. Don's family moved west just before high school. He is a 1987 graduate of Miraleste High School in Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Rancho Palos Verdes is a city in Los Angeles County, California that was incorporated on September 7, 1973. The population was 41,643 at the 2010 census...
, where he played on the Marauder basketball and baseball teams.
Orsillo graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Communication Studies. While at Northeastern, he interned under Red Sox radio voice Joe Castiglione
Joe Castiglione
Joseph John Castiglione is an American radio announcer for the Boston Red Sox baseball team, an author and lecturer.-Early life and career:...
.
Before doing Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
games, he worked in the minor leagues announcing Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
games on the radio from 1996 to 2000, having previously done games for some of the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
minor league affiliates. Don started with the Pittsfield Mets
Pittsfield Mets
The Pittsfield Mets were a minor league baseball team moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts from Little Falls, NY by an investment group organized by Michael T. Casey. The team played in the New York - Penn League, and were affiliated with the New York Mets from 1989 to 2000 and the Houston Astros in...
of the New York – Penn League for the 1991 and 1992 season and then moved up within the organization.
Boston Red Sox
He has been NESN's play-by-play man since the beginning of the 20012001 Major League Baseball season
The Major League Baseball season finished with the Arizona Diamondbacks defeating the New York Yankees in a Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. The attacks of September 11 pushed the end of the regular-season from September 30 to October 7. Because of that, the World Series was not completed until...
season (his first game included a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
thrown by then Red Sox pitcher Hideo Nomo
Hideo Nomo
is a former right-handed pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball from Japan. He achieved early success in Japan, where he played with the Kintetsu Buffaloes from to...
against the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
). He also called Cal Ripken Jr.'s final game, as well as the no-hitters thrown by young Sox pitchers Clay Buchholz
Clay Buchholz
Clay Daniel Buchholz pitches for the Boston Red Sox of major league baseball. On September 1, 2007, in just his second major league start, he recorded a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles, becoming the third MLB pitcher since 1900 to throw a no-hitter in his first or second start...
and Jon Lester
Jon Lester
Jonathan Tyler Lester is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Orsillo works with color commentator and former Red Sox second baseman Jerry Remy
Jerry Remy
Gerald Peter "Rem Dawg" Remy is a Major League Baseball broadcaster and former Major League Baseball second baseman. Remy grew up in Somerset, Massachusetts.-Playing career:...
. During the 2009 season while Remy was out due to health problems, Orsillo worked with color commentators including Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck", is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
, Nick Cafardo, Sean Casey, Dave Roberts and Frank Viola
Frank Viola
Frank John Viola, Jr. is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Minnesota Twins , New York Mets , Boston Red Sox , Cincinnati Reds and Toronto Blue Jays . A three-time All-Star, he was named World Series MVP with the Twins in 1987 and won the AL Cy Young Award in 1988...
. He is sometimes referred to by fans as "announcer boy," after he was given that nickname by Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield
Tim Wakefield
Timothy Stephen Wakefield is an American professional baseball pitcher. Wakefield began pitching with the Red Sox in 1995, making him the longest-serving player currently on the team. Wakefield is also the oldest current active player in the majors, and one of two active knuckleballers, the other...
in a NESN commercial.
Other announcing duties
In addition to his Red Sox duties, Orsillo has called the Beanpot hockey tournament and Boston College Eagles men's basketballBoston College Eagles men's basketball
The Boston College Eagles are a Division I college basketball program that represents Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. The team has competed in the ACC since 2005, having previously played in the Big East. Home games have been played at the Conte Forum since 1988, having previously been played...
on NESN. He is also the play-by-play announcer for Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
men's basketball for Cox Sports
Cox Sports
Cox Sports Television is a regional sports network that serves the United States Gulf South region. It launched in October 2002 and is owned by Cox Communications....
. Orsillo has also called Big East basketball for the Big East Network which is run by ESPN Regional Television. Orsillo was tapped by TBS to work the 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 playoffs. He was also a Springfield Falcons
Springfield Falcons
The Springfield Falcons are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center and are the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. The Falcons' two main rivals are the Connecticut Whale and the...
(AHL) broadcaster and voice of the Falcons from 1994 to 1996.
Don Orsillo and Buck Martinez were named by TBS
TBS (TV channel)
TBS , stylized in the logo as tbs, is an American cable television channel owned by Time Warner that shows a variety of programming, with a focus on comedy. TBS was originally known as WTCG, a UHF terrestrial television station that broadcast from Atlanta, Georgia, during the late 1970s...
as commentators for the 2011 Playoff Division series between the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.