DON ORSILLO

A native of Melrose, Mass., Don Orsillo joined NESN as the network's play-by-play announcer for the 2001 season. The Northeastern University graduate called the action for the Class A Pittsfield Mets (1991-92), the Double-A Binghamton Mets (1993-95), the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox (1996-2000), where he served as the radio play-by-play announcer for over 140 games each season. He joined NESN in April 2001 as the network's voice of Boston Red Sox baseball. Honored with 2 New England Emmy Awards the past two seasons, Orsillo was named the 2005 Massachusetts Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. He called Hideo Nomo's no-hitter in Baltimore during his NESN debut, won an Emmy Award for outstanding play-by-play in 2003. Following the 2004 season, he appeared in the Farrelly Brothers' film "Fever Pitch" with Fox's Tim McCarver and ESPN's Harold Reynolds.

Orsillo was born in Melrose, Massachusetts, 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 Junior High 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. Don graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Communication Studies. While at Northeastern, he interned under Red Sox radio voice Joe Castiglione.

Orsillo got his start as a baseball play-by-play announcer for the Pittsfield Mets of the New York-Penn League during the 1991 and 1992 seasons. In 1993, he moved to Binghamton, New York to do play-by-play radio and television for the Binghamton Mets of the AA Eastern League. While with Binghamton he had the opportunity to serve as a commentator for the nationally syndicated 1994 AA All-Star Game. During the 1991-1996 hockey seasons, he was the play-by-play radio and television voice for the Springfield Indians/Falcons. He hosted "Inside the Indians," a weekly live television talk show and was the analyst for the 1994 AHL All-Star Game.

Don 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. Every fall since 2007, Orsillo has been one of the voices of the Major League Baseball Division Series on TBS. He is one of four play-by-play men to work each of the years TBS has had rights to the playoffs.

On August 13, 2015 after hearing rumors that Orsillo might be replaced, it was learned for certain that after 15 seasons he was no longer wanted by NESN and the Red Sox’ management and that his contract would not be renewed for 2016. Tom Werner, the Red Sox’ chairman, said that the broadcast booth needed to be re-energized, but that explanation just seemed to enrage the Sox fans. Don would be replaced by Dave O'Brien and eventually accepted a job with the San Diego Padres for 2016.

He is a well-loved figure in Red Sox Nation, bringing his humble yet affable personality to every televised game. As such, Remy was "elected" to be the first "President" of Red Sox Nation. During slower parts of the game, the pair will carry on long non-baseball discussions, with pop culture a frequent topic. The pair also often discuss the imaginary exploits of Wally the Green Monster, a doll of which sits with the pair at the front of the broadcast booth. - See more at: http://www.allamericanspeakers.com/sportspeakers/printbio.php?speaker_id=Jerry-Remy#sthash.gNPmto9u.dpuf