Broadcast Rites and Sites: I Saw It on the Radio with the Boston Red Sox [Paperback]

Joe Castiglione (Author), Douglas B. Lyons (Author), Pedro Martinez (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 8, 2006

In Broadcast Rites and Sites: I Heard It on the Radio with the Boston Red Sox, Joe Castiglione gives his educated opinions on his favorite sightseeing, shopping, and restaurants from coast-to-coast. Yet, at the heart of the book is baseball as seen from his unique perspective and longevity in the booth--from witnessing seven no-hitters to having a catch with Bob Feller; from Roger Clemens' twenty strike out game to the fateful, unforgettable Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Castiglione, who has been the radio announcer for the Red Sox for two decades now, presents games in a vivid yet reserved manner that is a lost art. Sadly, his radio voice does not translate well to the page. In this memoir, Castiglione relies heavily on the short, to-the-point vignettes that he uses, with great success, between pitches during his broadcasts to strengthen his connection to his listener. But in writing, the stories, in most cases, feel truncated. They work in the "Quick Pitches" section, where Castiglione tells colorful tales and gives behind the scenes insight on his favorite players and baseball moments, but when he tries to relive entire seasons or careers, they fall short. Dedicating a chapter to various major league cities is an interesting idea, but aside from some good tips on places to eat, these travelogues are too cursory to give a sense for each place. Aside from his references to famous people and places, Castiglione is at his most interesting when discussing how he got into broadcasting and, after much bouncing around, ended up in Boston. It is easy to relate to his job hunt, and he gives readers an interesting glimpse into the first generation of Americans to seek satisfaction, not just sustenance, from their chosen field of employment. It is obvious Castiglione has a lot of stories to tell, but other than the diehard members of Red Sox Nation, most people would rather "hear them on the radio than see them on the page."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

Insightful and often hilarious. (Sports Collectors Digest )

Fans are treated to a plethora of unusual details from exceptional games. An entertaining read, with a fresh perspective on our national pastime and obsession. (Northeastern University Magazine )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; Revised Edition edition (June 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589793242
• ISBN-13: 978-1589793248
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,911,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Sports Broadcasting

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Stick with the radio Joe, July 10, 2007

By 

norcalsportsguy (Woodland, Ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broadcast Rites and Sites: I Saw It on the Radio with the Boston Red Sox (Paperback)

This book was awful. I lost this book halfway through and it didn't matter to me. Normally if I lost a book I would go through the house so I could finish it.
I'm a big Sox fan and Joe Castiglione is a great broadcaster, but he's not a great author. One star for trying.