October 22, 2015 — NESN announced today that the network has finalized plans for the 2016 Boston Red Sox broadcast team. Jerry Remy (@Jerry_Remy) returns for his 29th season as NESN’s Red Sox color analyst. In addition, Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley (@Eck43) and Red Sox alum Steve Lyons (@SteveLyons12) will serve as game analysts for a significant number of games alongside new Red Sox play-by-play announcer Dave O’Brien. During select games, NESN also will employ a three-man booth with different combinations of Remy, Eckersley and Lyons.
“We’re very excited about our expanded broadcast booth composition for next year,” said Sean McGrail, NESN President and CEO. “This will be the most in-depth and dynamic lineup we’ve ever had in our history, providing Red Sox fans a greater diversity of perspective and analysis.”
Dennis Eckersley has served as a Red Sox studio analyst on NESN since 2003 and has filled in for Remy as a color analyst during Red Sox games since 2009. In addition to his work on NESN, Eckersley also serves as a color analyst for TBS during the network’s MLB playoff coverage.
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004, Eckersley pitched 24 seasons in the major leagues with five teams (Indians, Red Sox, Cubs, A’s and Cardinals), including two different stints with the Red Sox (1978-1984, 1998). He spent the first 12 years of his career as a starting pitcher and then switched to the bullpen to become one of the most dominant closers in the game. He’s the only MLB pitcher to have had both a 20-win season and a 50-save season. During a five-year stretch beginning in 1988, Eckersley averaged 44 saves, a 1.88 ERA, more than one strikeout per inning and less than one walk per nine innings. In 1992, Eckersley became only the second relief pitcher to win both the AL MVP and Cy Young Award in the same season. He is sixth on the MLB all-time career save list with 390.
Steve Lyons joined NESN in 2014 as a studio analyst and also has filled in for Jerry Remy as a color analyst during Red Sox games. Lyons began his broadcasting career in 1996 with FOX Sports and has worked for both the FOX national and regional networks as a game analyst, studio analyst and studio host. A versatile broadcaster, Lyons also has hosted his own interview show, a sports show for kids and for two seasons was the host of “This Week in Baseball.” During his 11 years on FOX’s national broadcast, he worked the pre- and post-game shows for the Divisional Series, Championship Series and World Series. He also spent nine years with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a pre- and post-game host and game announcer.
Lyons played nine seasons in the major leagues with four different teams, including four stints in Boston. Drafted in the first round by the Red Sox in 1981 out of Oregon State, Lyons made his MLB debut in April of 1985 and was voted that season’s 10th Player Award winner by Red Sox fans. He is one of only three players to play all nine positions in one game at the major league level. He finished his career where he started it, playing for the Red Sox at Fenway Park in October 1993.
Dave O’Brien has been a familiar play-by-play voice of Red Sox baseball for the last nine years on WEEI 93.7 FM, the team’s flagship radio station which is distributed throughout New England. He will begin his first season as NESN’s play-by-play announcer in 2016.
O’Brien’s previous play-by-play experiences include the Atlanta Braves (1990-91), Florida Marlins (1993-2001) and New York Mets (2003-05). In addition, O’Brien has called games on TV for ESPN (2002-present) and ESPN Radio during the last few years. The New England native was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, attended Syracuse University and currently resides in Rye, New Hampshire, with his wife and three children. He also has broadcast NFL football, NBA and college basketball, and soccer.
About NESN
NESN has consistently been one of the top-rated regional sports networks in the country with award-winning Red Sox and Bruins coverage. The network is delivered to over 4 million homes throughout the six-state New England region and an additional 5 million homes nationally as NESN National on digital and sports tiers in nearly 100 DMAs. Forbes Magazine recently ranked NESN as the 8th Most Valuable Sports Business Brand in the world. NESN.com is the most visited regional sports network website in the country. NESN also produces a number of distinctive programs under its umbrella Original NESN Entertainment (ONE). NESN’s social responsibility program, NESN Connects, is proud to support and connect its employees with charitable organizations in our communities. NESN is owned by Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox) and Delaware North (owners of the Boston Bruins).
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
