Boston Red Sox, Don Orsillo Clash Over Jerry Remy Tribute

BOSTON — A night to remember late Red Sox player and broadcaster Jerry Remy fueled lingering tensions between the team and former announcer Don Orsillo on Wednesday after Orsillo said the video tribute he submitted was not used in the memorial programming.

Orsillo, who is now a play-by-play announcer for the San Diego Padres, posted on Twitter that he was offered the opportunity to record a message for the ceremony because he could not attend in person.

"Sadly, I was notified by Red Sox/NESN that my video would no longer be needed for tonight's ceremony," he said.

Orsillo broadcast games with Remy on NESN from 2001 to 2015 before the team-owned network decided to move on in favor of radio play-by-play announcer Dave O'Brien. Remy continued in the booth until late in the 2021 season when his ongoing fight against lung cancer took a turn for the worse.

Remy died on Oct. 31 — four weeks after he last appeared at Fenway Park for the one-game playoff against the New York Yankees. He was 68.

Orsillo posted the text of his tribute message:

"Jerry, I miss you every day. I miss your friendship, your daily texts, and mostly your laugh.

Without you, Rem, I am not in the Major Leagues today.

We worked together 15 years and the last 13 you battled. I never thought you would lose. The strongest person I have ever known.

Thank you to the Fenway Faithful and Red Sox Nation. I promise you Jerry knew how much you loved him and it kept him fighting to the end.

I would like to thank the Red Sox players for wearing the Remy 2 patch this year — it is so very worthy.

To Phoebe and the family, I love you all and share in your great pain.

Jerry, thank you is not enough for everything you have done for me in my life or my career.

I love you, Rem!"

The Boston Globe's Chad Finn reported on Wednesday that the Red Sox said they did invite Orsillo, but that he said he could not make it because the Padres played that day. They discussed including Orsillo's thoughts during a video tribute as part of Wednesday night's ceremony but ultimately opted not to include a video at the event.

Former Red Sox players and Remy teammates Rick Burleson, Dennis Eckersley, Dwight Evans, Fred Lynn, Jim Rice and Bob Stanley did take part in the live ceremony Wednesday night.

"So much thought, consideration and love was put into yesterday's ceremony honoring Jerry and his impact," Red Sox President Sam Kennedy said in a statement on Thursday. "We extended invitations to former teammates and broadcast partners who spent a considerable amount of time working alongside him. We are grateful to the overwhelming turnout of coworkers and teammates who attended a Fenway Park to say a final farewell to a true gem."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)