SAD NEWS: Joe Castiglione’s Legendary Voice Falls Silent
SAD NEWS: Joe Castiglione’s Legendary Voice Falls Silent — After 41 Seasons, the Soul of Fenway Says Goodbye, Leaving Boston Wrapped in Tears and Timeless Echoes
When Joe Castiglione stepped into the Fenway Park booth for the final time, even the chatter of batting practice seemed to quiet down — as if baseball itself knew something sacred was ending. For 41 seasons, his voice carried Boston through heartbreaks, miracles, and championships. On Sunday afternoon, it carried one last goodbye.
Castiglione, 77, announced his retirement as the Red Sox’s radio play-by-play announcer, closing one of the most remarkable broadcasting careers in baseball history. From the heartbreak of 1986 to the curse-breaking joy of 2004, his tone — warm, poetic, and timeless — became the soundtrack of generations.
“Every day at Fenway felt like a gift,” Castiglione said through tears. “This city, this team… they’ve been my life.”
For many fans, he wasn’t just a voice. He was a friend. The one who narrated their childhood summers, who filled kitchen radios during night games, who turned quiet commutes into moments of magic. His signature calls — especially the unforgettable
Alex Cora, who was part of that 2004 team, put it simply: “Joe didn’t just describe baseball. He
Over his career, Castiglione called more than 6,000 Red Sox games. He was there for Pedro’s dominance, Ortiz’s heroics, and Mookie’s magic. But beyond the highlights, his true gift was connection — the ability to make every listener, from Maine to Worcester to Rhode Island, feel like they were sitting right beside him in the booth.
“His voice was comfort,” said a longtime Fenway usher. “You’d hear it crack with emotion, and you knew he loved this as much as we did.”
What made Joe different wasn’t just his mastery of the game’s rhythm, but his humility. Despite his Hall of Fame career, he never saw himself as the story. He once said, “I’m just the lucky guy with the microphone who got to tell Boston’s favorite bedtime story — every night for 41 years.”
Still, behind that modesty was a master craftsman. His preparation was legendary — handwritten scorecards, meticulous notes, and a habit of arriving hours before anyone else. Colleagues recall how he’d quietly rehearse names of new players, ensuring every word was right when the red light went on.
His final broadcast wasn’t about statistics or standings. It was about gratitude. “To every listener who turned that dial, who made me part of your day — thank you,” he said, pausing as the crowd at Fenway stood and applauded. “You made my dream last a lifetime.”
As the final pitch crossed the plate, Castiglione signed off in his signature calm tone — steady, heartfelt, and eternal. “For the final time from Fenway Park, this is Joe Castiglione saying… so long, everybody.”
There was no music. No highlight reel. Just silence. And then, a wave of applause that seemed to come from every corner of Red Sox Nation — a chorus of gratitude for a man whose voice defined an era.
In a city that worships legends, Joe Castiglione never swung a bat, never threw a pitch, but he gave Boston something just as rare — belonging.
And as dusk fell over Fenway, one fan held up a sign that said it all:
Eagles RB Named Philly’s Top Trade Candidate Heading Into Deadline
The Philadelphia Eagles might soon have more running backs than touches to go around, and A.J. Dillon’s name is quietly surfacing as a potential trade candidate before the 2025 deadline.
Philadelphia’s 38–20 victory over the New York Giants in Week 8 gave the league a glimpse of what the Eagles’ backfield could look like moving forward. New addition Tank Bigsby, who had just one carry before Sunday, erupted for 104 yards on nine attempts — that’s an eye-opening 11.6 yards per carry — while Saquon Barkley added 150 yards and a receiving touchdown.
The performance likely settled any lingering questions about Bigsby’s place in the rotation — he’s RB2 now — and it may have also made Dillon expendable, as ESPN named Dillon the team’s top trade candidate.
“Tank Bigsby’s emergence in recent weeks (he rushed for over 100 yards against the Giants after Philly traded for himin September) has pushed Dillon down to fourth on the depth chart behind Saquon Barkley, Bigsby and Will Shipley,” Tim McManus of ESPN wrote on October 29. “Dillon has been solid for Philadelphia this season, but there’s not much of a role for him currently.”
More on Why the Philadelphia Eagles Could Trade RB A.J. Dillon After Tank Bigsby’s Breakout
GettyRB AJ Dillon could be a trade candidate for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Through Week 8, Dillon has just 12 carries for 60 yards and two receptions for 18 more. His touches have been sporadic, spread across a handful of appearances — three carries here, a catch there — with no touchdowns to show for it. He’s healthy now, but his role in the offense has yet to materialize in a meaningful way.
Health, of course, has been a storyline for Dillon since he missed the entire 2024 season with a neck injury. Once one of the league’s more promising power backs in Green Bay, he joined the Eagles in March on a one-year deal worth roughly $1.34 million, including $167,500 guaranteed. Dillon has held up physically this fall, but opportunity may soon dry up behind Barkley, Bigsby and Will Shipley.
Barkley is entrenched as the starter, Bigsby just had a 100-yard game and Dillon is an unrestricted free agent after the season. With Shipley also waiting in the wings, it makes sense to see if another club is willing to take a flier on the 247-pound veteran.
The return would be paltry — likely a seventh-rounder — but it’s better than nothing.
Which Teams Might Be Interested in Adding Dillon?
There are several teams who could use reinforcements in their respective RB rooms. The Los Angeles Chargers, for instance, lost Najee Harris to a season-ending Achilles injury and placed first-round pick Omarion Hampton on injured reserve earlier this month. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has been rotating backs from the practice squad, but Dillon’s physical style could help.
The Kansas City Chiefs are another team worth considering. With Isiah Pacheco expected to miss the upcoming matchup against the Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs could be in the market for a temporary reinforcement — particularly one who won’t require financial strings beyond this season. Dillon meets that criteria.
The Chicago Bears are another option. They currently have former Eagle D’Andre Swift leading the backfield, but they could use some depth at RB, as well.
For Dillon, a change of scenery might also be welcomed at this point. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry during his years with the Packers, and he’s still capable of contributing somewhere. Based on what Bigsby is showing, though, Dillon may have to contribute somewhere else.
