Don Orsillo invites Dennis Eckersley to join him in San Diego amid Red Sox retirement
Dennis Eckersley broke Boston Red Sox fans’ hearts on Monday when he announced that he’ll be retiring from broadcasting in order to move back to California to be closer to his granddaughters.
Sox games won’t be the same without one of baseball’s most passionate and unique voices. Eck is beloved, so the tributes and well-wishes are pouring in.
But the message from longtime Sox broadcaster Don Orsillo may send fans over the edge, because in addition to sending well-wishes to his former partner, Orsillo invited him to join him on the west coast. It sounds like Orsillo wants to have a little Sox reunion on the San Diego Padres’ broadcast.
Best to my friend and former partner @Eck43 on his next chapter. I think we figured out between Boston and TBS Post did around 300 games together. Come West!#LoveEck pic.twitter.com/Yoh5kbl9hS
— Don Orsillo (@DonOrsillo) August 8, 2022
Losing Orsillo in 2015 was hard enough, but he and Eckersley reunited in another team’s booth would be unbearable for Sox fans.
Thankfully, Eckersley probably isn’t moving to SoCal, as his grandchildren live up in the Bay Area. Since being closer to them is the reason he’s leaving the Sox booth, presumably, he and his wife will relocate north.
While Eckersley’s departure has nothing to do with the state of the team, the timing is rougher than sandpaper. The on-field product is terrible, faith in the front office and ownership is at an all-time low, and the ballpark prices have never been higher. Eck made all of that bearable, even enjoyable, with his stories, straight-shooting, and delightful ‘Eckisms.’
There won’t be any sugarcoating it now.
Red Sox legend Dennis Eckersley makes heartbreaking announcement
Boston Red Sox legend Dennis Eckersley announced Monday that he will retire from the NESN broadcasts following the team's final game of the 2022 season.