Remy taking indefinite leave after cancer surgery
New England Sports Network has announced Jerry Remy, the beloved color commentator of NESN's Red Sox telecasts and president of Red Sox Nation, will be taking an indefinite leave from the broadcast booth to recover from cancer surgery, which he underwent late last year.
"I want to focus on completing my recovery,'' Remy said in a report posted on NESN.com, "so that I can return to work without distractions or interruptions.”
Remy joined NESN in 1988 and has teamed with play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo since 2001. Red Sox studio analyst and Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley will join Orsillo in the booth during the remainder of the team’s current homestand against the Indians, while studio analyst Dave Roberts, the former Red Sox outfielder and postseason hero, will provide color commentary during the team’s West Coast road trip May 12-17.
There has been no decision about Remy's replacement in the booth beyond that date.
"Jerry is beloved, and on behalf of everyone in Red Sox Nation, I want him to know that he is in our thoughts,” Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said. “We will sorely miss him in the broadcast, but the most important thing is that he takes all the time he needs to recover.”
A former smoker who underwent surgery for lung cancer late last year, Remy had expected to return to the booth this season, but an infection and a subsequent case of pneumonia forced him to miss most of spring training.
“I hope that disclosing my bout with cancer will reinforce the dangers of smoking to every member of Red Sox Nation, especially children,” Remy said.



Get better Rem Dawg!
Get well soon Remdawg! We need ya! God bless.
Here's wishing Mr. Remy a speedy and full recovery.
Get well soon RemDawg. The games aren't the same without you.
Get better soon RemDog. The games aren't the same without you.
Hurry back, RemDawg!! We miss you!! And, everyone out there---listen to what he says; Smoking can be a killer!!!
So Remy had lung cancer? Did I miss something? Was this reported before?
Remdawg hurry up and get well!
Get well soon, Jerry!
Gerry,
God bless you and your family during this difficult period. You and your family
are beloved and in my thoughts and prayers.
A fan
Phil O'Connor
Godspeed RemDawg.
Get well soon we all wish you well,all of Red Sox Nation hopes to see you back in the booth whenever your ready. Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your loved ones...SB
Remy was the guy in the booth that got me to switch from being a lifelong yankee fan to now a diehard red sox fan...thank you jerry!!
Get well remdawg!!!
Remy was the guy in the booth that got me to switch from being a lifelong yankee fan to now a diehard red sox fan...thank you jerry!!
Get well remdawg!!!
Get well Remdawg...One day at a time...
Get well Jerry! And smokers, c'mon. I've seen 2 people die from lung cancer now and it is not pleasant... they withered away to almost nothing before they passed. You don't want that to be you! It makes your teeth and breath gross, so kissing you is like licking an ashtray. Nobody wants to do that. Stinks up your clothes, etc. How about now being a good time to quit?
God Bless Remdawg - You are and always will be my favorite Red Sox player and announcer.....
Thought and Prayers Dawg.
Get Well Jerry!
God bless you Jerry. You have been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager. (insisted on having the number two on on my jersey on every team I played for) you are the best.... best the sox have ever had in the booth. You have an enormous fan base.. we love the Rem dog.. my best to you and your family
Get well soon, Remy!
Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery, Mr. Remy. Here's hoping for a return after the All-Star break when you can guide the Nation into the post season. Be well. . .
Love you Remy. My prayers are with you. Xoxo
Red Sox Nation needs you Remdawg!
Get well !
Rem you rock. Get well soon!
Your the reason I enjoy the game the "fun" when you and Don go off on a laughing spree, Walley, etc. when the Sox were not winning and even when they were! Get well soon!
Jerry,
It's not the same without out you, but you take all the time you need. Your health is first and you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Get well, Jerry.
Thoughts and prayers with you RemDawg! Hope to see you back in the booth soon.
all our hopes and prayers go out to you Rem-dog! Come back healthy and stronger than ever.
God Bless you and your family at this time. You ARE missed by Red Sox Nation. Take care, get better and hurry back to the booth. We miss you!
just keep massarotti away from the mike and i think we will be all set
RemDawg, God bless you and feel better soon! You will beat this! Thank you for having the courage to step forward with your battle to increase awareness of the disease.
Hope you get better soon, You add so much more to the game, and make that much more enjoyable...
“I hope that disclosing my bout with cancer will reinforce the dangers of smoking to every member of Red Sox Nation, especially children,” Remy said.
What a courageous, infinitely generous gesture for Remy to sacrifice his personal privacy and reveal his cancer in hope of helping others. God bless.
Carolynne Shinn
Weare, NH
get better soon we love and miss you
we need the air guitar
I was afraid that this was the case. No, Matt, they did not announce this until today. However, I thought that the recent Globe Magazine story was full of hints, mentioning smoking and Marlboro Reds several times throughout the article.
Get Well Remdawg!
Wow! That was a shock to read!
Sending prayers and good thoughts to Rem and his family!
Get yourself healthy and back ASAP! Don is lost without you and so are we!
God Bless you Jerry! You are in our thoughts and prayers. I love hearing you and watching you on TV . You have a great gift for making watchng the games fun!
Remdawg is the best, right up there with Martin and Coleman. Get well soon, Jerry. Where can cards be sent?
get well soon....your missed greatly....
Jerry! So sorry to hear you're not well. We miss you. Best wishes for a complete recovery. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
Get well soon Rem. I miss you in the booth! my prayers are with you.
In our prayers Jerry!
Rem,
I can't even watch the games without your "color".....you'll be back...My Mom battled it and she did fine.....thinking 'bout you a lot....
You are in my thoughts Jerry. It's just not the same without you joining Don in the booth. Can't wait to hear your hysterical laughter again.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, RemDawg! Get well soon!
We miss you Remdawg!
We miss the laughs with you and Don.
Get well soon Rem
Hey Jerry- Get your rest ; take your meds; regroup. Then hurry back. Don needs all the wardrobe help he can get. ;)
My thoughts are with you and your family Remdawg. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery! You'll be missed.
My thoughts are with you and your family Remdawg. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery! You'll be missed.
It's not the same without YOU Remdawg! Bon courage!
Godspeed RemDawg
Get well soon Jerry. We can't wait to have you back in the booth.
He is simply the best! Still love the Sox but it is not the same...
Remy, Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Take care and get well soon.
Get well kid
get better soon we love and miss you
we need the air guitar
REMDAWG- GET BETTER SOON- YOU ARE THE REASON WE ALL WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE SOX!
Rem Dawg,
Saw your statement - as always, classy and well-done. We know you'll fight through it and succeed. So many of us grew up with you and watched you move from Somerset to the Angles to the Sox and then to one of the best "color broadcasters" we have seen. You are a tough hombre, and have inspired many! Keep fighting - see you soon on NESN!!
We need more air guitar.
From another lung cancer survivor - wishing you a good recovery. Lung cancer IS survivable. And just to be clear - smoking is a huge risk factor, but there are many other risk factors, including genetics. Over 60% of new diagnoses of lung cancer are former smokers (like you Rem!) or never smokers.
Best wishes from a Yankee fan living in the RS Nation who simply enjoys your broadcasts - Please get well soon and come back to the booth!
We love you, Jerry! How about the players support Jerry by giving up chewing tobacco....kids need to know that's risky for cancer, too! Let our Red Sox lead the way in cancer prevention for the next generation of Red Sox Nation!
Get better Jerry!! Can't wait to see you back in the booth with Don--your laughing is contagious!
Miss your laugh-just not the same without you-best wishes
Gosh, if it was reported before, I missed it. That's really tough news. Take care of yourself, Dawg, follow doc's orders, and have 50 more good years! Meanwhile we surely miss you with Don. We'll say prayers.
RemDawg, I am keeping a good thought for you and your family. You are an integral part of the whole Red Sox experience. You and Don Orsillo remind me of Richie Ashburn and Harry Kalas of the Phillies, when I was growing up. Like friends coming into our home.
Eck is doing a nice job, keeping your seat warm. But we need the RemDawg back in action. So get healthy, man!
Peace.
Get well Jerry...God Bless You are on our Prayer list. Hurry back. Red Sox Nation needs you and all who love you too. Fans from NH
The consummate voice of the Redsox! My wife and I love Jerry and Don! By far the best broadcast team in baseball! Get well Jerry, it’s not the same without you!
i am 73 years old and i used to watch you steal bases when you were with the red sox----just about the only speedster on that team----now let's see if you can steal home and beat the throw from cancer. good luck and god speed-----from Don in New Hampshire
Get Better- it's NOT the same without you. We all miss you and your presence is definitely IMPORTANT to all of us!
you are in our thoughts and prayers - take care of yourself and come back soon!
Rem,
Thank you for sharing your diagnosis with the public. Lung cancer has such a stigma that many people are ashamed to admit they have it. Although smoking is the No. 1 risk factor, most (65%) of the people diagnosed have either quit smoking already (50%) or never smoked at all (15%). In fact, more never-smokers die from lung cancer in the U.S. than from ovarian cancer or AIDS. I was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005 and had a bilobectomy. I quit smoking 30 years ago. I hope more former smokers will realize they remain at risk for developing lung cancer even decades after quitting. As awareness is raised, perhaps there will be screening or early detection for the No. 1 cancer killer of men and women. I wish you the best recovering from your thoracotomy and hope there is no more cancer. God bless. Dusty Donaldson
I am hoping all is well with Jerry, but Dennis Eckersley is far better and gives much more insight as the analyst with D.O.
Don't make me come down there! All the best and get well SOON.
Mr. Remy,
You are the heart and soul of Red Sox Nation...and Red Sox Nation will be praying for you throughout your recovery...you have been a part of our family over the years... and we will not forget you or stop praying for you during your time of need.
God Bless You Jerry !!
Rem Dawg
62 comments so far on this post and 62 of them are in agreement.
What a feat for any sports figure in Boston!
Get well soon - we miss you man.
We love you Jerry!
I still remember when you were on the cover of the Red Sox yearbook back in the day playing 2nd base! One of my favorite players and the best in the booth!
Get well soon.
Get better soon. I was hoping to get some lessons from you as I'm an aspiring air guitar player. Take care.
Your the man Remy, I hope the number of comments here proves that to you.
I am so sorry for this Jerry. I will pray for you. My husband and I so enjoy listening to you. We have never met you but love you. Of course being in the public eye, we feel we have known you for years. You will be in our prayers. Get well soon, May God Bless You.
Oh Remy. It's so sad to hear that you have to battle this, but at least you are finally on the mend. We are all praying for you here in Red Sox Nation. You are certainly one of the very best parts of being a Sox fan.
Jerry, here's to hoping you recover fully and soon. We miss you buddy!
Jerry,
We loved you as a player, and even more as an announcer; take your time so that when you DO return, you will be with us permanently!
Rest up and get well, Jerry. We need to get you back on that mechanical bull soon! Best wishes...
From one Somerset HS alum to another, get well soon! Red Sox Nation needs you badly.
JERRY ME BOY!
THE INFLUENCE YOU BRING TO YOUNGSTERS (AND OLDSTERS LIKE ME) IN LEARNING, UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATING THE GREAT GAME OF BASEBALL BRINGS GREAT JOY TO MILLIONS OF LIVES!
TRANSLATION - YOU ARE TRULY LOVED! GOD BLESS MY MAN!
Hoping for a complete and speedy recovery for the Rem Daug.
You are the best color person for baseball broadcasting: you are in a class all by yourself.
God bless.
Get well soon and God Bless.
Get well soon R-Dog! God Bless You...
RemDawg,
Our prayers are with you and your family during this period. Hurry up and get well, but do not hurry back. Do what is best for your health and your family. The Nation will miss you, but miss you much more if you are not able to return at all.
God Bless
i wish him the best of luck in his recovery
Your sense of humor, and insight of the game is sorely missed by all of us in Red Sox nation. We look forward to your speedy recovery. I am sure that all of us in Red Sox nation are pulling for you,just like we pull for our team. Your in our thoughts an prayers. Get well soon.
Jerry,
Wishing you a speedy recovery, you are greatly missed!!!!!
you are an inspiration to all of us and you make the game so much more enjoyable to watch.
Well I won't miss your terrible commentary (Yes I am a Red Sox fan believe it or not. I don't like the fake tradition of Sweet Caroline either) but I do wish you the best.
Get well soon, Rem. We need you back in the booth.
And for the person who likes Eckersley, yuk. The worst. States the obvious all the time, and in the most inarticulate way. Talks way too much and usually has nothing of any import to offer. Cringe factor equals that of Dubya.
We miss you, Jerry! Keep your head up and come back soon.
Jerry,
You have always been a great favorite of mine as a player and broadcaster. You're a spot on red sox partisan, balanced and knowledgeable professional and true entrepreneur who has helped the game. Come back soon. I miss you already!!
Get well soon Mr. Remy. Here's to a speedy recovery. We'll miss you in the booth, but your health always comes first.
Jerry - games are definately not quite the same without you! Take care of yourself & hope to see you back in the action soon!
wishing the best in your recovery you are the redsox 10th man. hope you are back soon.
Get well soooooooon Ok! Sox - Yank wars won't be the same until your back.
Koko beloved Yankee Fan
you are in our thoughts and prayers.
we wish you a full and speedy recovery.
GOD BLESS YOU !!
YOUR FLORIDA FANS
BARB AND EV DOLPHIN
Dear Jerry,
We are praying for your speedy recovery here on Cape Cod!! The games aren't the same without you!!!! Godspeed
Jerry, Get well soon, you are missed and loved. From a former 2nd baseman
Get Better Remy, Games won't be the same without You, But health first!
Dawg, or should I say, Mister President for life of Redsox nation,
Get well soon. I will be praying for you. You are not only by far the best color analyst in baseball, but the same for all sports, while Ron Jaworski is a close second.
Get well soon Rem Daug....you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers!!
I am praying for a full recovery. Miss your baseball incites.
My father died of smoking this year. My brother died of smoking 10 years ago. he was 49 years old.
I have been battling throat cancer for two years even though I quit smoking 8 years ago.
Stop it!!! Just think and stop it!!!
You do not want to go though the pain and suffering of the "cure".
I was on a feeding tube for 4 months...it's not worth any of the so called pleasure you think you get from the butts. Stop and live!
I also have another cancer that I'm dealing with that is more evasive but not self -inflicted.
Jerry - your the best. Get well.. We'll be waiting for you.
You are truly loved in this family. May you recover fully and return to keep us all abreast of Red Sox Nation. You are in our daily prayers.
Get well soon Remy - the games won't be the same without listening to you and Don get a case of the giggles! No one can broadcast the games like you.
Take care of yourself and we'll be looking forward to listening to you soon!
Get well soon Jerry!
While you're resting NESN should bring back Monty just for a little while!!!
But I can't wait till you're back!
Get well RemDawg, you will be missed! Hope to see you back in the booth soon.
Get well soon Remy, but I got to say, Eck has been great, hope they stick with him
Hope you get better soon Jerry, we need you in the booth.
God Bless you Remdog. Hurry back, We need you. I hope that you were able to watch the Yankee series. It was great but would have been much sweeter if you were broadcasting. We pray for you and know that you will be fine.
I will keep you and yours in my prayers. Hope your recovery is quick and complete.
It is not the same without you on the telecast. Get well soon and so we can hear and see you (I'm not stuck on that) in the booth
Your in my thoughts and prayers. Get well soon. We miss you in the booth. But you need to focus on yourself and your family right now. Be strong and positive,