Matt Buckler: Jerry Remy will be missed by Red Sox Nation

Nov. 1—Before the 1988 season, the Boston Red Sox decided to split up their TV crews. Sean McDonough and incumbent analyst Bob Montgomery would do the games on WSBK-TV38, while Ned Martin would work the games on NESN with a newcomer, former Red Sox secondbaseman Jerry Remy.

The move was a stroke of genius. It took Remy awhile to get comfortable as a broadcaster, but he soon started doing things only the best analysts do — offer something fresh and interesting during every game. When he worked a game, I always felt I learned something.

And he had a sense of humor that wore well over a long summer. He was as good at playing the air guitar as he was telling you about the split-fingered fastball.

Remy died Saturday at the age of 68 after a long bout with cancer.

This will be a big blow to Red Sox Nation because of the rapport the "RemDawg" had with the fans and the rapport he had with other broadcasters. He had the package that doesn't come around very often — baseball knowledge and personality.

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