Can You Believe It?: 30 Years of Insider Stories with the Boston Red Sox

by Joe Castiglione, Douglas B. Lyons (Collaborator)

Joe Castiglione is one of a few select announcers whose voice harkens fans back to the home field of their favorite team. After 30 years, his commentary has become as much a part of Boston Red Sox lore as the Green Monster, the Pesky Pole, and Yawkey Way. In this chronicle, the beloved broadcaster offers his insider account of one of the most dominant baseball teams of the past decade—from the heartbreaking 1986 World Series and the turbulent 1990s to the magical 2004 American League Central Series and World Series, the 2007 championship season, and the state of the team today. Castiglione takes fans behind the microphone and into the champagne soaked clubhouse, hotels, and back rooms where even media had no access, and recounts such tales of his tenure as his friendship with Pedro Martinez and what it was like to ride in the Duck Tour boats during Boston’s victory parades.

Genres: Baseball

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Evan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one pains me, but I was hoping for more from this book. The first part was great as Castiglione detailed how he got into broadcasting. However, the next part of the book was him rehashing Red Sox seasons in relatively quick fashion (if they didn't go far) or in play-by-play fashion (if they went to notable playoffs or World Series). There wasn't much opinion or personal sidenotes during the Sox season chapters, so it was pretty much material that anyone could read elsewhere. Then, in the last half of the book or so, Castiglione wrote vignettes about nearly every player, manager and influential person that he interacted with. Everyone is a friend, everyone is just great, and I imagine nearly everyone got at least a paragraph or two. When he started writing bits about people from his early days and thanking them, I pretty much started skipping pages.

It was a nice enough book and I could kind of hear Castiglione's voice in the quick sentences, but it was also a book that I could picture myself writing if it was about my life. Charming, friendly, and generously thankful... but in the end, does anyone else besides the author really care to read it?

[Donald Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe Castiglione joined the Red Sox broadcast team in 1983. This book is an autobiography of sorts, lots of memoirs and stories from where he’s been, who he’s worked with, and stuff about his family. As a Sox fan I was hoping the book might have stories,etc., about the team. Some parts of the book I found a little boring and struggled to get through. You can see, though, that Joe is one of the all around “good guys” and has become a fixture with the Sox.

[Du · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting over maybe 3 hours. I twas pretty basic and not as interesting as Castiglione's first book about broadcasting. This one felt like it wanted to be more of a memoir, but it didn't work that way.

I think it didn't help to read it after reading Terry Francona's book, which is incredibly different in style and substance. Not a great lead in for this more down to earth and relaxed book.

I rounded up to 3 stars instead of 2 (real 2.5).

[Charles M.]

Actually, I can't believe I read this book. Joe Castigilione's book is as bland as his baseball commentary. Just about everybody who ever played the game...managed...owned a team...and/or announced a game is Joe's pal! Hard to believe, but Joe has been around since '83 (so perhaps he has either made many friends in the game or stayed away from making enemies to last this long). Do not recall ever reading book by a commentator, which could be regarded as a good read.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joe is a very likable guy - some interesting behind the scene stories about MLB and the world of sports broadcasting.

[Joshua · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as fun as I wanted it to be. It's difficult to measure up to other Red Sox books like Faithful.