If These Walls Could Talk: Boston Red Sox

by Jerry Remy, Nick Cafardo, Sean McDonough (Foreword)

A New York Times Sports and Fitness Best Seller

The Boston Red Sox are one of the most iconic teams in Major League Baseball, with nine World Series championships and countless greats who have donned the Sox uniform. In If These Walls Could Boston Red Sox , former player and longtime broadcaster Jerry Remy provides insight into the team's inner sanctum as only he can. Readers will gain the perspective of players, coaches, and personnel in moments of greatness as well as defeat, making for a keepsake no fan will want to miss.

Genres: Sports, Baseball, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

256 pages, Paperback

Published July 9, 2019

Reviews

[Darcy Cudmore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the Boston Red Sox and I loved watching ball games with Jerry Remy (R.I.P) as a broadcaster. He was one of my favorite sports broadcasters ever and I’ve listened to him for many hours over the years, especially during their championship run in 2013.

Unfortunately, I thought this book was completely flat. It offered very little background information and the writing was choppy throughout. I was hoping to hear a little more about the ‘behind the scenes’ during his many, many years with the Sox, but it didn’t provide much of anything.

Jerry is missed on the Red Sox broadcast and will forever be a Boston legend.

[Shiny5711 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love listening to the RemDawg from the NESN booth at Red Sox games, you will feel like you are sitting in a room having a nice chat with Jerry. Such a shame Nick Cafardo is no longer with us to see this book in print.

[Bill Whalen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Stories from Jerry, I loved listening to him and Don Orsilio. You could always tell when they were laughing it got so quiet that they made me start laughing not knowing what they wre laughing about.

[Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Local boy makes good. Jerry Remy grew up in Massachusetts. His dream was to play for his beloved Red Sox. He was originally drafted by the California Angels, but after a couple of years he was traded to the Red Sox. Since then he has spent his entire career in the Boston organization as a player, a manager, and a broadcaster.
He has had to deal with some devastating circumstances. His son was convicted and sentenced to prison for murdering his fiance. Then there was the cancer diagnosis. It has been a recurring thing and he is still undergoing periodic treatments. Through it all he remains one of the most popular personalities on the Boston sports scene.

[Alexander Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look into the life of a great man and how he lived through his favorite team.

[Kevin LaBrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know at first what to think. Most of the stories he talked about I already knew and honestly wanted just a little dirt. I realize this book is not a tell all expose, I was just hoping for a bit more. But about 3/4 through the book, Jerry starts getting brutally honest about himself and his life and I was simply blown away and could really relate to some of the subjects he covers, depression being the big one. These chapters are very brave and applaud Mr. Remy for opening up. Having been a Red Sox fan my whole like I couldn’t help but chuckle when reading, and the little voice in your head turns from you to Jerry. Hearing him so much over the years covering the team definitely will do that.

[Pamela Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since our family is from Massachusetts, we are Red Sox people. Our two sons played professional baseball in the Red Sox organization in the '90's. All summer we listen to Jerry Remy as he broadcasts the games. We love Jerry and agonized as he underwent chemo for cancer and cheered when he returned to the broadcast booth. All that being said, he is not a writer. Despite reading about the inner workings of the Sox during his tenure on the field and despite reading about the personnel he knew/knows intimately, the sequence of the book doesn't flow and the stories are sometimes repetitive. But we still love you, Jerry!

[Brian Gagliard · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If These Walls Could Talk : Boston Red Sox" is a New York Times Bestseller that takes a deep dive into the Boston Red Sox by announcer and former Red Sox, Jerry Remy as he tells the stories from the players coach and office views throughout his career with the Boston Red Sox. Jermey Remy is a very notable player for the Boston Red Sox as he is a Red Sox Hall of Famer class of 2006, and a Legendary NESN broadcaster for the Red Sox for decades. He passed in 2021 due to cancer. This Book takes a deep dive on his career as a Boston Red Sox, his battles with depression, the dominant 2004 ALCS comeback against the Yankees, and Behind the Scenes stories. The theme of this story is the rich history and culture community the Red Soxs have had since Jerry Remy joined the team. It takes a deep dive into everything that Remy experienced in the famous organization.

In the book, my favorite character would of course be the author himself, Jerry Remy, as I was able to make a close connection with him in the story. As someone who wants to take up in college and after college the broadcasting career, I was able to stay very connected and interested in the story. What surprised me the most about Remy in the story was his battles with depression. Depression back in the day wasn't as seriously addressed as it is in today's world, and Remy experienced depression throughout his broadcasting career after getting cancer in 2008. The ability to power though that obstacle for so long is something not a lot of people can do and it shows how Jerry fought really hard and he mentioned in the book how much the Red Sox nation had his back during all of it sending him love and really caring about Jerry during the difficult time, with fans missing his voice in the booth from April 2009 - to his eventual return in August of that same year. Jerry was diagnosed with Lung cancer in 2008 and battled with it up until his passing in 2021. What I also learned in the book throughout reading was that I was surprised about how he had a forced retirement from the MLB in 1986 due to a knee injury. Remy battled through what really was the heart of the curse of the bambino from when he played for the Red Sox from '78 - '85 with his retirement coming in spring training of '86. However this story actually tells us about what he loved more as he said, the broadcasting side of his career. Remy found love right away when he started doing color for the Red Sox and NESN in 1993. He told stories about being there for the 2004 ALCS comeback, dugout stories with players such as David Ortiz, and Dustin Padoria, and how he loved the beloved Fenway Park and how he made relationship with almost every staff members and got to games earlier just to speak with those employees, and that is something that I was able to connect with a lot in the story, and I think having that personality as a Hall of Famer, and a broadcaster, goes along way and shows that Remy cared a lot about the Red Sox fans and the community as a whole.

Overall, my thoughts on this book were extremely positive. I enjoyed this book very much as it was based on a topic I was very interested in such as the history of a player, it being a Boston Red Sox story and myself being a personal fan of the Red Sox, and Remy being a broadcaster which is something I am inspired to be. What I learned from the book is to live the life that you want to live and live it to the fullest of your ability. Remy went through the worst of the worst in his broadcasting career but battled through all of it and it showed me that he was a very strong person throughout all of his life, and he did it all for not just himself, or his family, but did it for the Red Sox fans. I not only would recommend this book to baseball fans, or sports casting fans, but to someone who is looking for a very powerful message and a story that pulls at the heartstrings because that's how the book reflected on me. It's the classic true story of someone who opens up to everyone about the battles he faced, but also gave light where when your reading it, your not thinking of just the worst for the guy, but your thinking of all the memories that Remy was able to create with being a broadcaster for one the the best teams for 25 years. People who are history fans can also read this and be interested as he compared things happening in the organization from when he was playing to when he was retired and how similar they were because of Fenway Park, yet how different they were due to the times being modernized and baseball evolving extremely over the past couple decades. Remy makes sure he tells readers in the story how he personally felt during each of the stories that were told in the book, making it almost feel more like a conversation, than just listening, which I really enjoy as someone who usually can't focus on a book that doesn't have that aspect to it. So overall, I would recommend this story to people as it is a book that can connect to everybody in a way, and can show anybody that you can do anything with no matter what you're dealing with. Remy gives advice towards the end on what to do and how to take each situation the correct way and I believe that he did take every situation correctly and I have a lot of respect for him opening up about such difficult topics.

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 2 out of 5]

RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: A VERY MISLEADING TITLE… THIS IS A BIOGRAPHY!!
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Based on the title the reader would anticipate all types of sacred… behind sealed clubhouse doors… not ever open to the public or the press… the true uncensored… scalding… mysterious… complete historical character changing anecdotes… that would make lifelong Red Sox icons… shrink… or become tainted for all eternity in the hearts and souls… of true lifelong… Red Sox fans! No such material is provided in this book. In fact if these Red Sox walls did really talk in this book… a team of master painters must have come in before the interviews and spackled it completely… because the Red Sox walls did no talking in this book!

This is plain and simple a short biography of Jerry Remy who played baseball for the Angels from 1975-1977… and for the Red Sox from 1978-1984… and who has “served as NESN’s color commentator on Red Sox broadcasts since 1988.” The writing is in a very simplistic… non-captivating style. Perhaps the most interesting portions of the book is Remy’s early life growing up in New England and loving the Red Sox… and idolizing Carl Yastrzemski (“Yaz)… and like so many kids in New England… he imitated Yaz’s unique batting style. The most appealing pages for baseball fans… involve his pre-major league travails in school and eventually in the minor leagues. His time in the minor leagues… when Remy had very little confidence or belief… that he would ever make the big leagues… shares with the reader life in a clubhouse and on the field… with youngsters who still held on to the childhood dream of being a Major League player… along with the many veterans who were on the way down… some having already had their short “cup-of-coffee” in the “big-show”… and were depressed and disillusioned. The short bursts of introspection… that described the old-school scouts… coaches… and managers… that helped Remy grow as a player… and keep his dwindling hopes alive is by far the most compelling.

This short tome crawls at many places… especially the chapters regarding the championship Red Sox teams… Chapter 6 (2004)… Chapter 7 (2007)…. Chapter 8 (2013)… Chapter 9 (2018)… the writing here is literally like someone simply took old sports sections and recited line items from box scores. When it gets to Chapter 12 (My Broadcast Partners)… though it is obviously well intentioned… it comes across like a combination of a TV series that was cancelled and one of the stars is thanking all the people behind the scenes… or like an Academy Award acceptance speech… when the orchestra starts playing to get someone off the stage.

It is also quite surprising Remy’s stance on steroids. Not only does he barely act like it was a problem with Roger Clemens using them… but the author states that if steroids were available when he played… HE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THEM. That’s got to be quite a disappointment to many fans.

There were also TWO MAJOR STATISTICAL AND HISTORICAL MISTAKES:
Note 1: On page 72 the author in describing when he played on the same team as Yaz…. “great moments like when he got his 3,000th hit AND 500TH HOME RUN.” Yaz NEVER got his 500th home run… his career total in home runs was 452!
Note 2: On page 83… there is a full page picture of Dave Ortiz circling the bases with a walk off home run. The caption says it was Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS… THAT IS WRONG… IT WAS GAME 4 OF THE 2004 ALCS.

It seems almost incomprehensible that the author… the editor… the publisher… could release a book with such major mistakes. Boy… oh… boy… if those walls could really talk?!?!

[Zachary Obel-Omia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book definitely made me a very sad reading it reminiscing about Jerry Remy. It was especially sad hearing in the end about how he has no plans to retire anytime soon and we now know he would actually die 2 years after the publication of this book. This is why I felt I needed to read this book and I actually planned to read it closer to the anniversary of his death, but I ran out of other books to read. The reason I did not rank this higher is because there’s a lot of Red Sox stories in here. I do appreciate them, but I wish the book was more so focused on Remy because I found those passages to be infinitely more interesting. I’ve heard about the Red Sox a million times and as a huge fan I’ve watched them so much that Remy’s story is what I wanted to hear. Not how the WS winners did (I’ve read plenty about that especially 2004) because these parts were interesting, but I do believe there are many Red Sox authors that make it more interesting. I also appreciated the foreword and the afterword which is also partially why I wish he went into more depth with some of his coworkers instead of just having small entries about them. Also, I wish he also had more about his favorite players and the relationship he had with them. That to me was more valuable than say the section where he’s just comparing the players (which he went into much more detail about) Remy’s playing career was fantastic to hear about as well as his life before the big leagues (though I wish there was more on that) and his broadcasting career as well as his personal life. But I do wish there was more content about that because I believe the depression, cancer, and Jared’s crime were among the most interesting parts of the book. Basically in summary I thought his personal life was very interesting and I wanted an even deeper dive of it and if that meant cutting out or shortening some of the Red Sox WS team content then I would’ve been for it

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right up front I will tell you I am an obsessed Red Sox fan and huge fan of Jerry Remy...the RemDawg. He comes into my "baseball room" every night to broadcast the adventures of my favorite team. I was very excited when I heard him talk about his book on the broadcasts. I could not wait to get my very own copy. Well, it was worth the wait. I found it enthralling.

Jerry has had a fine career as a ball player, first with the Angels and then my beloved Red Sox. They are his beloved Red Sox as well. He has been broadcasting their games for more than 30 years. He has been inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame. I find his analyses to be well informed by his playing days. The games are not the same without him.

He not only writes about the team and players over the past 30+ years but also about his personal life. Much of it made headlines in the Boston sports arena. I felt his love of his career both on the field and off. I felt his battles with depression, cancer, and his honesty about his family life. The sadness I felt reading the last third of the book just made me admire his strength even more.

This is a must for any fan of not only the Red Sox, but Jerry Remy himself. He truly bares his soul. Kudos to him. The Afterword by his former partner, Don Orsillo, is especially heart-felt and tugged at my heart strings even more. But his life partner, Phoebe, is the center of his support group. She deserves every word of recognition he gave her.

I will probably read this again because it made a big impression on me. Thank you, Jerry, for sharing with us, your fans. Stay strong.

[Fay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being an avid Red Sox fan, there was no question when I learned that Jerry Remy was publishing a book that I'd be reading it. The book not only covered his career as a player but his longer career as a broadcaster for NESN, the New England network which covers the Sox games. I am old enough to remember when he played second base for the team in my younger years (he's about 10 years younger than I am). For years now I've had the pleasure of hearing his color input to the broadcasts. His knowledge of the game is so complete that his input is at times a learning experience as well as at times very entertaining. Quite honestly, he has stolen the hearts of many fans with his humor and his personal struggles with cancer. The book is well written although almost seems a little jumpy at times. There are times when I wish he'd provided a deeper explanation of something, but perhaps that's just me being nosy in the life of someone I greatly admire.

[Greg Gorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is all-encompassing. ITWCT covers Remy’s career as a player and a broadcaster. It also looks at his personal life, and he doesn’t hide from talking about his son. Rent talks about what went into his preparation before broadcasting games and how his playing career helped him when talking to players when he worked for NESN.
ITWCT gives interesting behind-the-scenes looks at how long people work to get ready for a broadcast. Remy also has some good anecdotes from his playing days and what he did in the off-season.

[Patricia Rohner · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Jerry Remy, you will love this book. It is full of baseball knowledge, a heart warming human story, and all kinds of little baseball bits of nickel knowledge. How Jerry became the man that he is, and how he has weathered his tragedies and its and downs. He is a true human being and a baseball savant. I love him even more than I did before I read his book. I recommend this book highly. You can't put it down!

[Brian Merrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jerry Remy's story, an intimate look at his life as a player and broadcaster

This is Jerry's story, in his own words, from his youth to his playing days, from his early years in the booth to his cancer battles. This book tells the story so well that I can hear Jerry in my head as I read it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys watching the Red Sox and is a fan of Jerry Remy.

[Barbara A. White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remdog at his best...

I chose this book because I have always loved hearing Jerry Remy on TV broadcasting my beloved Red Sox games.His book, like him, is open & accurate about all that has happened in his life. He has had a lot of sadness & health issues & has come out strong thru it all. I would recommend this book to any one in Red Sox Nation who loves this man as much as I do.

[Lawrence Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the Bruins one and this was very similar. Most of the stories were very familiar to me. The personal stories by Remy were interesting. He really just skimmed over his son’s crime and never mentions how he covered for him for years. Not sure who edits these books but several grammatical errors and one photo caption has Ortiz with walk off hit in game three in 2004 against NY but the Sox were destroyed in the game and of course free from the local public library

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very decent read. I didn't realize going in that the book was largely going to be about Remy. I listened to it as an audiobook and from a cursory glance, I was thinking it was kind of all Red Sox history... which there is a fair amount of. Given the limitations of Remy's era-- fandom, playing career, and broadcasting career-- it is a pretty good overview of that time span of Red Sox history. It's a pleasant book, but nothing earth-shattering.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a Red Sox fan I had to pick this up at the library. Much of the information provided about the players were things a fan would already know, but I give him credit for his honesty near the end as he talks about his depression, his health issues, and his son. As I was reading the book I kept thinking that he had talked into a recording device, someone transcribed the recording, and a third person edited it a bit.

[Adam‘’s book reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you grew up listening to Jerry Remi this is an excellent book for you. Especially if you remember 2004 in the 2007 World Series it’s like going back down memory lane. I especially like hearing the behind-the-scenes stories of his early childhood and his time on the field as a player. That being said he repeats himself so many timesIt’s not funny. That’s the reason why I gave the book such a low score.

[Bill Mack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give it three stars for the content. I love hearing stories from Remy. I don't give it more than that because I did not care for the writing style or the ways the stories were written. I would have preferred a better writer do more cleanup. Remy is a great audible story teller but it didn't come out in the book form.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun little book. It is unfortunate that Jerry is no longer here. So this book also made me sad and nostalgic. The writing is not the best, but you can hear Jerry in the words. There were some great stories and anecdotes. It was a little bit of everything. This is a must read for any Red Sox fans who are also fans of the RemDawg.

[Emma Houghton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really fun to read as a diehard Red Sox fan. I especially loved the insight into the championship teams and Remy's different broadcast partners. You could definitely tell he was given the reins in telling his story which felt very authentic. What I expected it to be, a cool book for Red Sox fans and huge fans of Jerry Remy.

[Mary F Hatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The real Jerry

I downloaded the book last night and read it through two Red Sox games, !listening to Jerry as I read. Excellent book. I've loved Jerry for years and now feel as if I really know him. Hope to keep listening to him for years to come.

[Guy · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are a true Red Sox fan, this book is a must read. It does a terrific job recounting the successful seasons 2004 forward. It does a great job recounting the author's baseball career. The author is clearly a novice at writing, repeats himself many times etc.

[Philip Lister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it Rem Dawg ! I don’t know if you read these. Great stuff I would just have wanted more detail . But everything you did include was great! Live long and prosper!🖖🏻☮️❤️⚾️💪🏻 I hope you continue to kick cancer’s ass!

[David Pepin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The baseball parts are done better elsewhere, but RemDawg is at his best when he's talking about his personal struggles with cancer and depression (not to mention his son's murder of his daughter-in-law).

[Keegan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I miss Jerry Remy. How can you not love the Rem-Dawg? This book is of course a walk down memory lane for fans but also a beautiful insight into a man that we all didn’t know enough about. I’m so glad I got around to finally reading this.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realize they wanted to let Jerry's "voice" shine through, but it really needs A LOT more editing.

[Robert Canyock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any sox fan who wants a stroll down memory lane reliving the ups and downs of both the sox and remdawg from the 70’s to today.