‘The Red Sox were my dream job’: Don Orsillo reflects on NESN tenure, reunites with former colleagues

“I don’t want to say they did me a favor or anything, because the Red Sox were my dream job.”

Don Orsillo waves from the broadcast booth following a video tribute during the eighth inning on Sept. 27, 2015. AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

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It’s been nearly 11 years since Don Orsillo was ousted as the voice of the Red Sox on NESN.

Orsillo is back in Boston this weekend with the San Diego Padres in town, the team he has called games for since 2016. It isn’t his first time back at Fenway Park since his time with NESN came to an abrupt end, but that doesn’t make his return less special.

Though more than a decade has passed since Orsillo called New England home, it’s evident that fans haven’t forgotten about him.

“Here we sit, 11 years later, and I’m walking around [Thursday] by the Pru, and people are still coming up to me to say hello and wish me well,” Orsillo told Chad Finn of The Boston Globe.

Orsillo, who was the Red Sox’ play-by-play voice from 2001 to 2015, said he appreciates fans reminding him that his legacy continues to live on.

“As I said in my last game calling the Red Sox, ‘How do you want to be remembered? To be remembered at all means a lot to me.’ That people remember me and Jerry [Remy] so fondly is very humbling.”

Orsillo is someone his former NESN colleagues are happy to see, too.

Current NESN Red Sox analyst Jim Rice took time to visit Orsillo, and the two snapped a selfie together. Orsillo shared it on his X account Saturday.

Orsillo also reunited with NESN Red Sox host and commentator Tom Caron.

Orsillo posted a simple photo of his view of Fenway Park from the booth on X Friday, and the comments section is full of love from the Red Sox faithful.

Over 10 years removed from his employer change, Orsillo called working for the Red Sox his “dream job,” but explained he loves his role in San Diego.

“Um … yeah, in some ways,” Orsillo told Finn when asked if things have worked out for the best. “I don’t want to say they (the Red Sox) did me a favor or anything, because the Red Sox were my dream job. But as far as a Plan B, yeah, it’s been wonderful.”

“I’m grateful that it has gone amazingly well,” Orsillo said of the Padres. “They’ve embraced me and my partner (Mark Grant), who was here before me.”

Kaley Brown

Sports producer

Kaley Brown is a sports producer for Boston.com, where she covers the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.

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