Broadcast Rites and Sites

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 26 JAN 2004

Castiglione, who has been the radio announcer for the Red Sox for two decades now, presents games in a vivid yet reserved manner that is a lost art. Sadly, his radio voice does not translate well to the page. In this memoir, Castiglione relies heavily on the short, to-the-point vignettes that he uses, with great success, between pitches during his broadcasts to strengthen his connection to his listener. But in writing, the stories, in most cases, feel truncated. They work in the"Quick Pitches" section, where Castiglione tells colorful tales and gives behind the scenes insight on his favorite players and baseball moments, but when he tries to relive entire seasons or careers, they fall short. Dedicating a chapter to various major league cities is an interesting idea, but aside from some good tips on places to eat, these travelogues are too cursory to give a sense for each place. Aside from his references to famous people and places, Castiglione is at his most interesting when discussing how he got into broadcasting and, after much bouncing around, ended up in Boston. It is easy to relate to his job hunt, and he gives readers an interesting glimpse into the first generation of Americans to seek satisfaction, not just sustenance, from their chosen field of employment. It is obvious Castiglione has a lot of stories to tell, but other than the diehard members of Red Sox Nation, most people would rather"hear them on the radio than see them on the page."