NEW: ‘Voice of Red Sox’ Suffered Heart Attack before Crash
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The team issued a press release in which President/CEO Larry Lucchino praised the “Voice of Fenway Park” for his “presence, his warmth and his voice.”
According to Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr., Beane was the driver of a 2004 Suzuki heading north on Holland Road in Sturbridge early Wednesday afternoon. A preliminary investigation revealed the car crossed double-solid lines, left the road and struck a tree and wall at 233 Holland Road around 12:30 p.m., according to the district attorney.
The 59-year-old Beane, who resides in Holland, was pronounced dead at Harrington Hospital in Southbridge.
Beane was the only person in the car and no other vehicles were involved. The accident took place near Hemlock Ridge Golf Course. According to Early, golfers at Hemlock called police at 12:39 p.m. to notify them of the crash.
Beane will be missed
“We are filled with sadness at this tragic news,” said Lucchino. “No one loved his role with the Red Sox more than Carl did his. He adored the opportunity to pay homage each game to Sherm Feller, and to contribute to the culture of Fenway Park, a place he loved passionately. His legion of friends with the Red Sox and the media will miss him enormously, and all of Red Sox Nation will remember his presence, his warmth, and his voice.”
Beane was in his 10th season as PA announcer, a job he won during a competition held after the 2002 season. He started on Opening Day 2003. His voice greets visitors at “The Baseball Experience” at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.
A long career
According to the Red Sox, Beane was born and raised in Agawam. He graduated from Agawam High School in 1971 and the Career Academy School of Broadcasting in 1972, when he began his broadcasting career at WMAS in Springfield.
Bean provided national updates for ESPN Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, Westwood One, Associated Press, and MetroNetworks, and also worked for WBZ Radio in Boston, WBRK in Pittsfield (1974-76), WARE in Ware (1976-94), and WESO in Southbridge (1994-98).
He also wrote columns about the Red Sox for area newspaper companies including Stonebridge Press and Turley Inc.
Beane taught sports broadcasting and play-by-play classes at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Needham. He has also been a national spokesman for The American Diabetes Association, and served as a narrator for Talking Books at the Perkins School for the Blind.
“On behalf of John Henry, Tom Werner, our partners, and our entire organization, we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Lorraine; his daughter, Nicole; and his granddaughters, Maddie and Gena,” Lucchino said.
The Red Sox paid tribute to Beane in pre-game ceremonies tomorrow before their game against the Cleveland Indians Wednesday night.
His family asks that contributions in his memory be donated to the Holland Congregational Church Building Fund (11 Sturbridge Road, Holland, MA 01521) and the American Diabetes Association (via http://www.diabetes.org).
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
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