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Dick Bresciani is the Ultimate Hall of Famer

12/03/2006 10:54 AM

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for immediate release: 3 December, 2006

Dick Bresciani is the Ultimate Hall of Famer

BOSTON – The year was 1967 and Detroit was experiencing the worst race riots in the nation’s history. Mini-skirts and and horn-rimmed glasses became ideal images amongst fashion icons and Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers captured Super Bowl I against the upstart AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.


A large CCBL contingent was in attendance for Dick Bresciani's induction into the Red Sox Hall of Fame. ( l-r) Randy Shepard, John Garner, Peter Scarafile, Dick Bresciani, Phil Edwards, Bob Clark, Art Dunn, Judy Walden Scarafile, and Dick Sullivan.
CCBL/photo 2006

     Ironically, a youthful Dick Bresciani became Director of Public Relations and Head Statistician of the Cape Cod Baseball League, the same year as the 100-to-1 Impossible Dream Boston Red Sox, who finished just ½ game ahead of the cellar-dwelling New York Yankees in 1966, capturing the American League pennant during what, was the most exciting four-team race in major league history.

     Bresciani, who served as publicist and head statistician with the Cape League from 1967-72, was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame Nov. 9 in a gala ceremony at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center featuring many of the team’s greats. Fellow inductees: Jerry Remy, George (the Boomer) Scott, former managers Dick Williams and Joe Morgan and the late Ellis Kinder and slugging shortstop Vern Stephens took stage at the Convention Center with pride. 

     The popular Bresciani, an inductee in the inaugural CCBL Hall of Fame class of 2001 and long-standing member of the League’s Board of Directors, has served in various capacities with the Red Sox. Spending the majority of his time in the public relations, historical and community relations departments, Bresciani, has served as vice president/publications and archives since 2003.


Mike Port, MLB's Vice President of Umpiring stops by to congratulate Dick Bresciani. Seated are Dr. Charles Steinberg,
 Joanne and Dick Bresciani.
CCBL/
photo 2006

     Chronicling many of the Red Sox’ magic moments since they finished just ½ game behind the Detroit Tigers during the strike-shortened 1972 season, the public and media relations guru is the person to ask if you have any questions pertaining to the history of the Old Towne Team. 

     Under Bresciani’s guidance, the Red Sox began a uniform number retirement policy in 1984, the national Tony Conigliaro Award in 1990 and the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995.

     This is not the first Hall of Fame honor for the Hopedale, Mass., native. Bresciani came to Boston after working at his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts, where he was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame for his years of work in sports information. He also received the University’s Alumni Award for Professional Excellence in 1994.

     He was also inducted into the Italian-American Hall of Fame last month, making it an impressive four Hall of Fame memberships for Dick.

     "It's humbling to think these people have done so much out on the field and [accomplished] great feats, coaching and playing, and I'm behind the scenes," said Bresciani at his acceptance speech. "It's nice to know that people behind the scenes can get recognized sometimes. Being with such a great organization as the Red Sox all these years just makes me proud and humble." 

     There is no shortage of great memories for 'Bresh,' as everyone who knows him around Fenway Park and the Cape League.

     "They start right in 1972, when we lost by a half game because there were an unequal amount of games due to the strike," he recalled. "Through the '75 and '86 World Series and the [one-game] playoff of '78, into the '90s and winning it all in 2004, that's the great climax of everything." 

     Two of Bresh’s all-time favorite players were part of the Red Sox Hall of Fame ceremony. Carl Yastrzemski, who was featured on a video, explained how much Bresciani helped him dealing with the media and former centerfielder Fred Lynn, also in attendance.

     “That was nice of Yaz, and Lynn was in the audience with his wife Natalie,” said Bresciani. “He (Lynn) looked terrific.”

     One person who actually got her start in the Cape League under the tutelage of Bresciani is current CCBL president Judy Walden Scarafile. Bresciani hired her as an official scorer 36 years ago in 1970.

     "Bresh has truly been part of the structural backbone of the Cape League,” said Scarafile. “He didn’t just coordinate the PR department, he was the PR department! And back in the 60’s, with just a handful of people in key positions in the League, Bresh was one of those people who help to shape it. He laid the foundation for PR and statistics...and what they are today.”

     Bresh has remained a close friend of the Cape League and has been a helpful liaison with Major League Baseball,” commented Scarafile after the Red Sox induction ceremony.

     Bresh and his wife Joanne live in Wellesley with a second home in Harwich, so he is never far from the CCBL games in the summer.

John Garner, Jr.
Director of Public Relations & Broadcasting
(508) 790-0394
[email protected] 

Daniel Scalia
Web Editor
(508) 944-6782
[email protected]