ESPN family remembers Boston Red Sox PA announcer Carl Beane, “Voice of Fenway”

The death of Boston Red Sox public address announcer, Carl Beane, at the age of 59, on Wednesday shocked many in and around baseball.

Carl was a long-time contributor to ESPN Radio and he had developed relationships with many of the folks in ESPN’s radio and baseball families.

Here, Front Row presents some thoughts on Carl from people who had the pleasure of knowing him.

We all extend our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Carl.

(Further remembrances will be added throughout Wednesday night and Thursday as they are received by ESPN Communications.)

“Carl’s voice sounded like it came right from the heavens. It was the perfect sound on a beautiful sunny day at Fenway Park and that sound will be missed tremendously.” – Dave O’Brien, ESPN play-by-play announcer and Red Sox radio announcer

“Carl Beane worked for ESPN Radio as a reporter covering the Boston sports teams since our inception, and I had the privilege of working alongside him for the past 17 seasons at Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and Patriots games. There was no mistaking his voice when Carl was on the air. Boston was so lucky to have him as the ‘Voice of Fenway Park.’ Never was a job so perfectly suited for someone. He touched many lives with his kindness and stories. My fondest memory of Carl was, after a decade of losing in the annual Red Sox-Yankees media game that Carl managed, Boston had a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the final media game played at old Yankee Stadium. Boston lost a treasure of a man today and I lost a good friend.” – Louise Cornetta, ESPN Radio Program Director

“It’s sad to hear. He loved his job. He was so proud to have that job.” – Terry Francona, ESPN Analyst, former Red Sox manager

“First and foremost, he was a very nice man. He always had a smile on his face and he was one of those people you looked forward to seeing at the ballpark everyday. As a PA announcer, he was very, very good. He did a great job and he always appreciated having that job. He was the ‘Voice of Fenway Park.’ Carl had big shoes to fill coming in after Sherm Feller and I think he did it.” – Sean McDonough, ESPN play-by-play announcer

“Rest in Peace Carl Beane, God Bless your soul. The voice of the Red Sox in Fenway. Carl Beane and Harry Kalas calling games on the ultimate field, Heaven is blessed today.” – Curt Schilling, ESPN analyst via his Twitter account, @gehrig38

“Carl absolutely reveled in his role as Sox PA announcer, and took enormous pride in being able to call himself the ‘Voice of Fenway Park.’ Besides his extraodinary pipes, I’ll always visualize him as this gnomish character in full Red Sox uniform, managing the Boston media team against the New York team in their annual games at Fenway and Yankee Stadium.” – Gordon Edes, ESPNBoston.com

“Carl Beane had some of the biggest shoes in the world to fill, Sherm Feller. Beane’s voice became synonomous with Fenway. He will be missed.” – Karl Ravech, Host, ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, via his Twitter account, @karlravechespn

“Carl Beane had a wonderful, distinctive voice, fit for Fenway. I will always remember how kind he was to my two children, Lucia and Salvador, when they had the privilege to be a Little Star and announce a Red Sox batter two years ago. As a native of the Boston-area and a lifelong Red Sox fan, Beane took the baton from Sherm Feller and kept the bar high. Like the few left fielders who had the honor to play in front of The Wall, the public address announcer has had only a few stable voices from (Sherm) Feller to Beane. The next one will have a hard time matching his predecessors.” Andy Katz, ESPN.com senior college basketball writer and Boston native

“Carl Beane had one of those unmistakable voices with a calm and soothing delivery. He loved his hockey and especially his baseball. There was no place he’d rather spend his summer nights than at Fenway Park. One of his favorite pictures was of he, Sherm Feller (former Red Sox PA announcer) and Bob Sheppard (former Yankee PA announcer). They were his mentors, so to speak, and once Carl learned how to use a laptop (he was old school!) that picture became his wallpaper. When I wass a young radio reporter in 2001, Carl took me under his wing and promised my dad he’d look after me in this business. (My dad passed away two years later.) I am forever grateful. He could make you laugh with jokes or just hold your attention with his countless and endearing stories. He was “Beaner” and he will be missed.” – Kevin Winter, ESPN Radio SportsCenter Anchor/Host and Boston-area Reporter