Former WBZ-TV journalist and Red Sox Poet Laureate Dick Flavin died at 86. Let’s see more details about Dick Flavin and his cause of death in detail.
Who was Dick Flavin?
Flavin was also a former WBZ-TV journalist, playwright, and the voice of the Boston Red Sox for many years. He was an American poet known as the “poet laureate of the Boston Red Sox.
Flavin was born on December 7, 1936, in Quincy and attended Stonehill college. He worked as a press spokesman, speechwriter, and press secretary for several Democratic politicians before he turned political reporter in 1970, joining WBZ-TV in 1973. He worked for WBZ-TV for 14 years, winning several Emmys. In 2011, he was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Dick Flavin was a fixture on Boston TV, a familiar face and voice at Fenway, and our own beloved poet laureate.
Our hearts are with the Flavin family. His words and warmth will always be part of the organization. pic.twitter.com/l1BFxpFil8
— Red Sox (@RedSox) December 28, 2022
His Greatest Fame
Flavin also wrote a one-man play, “According to Tip,” about the life of Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neill. However, his greatest fame came when he drove to Florida with former Red Sox players Dom DiMaggio and Johnny Pesky to visit Ted Williams.
Flavin rewrote “Casey at the Bat,” turning it into “Teddy at that Bat,” changing the poem’s plot. He recited the poem for the three former Red Sox players. Word of the poem got out, and Flavin was asked to recite it at Fenway Park when Williams died, eventually reciting the poem all over the country.
Flavin continued to write poems about the Red Sox and became the public address announcer at Fenway Park in 2013. Over the last several years, Flavin has kept a blog on his website, with his last post, “Who’s to blame for the Red Sox Woes?” just six days before his death.
Dick Flavin’s Creative Work
He was asked to reprise the recitation at Fenway Park several months later at a memorial when Williams died. He has since performed it all over the country, including at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and with the Boston Pops Orchestra at Boston’s Symphony Hall.
David Halberstam, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, heard about the road trip that Flavin, DiMaggio, and Pesky made to see Williams and wrote a book about it, The Teammates, which became the most successful book of Halberstam’s career. Later ESPN produced a documentary based on the book. Narrated by Flavin, it was nominated for a national Emmy award.
Some if his poems
He made appearances for the team where he recited his verses, at events like Truck Day. In 2015, he compiled his poems into a book, Red Sox Rhymes: Verses and Curses, which was praised by notable Red Sox fans including Doris Kearns Goodwin and Michael Dukakis. In a promotional video, Flavin says the book can teach “everything you want to know about the Red Sox, and it does it all in verse.” The book appeared on the New York Times sports bestseller list in August and September 2015.
Flavin himself performed in the role on several occasions and was quoted as saying “It was a challenge to write about, and will be a challenge to portray, such a unique character.
If you've never read Dick Flavin's poem for Fenway's centennial, you have to. pic.twitter.com/8hrbozi2dD
— Gabrielle (@gfstarr1) December 21, 2020
Cause of Death
The television journalist and political commentator, died Wednesday at the age of 86, his family said.
In a statement, Flavin’s daughter, Leslie Flavin McCarthy, said he died at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth following a fall on Sunday.
“His daughter, Meredith, was holding his hand and the rest of his family were holding him in our hearts,” she said. “He was a real renaissance man — the breadth of his talents was staggering.”
Leslie Flavin McCarthy Posted
My father, Dick Flavin, passed away this morning, at 86. My sister, Meredith, was holding his hand and the rest of his family was holding him in our hearts.
He was the Poet Laureate of the Boston Red Sox, the Voice of Fenway Park, a television journalist, a political commentator and so much more.
It is with tears in our eyes and smiles on our faces that we remember him.
Boston Red Sox Posted
The Boston Red Sox took to Twitter writing, “Dick Flavin was a fixture on Boston TV, a familiar face and voice at Fenway, and our beloved poet laureate. Our hearts are with the Flavin family. His words and warmth will always be part of the organization.”
Flavin, of Quincy, was an American poet and author known as the Poet Laureate of the Boston Red Sox. https://t.co/GukBhiTHnX
— WBZ NewsRadio (@wbznewsradio) December 29, 2022
Julie Halpin Posted
I am so sorry to hear this news. He was such a dear friend to my father from the Merrymount days. I like to think they have a lot to catch up on now that they’re together in heaven.
Jonathan Sloane Posted
So, so sorry. My condolences. I knew Dick for ~40 years. through TOYL, Catholic Charities, and just Boston. He was a master of prose and just a warm, thoughtful, nice guy. A loss to Boston, but never to be forgotten. May he rest in peace.
📹 It's not #RedSox truck day with without the poetry of Dick Flavin! #WBZ pic.twitter.com/TN3tSEn36i
— Joe Giza (@JoeGiza) February 3, 2020
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