Behind The Scenes

ESPN Executive VP, Chuck Pagano, rocks the mic at Fenway Park

Chuck Pagano at Fenway Park.
Chuck Pagano served as the public address announcer at Fenway Park (Courtesy of Kevin Stolworthy)
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FENWAY PAGANO

Hardest name to pronounce. . . (Jarrod) Saltalamacchia
Best name for you personally to announce. . . David Ortiz (“My baritone voice rolled the ‘Z’ wonderfully!!”)
Hardest part of the job. . . No beer while watching the game!!!
Food highlight. . . Fenway Franks!!!
Favorite part of the day. . . “The entire day was wonderful but I was relieved that I did not screw anything up for the Red Sox Nation!!!”
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On Saturday at historic Fenway Park, those in attendance were treated to the dulcet tones of a true original – an original ESPN employee, that is.

Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, Chuck Pagano, served as the guest public address announcer for Boston’s matinee win over the New York Yankees. Reaching back to his days as a disc jockey (circa 1975 at WADS in Ansonia, Conn.), Pagano handled all the in-game PA duties for the crowd of 37,510.

“It was quite an experience,” said Pagano, a Waterbury, Conn. native. “It was exhausting, exhilarating and had an air of romance to it. As a Sox fan, it was wonderful to serve at the altar of Red Sox Nation.”

Joining Pagano for his day as the “Voice of Fenway Park” were his nieces, Kristin Santa Maria, Jessica Curtis and Sara Curtis. Even Pagano’s car had a day to remember: “My car was parked next to David Ortiz’s downstairs in the players parking area,” Pagano said. “I never saw Papi down there but my car was very excited to be parked next door to his.”

Chuck Pagano
Red circle: Chuck Pagano’s spot inside Fenway Park (Courtesy of Kevin Stolworthy)

Pagano’s deep, bellowing voice is so recognizable in ESPN circles that one co-worker who was coincidentally at Fenway on Saturday sent a text message mid-game asking if he was doing PA.

“It was surreal receiving that text,” he said. “I laughed and told her I was indeed. I guess my voice is pretty recognizable.

“I really never knew how much the game operations folks — sound person, scoreboard operators, the video replay and billboard producers, and the game director — did during the game. They made it all very easy and enjoyable,” he said. “It was definitely a fun experience and it was wonderful to have my family there to enjoy the day with me. I am glad I did it and I have been invited back by Red Sox President and CEO Larry Lucchino to do it again. Maybe if this gig at ESPN doesn’t work out, I will have something to fall back on!”

-David Scott contributed to this post

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