PawSox radio broadcaster Bob Socci named as new play-by-play announcer for the New England Patriots
The Pawtucket Red Sox are pleased to announce that Bob Socci, one of their radio broadcasters, has been named as the new radio voice of the New England Patriots. Socci, who is in his first season with the PawSox after being hired this past March, will stay with the PawSox for the next few months before taking over Patriots duties on or around July 1.
Socci, 45, will join color commentator Scott Zolak on 98.5 The Sports Hub for every Patriots game this season. He replaces Gil Santos who retired following the 2012 season after 36 years of calling Pats game.
Prior to joining the PawSox this season, Bob had spent the past seven years as a radio broadcaster for the Norfolk Tides the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles in Norfolk, VA. He has also been the college football play-by-play broadcaster for the United States Naval Academy heard on the Navy Football Network since 1997.
In addition, Bob called play-by-play of Navy basketball from 1997-2008 and since 2003 has done Patriot League basketball play-by-play on various television networks including CSTV, ESPNU, and CBS Sports Network.
Socci (pronounced SO-see) lives in Milton, MA with his wife Monique Tello and their children Gio (2½) and Maria (1). Bob will remain on the air for the PawSox until early-July as he will continue to team with partner Jeff Levering for all home and away games on the PawSox Radio Network.
The well-documented group of former PawSox broadcasters in the "big leagues" - all of whom have gone directly from Pawtucket to the major leagues - include: Gary Cohen (PawSox radio in 1987 & '88) who has been with the New York Mets ever since leaving the PawSox, Don Orsillo (1997-2000) who is in his 13th season with the Boston Red Sox on NESN, Dave Flemming (2001-2003) who has been a radio voice of the San Francisco Giants for the past nine years including two World Series titles in the past three years, Andy Freed (2001-2004) who has called Tampa Bay Rays games since leaving Pawtucket, Dave Jageler (2005) who was with the PawSox for just one season before he took over as the Washington Nationals radio voice where he has remained ever since, and Aaron Goldsmith (2012) who also spent just one season with the PawSox before getting the call to the Seattle Mariners this season. Furthermore, Dan Hoard, who was a PawSox radio broadcaster from 2006-2011, became the new Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) radio voice in the fall of 2011. And now Bob Socci spends just a few months with the PawSox before he becomes the new play-by-play man for the New England Patriots.