RIP J.P. Villaman

[yeszir]

Never listened to one of his game calls, but its sad to hear. RIP.

BOSTON (AP) -- A play-by-play announcer for a Spanish-language radio station that broadcasts Boston Red Sox games died in a car crash early Monday, only hours after broadcasting the team's win over the Yankees in New York.

 

Juan Pedro "J.P." Villaman, 46, of Lawrence, was driving north on Interstate 93 in Wilmington around 3:40 a.m. when he switched lanes and his Ford Explorer hit a box truck, state police said. Villaman's vehicle plummeted down an embankment, rolled over and struck a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

Villaman was an announcer for the "Spanish Beisbol Network" broadcasts of Red Sox games on WROL-AM. His calls also could be heard on cable television in Spanish voice-overs of games broadcast by the New England Sports Network.

 

Affectionately known to his listeners as "Papa Oso," or "Papa Bear," Villaman also was popular with many of the Hispanic players on the Red Sox team, said Bill Kulik, president of the Spanish Beisbol Network.

 

"He had this [Latino] community wrapped around his finger," Kulik said. "He was just a lovable old Papa Bear."

 

Villaman, whose partner in the broadcast booth was Uri Berenguer, has been announcing Red Sox games since 1995. He was one of the first Spanish-language announcers in major league baseball, and his audience grew when the Red Sox signed Pedro Martinez in 1998.

 

"J.P. and the Spanish Beisbol Network were trailblazers in the Boston area," Kulik said. "We have absolutely become a staple of the community, and J.P. was the papa of our group."

 

One of his signatures was yelling "Sientate!" or "Sit Down!" when an opposing batter struck out.

 

Kulik, who was to fill in for Villaman Monday night when the Red Sox take on the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park, said he plans to pay tribute to his friend and colleague by mimicking his strikeout call.

 

"We were all on Cloud Nine after the Red Sox won [sunday]," Kulik said. "Then you wake up in the morning to this kind of news. It took a while to register."

 

Red Sox spokesman Glenn Geffner said Villaman flew back to Boston this morning with the team after Sunday night's game against the Yankees in New York. He apparently was driving home from Logan Airport at the time of the crash.

 

Villaman appeared to be speeding when he lost control of his SUV, police said. The driver of the truck wasn't injured. No charges have been filed.

 

Before he started calling Red Sox games, Villaman hosted a sports talk radio show for a radio station in Lawrence. He got his start broadcasting games in his native Dominican Republic.

 

"I know he's been around the game for most of his lifetime," Geffner said. "He always showed up at the ballpark with a great deal of enthusiasm. He is certainly going to be missed."

 

Earlier this year, the Red Sox gave Villaman one of the diamond-encrusted World Series rings the team handed out to players and team employees to commemorate the historic championship. In an interview with the Eagle-Tribune of Lawrence, he said his 84-year-old mother cried when he told her about the gift.

 

"She was very proud. She loves the Red Sox, too," he said.

 

Villaman's death isn't the first tragedy to stun the team this season. On May 8, Red Sox clubhouse attendant Bernie Logue fell to his death from the sixth floor of a Boston parking garage after he attended the Celtics playoff game with Red Sox players.

 

"It certainly helps keep the wins and losses in perspective for everybody," Geffner said.

 

Villaman is survived by his wife, Noemi, and three children, according to Kulik.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/05/30/redsox.announcer.ap/index.html

[CalvnHobs6]

That is truely sad. RIP.

[YanksHater213]

Lawrence is close to me, Im sure I'll be hearing request for donations for some sort of foundation for him on the announcements in the morning. We did the same for Hector Paniagua, the studly Lawrence High Basketball player who was shot outside a club. Pretty sad, rest in peace.

[schillingouttheks]

I've never heard of him, but nontheless, it seems he was a good guy and a good announcer. RIP.

[Sox fan in Tex]

Yeah, I had heard of him before. 8 years of announcing, wow. May he R.I.P.