Dick Berardino
Encyclopedia
Richard John Berardino is a player development consultant for the Boston Red Sox
of Major League Baseball
. A former outfielder
and longtime manager
in minor league baseball
, he also spent three years (1989–91) as a coach
with the Red Sox. As a player, Berardino batted and threw right-handed, stood 6'1" (185 cm) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86 kg).
A three-sport star at Watertown, Massachusetts
, High School, Berardino graduated from the College of the Holy Cross
in 1959 after leading the Crusaders to the 1958 NCAA District One baseball
championship. He signed with the New York Yankees
upon graduation and batted
.378 in his first professional season, with the Modesto Reds
of the Class C California League
. He reached Triple-A for three seasons (1962–64), playing for the Richmond Virginians
, Indianapolis Indians
and Spokane Indians
, but never broke through to the major league level. All told, Berardino appeared in 812 minor league games, and batted .272 with 702 hits
and 70 home runs.
Berardino compiled a record of 753 wins and 858 losses (.467) with two championships in 21 seasons (1966–67; 1971–85; 1987–88; 1997–98) as a minor league manager. Nineteen of those 21 seasons were spent in short-season leagues. Berardino managed two full-season Class A clubs, the Greensboro Hornets of the South Atlantic League
in 1987, and the Lynchburg Red Sox
of the Carolina League
the following season.
His managing career began in the Yankee organization, where he handled Rookie-level clubs in the Gulf Coast
and Appalachian
leagues. In 1968, Berardino joined the Red Sox organization as a minor league coach, and 2011
marks his 44th consecutive year with Boston. From 1971 through 1985, he spent 15 consecutive seasons as the manager of the Red Sox' Short Season Class A New York-Penn League farm clubs, the Williamsport Red Sox
and the Elmira Pioneers/Red Sox/Suns
. He returned to the NY-PL a dozen years later, in 1997-98, as manager of the Lowell Spinners
. In addition to his minor league managerial and coaching assignments, and his three years as bullpen and third-base coach on the staff of Joe Morgan
in Boston, he also has served the Red Sox as field coordinator and assistant field coordinator of minor league instruction and roving outfield and baserunning coach.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. A former outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and longtime manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, he also spent three years (1989–91) as a coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
with the Red Sox. As a player, Berardino batted and threw right-handed, stood 6'1" (185 cm) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86 kg).
A three-sport star at Watertown, Massachusetts
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
, High School, Berardino graduated from the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
in 1959 after leading the Crusaders to the 1958 NCAA District One baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
championship. He signed with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
upon graduation and batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.378 in his first professional season, with the Modesto Reds
Modesto Nuts
The Modesto Nuts are a minor league baseball team in Modesto, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Colorado Rockies. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats 4,000 fans...
of the Class C California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. He reached Triple-A for three seasons (1962–64), playing for the Richmond Virginians
Richmond Virginians
The Richmond Virginians was the name of a minor league baseball Class AAA International League franchise that played in Richmond, Virginia, from 1954 through 1964....
, Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
and Spokane Indians
Spokane Indians
The Spokane Indians are a minor league baseball team located in Spokane, Washington, United States. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2003. The Indians play home games at Avista Stadium...
, but never broke through to the major league level. All told, Berardino appeared in 812 minor league games, and batted .272 with 702 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and 70 home runs.
Berardino compiled a record of 753 wins and 858 losses (.467) with two championships in 21 seasons (1966–67; 1971–85; 1987–88; 1997–98) as a minor league manager. Nineteen of those 21 seasons were spent in short-season leagues. Berardino managed two full-season Class A clubs, the Greensboro Hornets of the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
in 1987, and the Lynchburg Red Sox
Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
of the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
the following season.
His managing career began in the Yankee organization, where he handled Rookie-level clubs in the Gulf Coast
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
and Appalachian
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
leagues. In 1968, Berardino joined the Red Sox organization as a minor league coach, and 2011
2011 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:December*December 5: Last time to outright a player prior to the Rule 5 Draft – 5 p.m. ET.*December 7: Last date for player who declared free agency to accept an arbitration offer from former club...
marks his 44th consecutive year with Boston. From 1971 through 1985, he spent 15 consecutive seasons as the manager of the Red Sox' Short Season Class A New York-Penn League farm clubs, the Williamsport Red Sox
Williamsport Red Sox
In 1971 the New York-Penn League team from Williamsport, PA changed affiliations and names, going from the Williamsport Astros to the Williamsport Red Sox. Managed by Dick Berardino, the Red Sox went 30-39-1 their first season, finishing 6th in the 8-team NY-Penn...
and the Elmira Pioneers/Red Sox/Suns
Elmira Pioneers
The Elmira Pioneers are an amateur baseball team based in Elmira, New York. They currently compete in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league. Prior to the 2006 baseball season, the team was a professional ballclub with a rich history of league...
. He returned to the NY-PL a dozen years later, in 1997-98, as manager of the Lowell Spinners
Lowell Spinners
The Lowell Spinners are a Short-Season A minor league baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.-History:Founded in 1996 after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers to Lowell, Massachusetts, the Spinners play in the New York - Penn League, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a...
. In addition to his minor league managerial and coaching assignments, and his three years as bullpen and third-base coach on the staff of Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan (manager)
Joseph Michael Morgan is a retired American infielder, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
in Boston, he also has served the Red Sox as field coordinator and assistant field coordinator of minor league instruction and roving outfield and baserunning coach.