Jim Corsi, Ex-Red Sox Pitcher and Mass. Native, Dies at 60 of Cancer

Jim Corsi, ex-Red Sox pitcher and Mass. native, dies at age 60 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jim Corsi, a native of Newton, Massachusetts, who went on to pitch for his hometown Boston Red Sox, passed away early Tuesday morning from late-stage liver and colon cancer.

Corsi passed away peacefully with his family by his side.

“We were saddened to hear of Jim’s passing after his courageous battle with cancer,” Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy said. “Jim’s heart was so big and full of love that his legacy goes far beyond his playing career and World Series Championship. The affection he showed his family, this region, and every fan he encountered was incomparable. For me and so many others, he was the embodiment of that childhood dream to someday play for the hometown team. We were lucky to have had him as part of our Red Sox family, and extend our deepest condolences to his children, and all who knew and loved him. We lost a great one today.”

“I could always count on Jim,” said Red Sox Senior Vice President of Community, Alumni and Player Relations Pam Kenn. “His love and passion for the Red Sox, as well as his easy manner, constant willingness to help, and gift of great storytelling made him such a perfect representative for our organization. He brought so much to so many, with an infectious love of baseball, humor, and boundless energy and heart. We lost a great player today, but more importantly, a great friend.”

After graduating from Newton North High School, Corsi pitched for Division II St. Leo University in Florida before the New York Yankees selected him in the 1982 MLB Draft.

He spent four years in the Yankees' minor league system and two in Boston's before breaking into the big leagues with the Oakland Athletics in 1988. Corsi won a World Series with Oakland in 1989 and enjoyed a 10-year professional career, spending three seasons with the Red Sox from 1997 to 1999 while compiling a 3.35 ERA for Boston over 134 relief appearances.

A Boston-area native through and through, Corsi returned to Massachusetts following his playing career and ran a construction company with his brothers.

"The big thing that stands out with Jim, is ... he’s not just your friend, he had like 24 other friends on the team, and not too many guys have that," Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley said of his former A's teammate, according to The Boston Globe.

"Jim was as friendly as anything to everybody. Everybody had a relationship with him."

Corsi is survived by his four children, Julianne, Jenna, Mitch, and Joey.