Dick Berardino
From SoSH
Long time Minor League Manager and Current Player Development Consultant.
Contents |
Amateur Career
Dick Berardino was a three sport athlete from Watertown, Massachussetts, and went to the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, where he lettered in 2 sports (football and baseball). He helped leaded the Crusaders to a NCAA District I title in baseball in 1958. Berardino signed an amateur free agent contract with the New York Yankees in 1958.
Professional Career
Dick started his pro journey with Modesto in the California League, where he hit a robust .378. He would continue his minor league playing career for 7 more seasons, with a highlight of being named as a Texas League All-Star in 1961 (.301/20/93). He would move over to the coaching side of the street in 1966, when he became manager of the Sarasota Yankees in the Gulf Coast League.
Red Sox Career
In 1968, Berardino switched sides in the rivalry, becoming a coach for the Jamestown Falcons. The Red Sox promoted him to manger of the Williamsport Red Sox in 1971... and he would stay manager of the Sox New York-Penn League team for 15 years (Williamsport, 1971-72 Elmira Pioneers, 1973-1985). The Red Sox moved him out of short season A ball in 1986, as he became a coach for the Pawtucket Red Sox. He would rejoin the managerial ranks in 1987, with the South Atlantic League Greensboro Hornets. When the affiliation switched in 1988 to Lynchburg Virginia, Berardino moved with the team and had, perhaps, his best year. His team won the second half division title and eventually participated in the South Atlantic League Championship series... and Berardino won the Carolina League Manager of the Year award and Baseball America's Class-A Manager of the Year.
The awards did not go unnoticed in Boston, as Berardino was finally promoted to the Majors in 1989, becoming the Bullpen Coach for Joe Morgan. He continued in that position in 1990, before moving to Third Base in 1991. With the change of managers after the 1991 season, Berardino would work as a Sox consultant.
Berardino would return to managing and the New York-Penn league, managing the Lowell Spinners in 1997 and 1998.
External Sources
- 1991 Red Sox Scorebook Magazine, 1st Edition
