Jim Corsi, 60, who spent five of his 10 big league seasons with Oakland, dies of cancer
Jon Becker
San Jose Mercury-News
January 4, 2022

(c) Houston Astros

BELLINGHAM, MA -- Jim Corsi, a universally liked and respected member of the A's last World Series championship team, died early Tuesday after a battle with cancer. He was 60.

The former relief pitcher's death was first reported by Corsi's good friend Steve Burton, a sports reporter for Boston's WBZ-TV, which just aired an emotional interview with Corsi on Monday.

"Jim Corsi passed away from cancer peacefully overnight with his family by his side. Way to finish strong, Jim. Rest in peace my friend. We love you," Burton tweeted Tuesday.

The Newton, Massachusetts-born Corsi had told WBZ of his diagnosis of terminal colon cancer and Stage IV liver cancer.

"I'm at peace," Corsi said during the interview. "I know if I die, I'm going to a better place. That's the Number One thing. I feel sorry for everyone that I'll leave behind."

Corsi spent half of his 10-year major league career with the A's, including his second season in 1989 when he helped Oakland to its fourth world title. The right-handed Corsi was part of a dominant A's bullpen in 1989 that was led by close friend and Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley.

WBZ-TV's segment Monday included touching footage of Eckersley's video call with a bed-ridden Corsi.

"It's all I've been thinking about is you," Eckersley told Corsi. "We're all here for you. We love you, you know? We love you!"

Although Corsi didn't make a World Series appearance when the A's swept the Giants, he enjoyed one of his best years on the mound that season. He had a 1.88 earned run average in 38.1 innings over 22 games in 1989, including a career-best 0.939 WHIP.

Corsi, who also pitched for the Astros, Marlins, Red Sox and Orioles, had three stints with the A's from 1988-96. His 1992 season included a career-low 1.43 ERA out of the A's bullpen. Armed with a highly effective changeup and slider, Corsi finished his career with a solid 3.25 ERA in nearly 500 innings spanning 368 games.

During the televised interview, a tearful Corsi urged others to be diligent about caring for their health.

"I made a mistake when I was younger by not getting a colonoscopy," he said. "I should have done it. If you're out there, don't wait. Don't be stupid. I was a professional athlete and thought I was invincible, strong. You're not. Cancer is not prejudiced to anybody."

Jim Corsi, Newton native who pitched for the Red Sox, dies at 60
Michael Silverman
Boston Globe
January 4, 2022

By the time the gregarious and burly Jim Corsi stepped on the Fenway Park mound in a Red Sox uniform in April 1997, he was 35 years old, with 14 years of professional experience and stints with three other big league clubs behind him.

The wait was always going to be worth it for the persistent righthander who learned to pitch on the backyard mound his dad built for him in Newtonville, and who as a teenager watched from his Fenway Park seats the night Carlton Fisk hit his epic Game 6 home run in 1975.

"You grow up there. Where else do you want to play?" Mr. Corsi told the Globe in 1997. "I already got to pitch there in another team's uniform. Now I want to put on a blue hat with a 'B.' It's like a lifelong dream, ever since I was five years old."

Mr. Corsi, the well-traveled relief pitcher who enjoyed lightening the lives of family, friends, and colleagues, died early Tuesday morning of colon and liver cancer at his Bellingham home. He was 60 years old.

Jenna Corsi, one of Mr. Corsi's four children, said her father's favorite line - "We all need the clowns, to make us smile," from his favorite song "Faithfully," by Journey - captured his essence.

"He really emphasized his family, and just wanted to make people laugh and brighten people's days," Jenna said.

In 1982, three years after graduating from Newton North High School, Mr. Corsi was drafted by the New York Yankees. After spending two years in their farm system, he spent two more in the minors with the Red Sox, who cut him twice.

"At the time, I told them they'd be sorry," said Mr. Corsi in 1997. "I was kind of upset because I was a hometown boy and I wanted to play for the Red Sox. All is forgiven now. I'm hoping the third time is a charm."

"Everything has definitely come full circle. I've dreamed my whole life of pitching in the big leagues. It's been a roller-coaster ride for sure. There's no silver spoon."

Mr. Corsi broke into the major leagues with the Oakland A's in 1988, and pitched alongside Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley in their championship 1989 season.

"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," said Eckersley, godfather to Mr. Corsi's son, Mitch, and whose son's godmother is Mr. Corsi's ex-wife, Diane. "Jim was as friendly as anything to everybody. Everybody had a relationship with him."

"Everything was open with him. His life was an open book."

A jovial and laid-back presence, Mr. Corsi pitched out of the Red Sox bullpen from 1997-1999, with his children a frequent presence at Fenway Park games. His big-league career ended in 1999 with the Orioles.

"He had a decent career. I know what his ERA was lifetime, because he always told me, '3.25,'" said Eckersley with a laugh.

Eckersley, whose career ERA was 3.50, recalled one example of Mr. Corsi's carefree attitude.

"Nowadays you see guys quick pitch. I remember one day when we were with Oakland and we were playing Minnesota and he quick-pitched Kirby Puckett. And I went, 'What are you doing?' And he laughed. It's no big deal nowadays, but I was busting his chops back then. Kirby wasn't happy."

Mr. Corsi's pitching tenure with the Red Sox ended on a sour note, with the ballclub releasing him midway through the 1999 season despite having led the staff in ERA each of the prior two years.

"I wanted to keep playing here," Mr. Corsi said. "I wanted to finish my career here on a good note, not going out like this. I thought we had a chance to win it this year."

Mr. Corsi's post-career relationship with the Red Sox was sturdy, beginning with analyst work with NESN from 2002-05. He was a frequent presence at Old-Timers games and assorted festivities at Fenway Park, as well as in their spring home of Fort Myers, Fla.

"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," Pam Kenn, Red Sox senior vice president of community, alumni and player relations, said in a statement. "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."