'Who has more fun than us?' Former Bruins broadcaster Edwards makes appearance at Polar Park

WORCESTER — As Jack Edwards walked off the playing field at Polar Park Thursday night, the longtime Boston Bruins broadcaster was all smiles.

“I don’t need Tommy John surgery,” said Edwards, who threw out the first pitch ahead of the WooSox’ 4-1 loss . “It’s a miracle.”

The former announcer, who stepped down from his position with NESN in May due to slowed speech, was the “Throwback Thursday” guest of the Triple-A club . Edwards met fans and signed autographs in Sherwood’s Diner between the third and sixth innings and enjoyed his first trip to Polar Park.

“It’s great to be in Worcester, who has more fun than us?” Edwards said before his ceremonial toss. “Go WooSox.”

Earlier in the day, Edwards dusted off his old Larry Bowa model baseball glove and threw roughly 30 pitches in the backyard of his Connecticut home. His son, Elijah, served as catcher.

“I got a mean two-seam fastball,” Edwards, 67, said. “It has a tail on it.”

The last time Edwards threw out a ceremonial first pitch was in 2001. He covered the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with longtime TV analyst and former major leaguer Harold Reynolds.

That same night, a foul ball bounced into their broadcast booth — and Edwards caught it.

“Harold (dove) under the table, (he’s) a two-time All-Star,” Edwards recalled, “and he signed the ball, and I still have it.”

Despite struggling with his speech over the past few years, and calling his final game on May 2, Edwards physically feels fine. He said there are no signs of a stroke, tumor or abnormal blood vessels in his brain.

But Edwards’ condition is still a mystery.

“Something is going on between my brain and my mouth, and Mass. General (Hospital) can’t figure it out,” Edwards said. “I’m getting used to my speech problem, but the thoughts are still complete.”

As Edwards arrived Thursday at Polar Park, Mario Oliveira helped the University of New Hampshire grad settle into Suite 15.

Oliveira, the WooSox manager of clubhouse and baseball operations, met Edwards at a youth hockey camp shortly after the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011. From there, the two developed a relationship that still lasts today.

So when Oliveira was put in charge of booking “Throwback Thursday” guests for this season, he knew exactly who he wanted to invite.

“I reached back out to Jack, and he was all for it,” Oliveira said. “So having Jack here is awesome.”

As Edwards spent time with family and friends inside his suite, WooSox NESN reporter Natalie Noury stopped by to visit the former NESN broadcaster.

The two first connected over the phone in 2021, when Noury served as a color commentator on the University of New Hampshire women’s ice hockey broadcast, before meeting in person for the first time during a Bruins game at TD Garden in 2023.

For Noury, reconnecting with Edwards on Thursday was an emotional moment.

“He’s been such a mentor and role model my entire career, it was great to see him at a game I was reporting on,” Noury said. “Kind of a full-circle moment as he retires from his legendary career (and) I’m just getting started.”

“I’m a bit self-conscious about my slowing of speech,” Edwards said. “But it’s great to be at a ballpark surrounded by youthful people who are trying to make a living in pro sports.”

And for Jack Edwards, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Polar Park was a great experience. It provided him with plenty of reasons to smile.

“It’s a marvelous ballpark,” Edwards said.

—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 'Who has more fun than us?' Former Bruins broadcaster Edwards makes appearance at Polar Park