Peeking over the wall of the right field bullpen at Shea Stadium, Bruce Glasier waited for the final out of the 1986 World Series. One more out and the Red Sox would win, something the old town team hadn’t accomplished since 1918.
Glasier, with a horde of writers and broadcasters representing local regional and national outlets and publications had been herded into the bullpen in anticipation of the game ending bottom of the ninth.
Glasier, Portland’s popular and knowledgeable sports director and sports anchor WCSH-TV, fidgeted and reviewed the questions he would ask in his live post game interviews Glasier was prepared.
But not for what transpired. In one horrific moment, all the hopes and dreams vanished.
“The ball bounced through Buckner’s legs,” said Glasier. “I knew then it would be a long day. It’s what I remember the most. It stinks.”
Glasier had covered the Red Sox from Boston Anaheim to New York for 18 consecutive days. He had been “ready to go live” but it was a dead feeling when Glasier began the eulogy.
There are, of course, many good memories. He recalls talking fishing with Ted Williams and watching Teddy Ballgame hit fungos just out of the reach of a diving Carl Yastrzemski.
He worked with broadcaster Gary Thorne when the Maine Guides were Cleveland’s Triple-A International League franchise. And he was co-host with friend and colleague Bill Green on the Sunday night talk show “Sports Overtime.”
Glasier has been fixture at WCSH in radio and television for 29 years. He is the face of local sports. By turn acerbic, avuncular and witty, Glasier is the hometown boy doing what he loves.
A 1963 graduate of Portland High School where he was a guard and linebacker under Bobby Graff, Glasier also participated in indoor and outdoor track.
He earned a B.A. in journalism at the University of Maine in 1967 and took a job as a reporter and columnist at the Portland Newspapers i.e., the Press Herald, Evening Express and Sunday Telegram.
Glasier said the writing experience he gained was invaluable in making the transition to radio and television in 1977.
“It helped tremendously,” said Glasier. “I use that background in writing scripts and in interviewing skills. It taught me how to get to the point.”
Glasier’s ability in front of the microphone and camera should come as no surprise. His mentors and friends at WCSH were sports icons Don MacWilliams and Frank Fixaris.
At the paper(s) he learned from some of the giants in local sports - Dick Doyle, Carroll “The Eye” Rines, Vern Putney, Rollie Wirths and Phil Erlich.
On WCSH radio, Glasier was co-host of the morning drive show with Joe Martelle, hosted night sports talk show “The Bullpen” and was weekend sports anchor on WCSH-TV.
In 1995, the 30th anniversary of the heavyweight championship fight in Lewiston between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston, Glasier was ring announce for the “night of the heavyweights.” He spent about 45 minutes with Ali.
“It was a thrill to be in his presence,” said Glasier. Glasier said he will never be far from sports. “Once I retire, I’d like to get back into radio,” he said. “It’s looser, more relaxed. You can get away with expressing your opinion more. And that’s something I like to do.”
Portland Press Herald tribute
From YouTube . WCSH6 tribute
Comments