RIP Johnny Pierson

[lexrageorge]

I saw the sad news posted in the April News thread by @ColdSoxPack , but I thought Pierson's passing was thread worthy in its own right.

I grew up watching Fred and Johnny doing the telecasts on WSBK, TV-38. And then in the studios when Derek Sanderson moved to man the color mike. My dad recalled his playing days as being a pretty decent winger who led the team in goals a couple of times. His playing career overlapped with those of Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart, and Frank Brimsek on the front end and with Johnny Bucyk and Willie O'Ree in his last season.

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-bruins/2021/04/17/johnny-peirson-bruins-player-broadcaster-dies-age-95

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Fred and Johnny fed my childhood love of the Bruins.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

I started following the Bs in the late 70s, so I too grew up watching Fred and Johnny on TV-38 (always counting down the minutes before the game until I finally heard the sweet sound of the closing theme music to the "Odd Couple").

RIP Johnny, and thank you.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Fred and Johnny fed my childhood love of the Bruins.

So underrated when people start talking about the great Boston sports announcing teams.

 

[Zedia]

We’d play street hockey and occasionally yell “scooore!” like Fred, and then in a higher voice, “just a nice good wrist shoot, Fred!”

 

[ifmanis5]

Fred and Johnny fed my childhood love of the Bruins.

Amen, legendary pairing. And always insane when he had to bail on the playoffs to attend a furniture convention.

 

[patinorange]

We’d play street hockey and occasionally yell “scooore!” like Fred, and then in a higher voice, “just a nice good wrist shoot, Fred!”

Every Bruins game was event tv. I vaguely remember we used to make fun of Johnny but I can’t really remember why. Street hockey or ice hockey every day, then the Bruins at night. I consider myself lucky to have lived through and enjoyed the Big Bad Bruins era. We loved every one of those guys.

 

[pedro1918]

I will never forget the furniture conventions in North Carolina.

RIP, John.

 

[Salem's Lot]

Posted in the NHL News thread but I’ll repeat it here:

Pierson’s Pointers was a big part of the intermission in the 80’s. Probably one of the first ways that myself and a lot of people got to understand the game. And the fact that it was explained simple enough for a 7 year old at the time to understand it, yet not too juvenile that adults wouldn’t enjoy it was really great in retrospect. RIP.

 

[ColdSoxPack]

As ingrained in my brain as Fred and Johnny were, the sound of Bob Wilson on the radio saying “stand by for Bruins hockey” is right up there.

Don Earle called the 1969-1970 season for Ch 38. I think Fred and Johnny followed but I’m fuzzy on why Don left.

 

[RG33]

Posted in the NHL News thread but I’ll repeat it here:

Pierson’s Pointers was a big part of the intermission in the 80’s. Probably one of the first ways that myself and a lot of people got to understand the game. And the fact that it was explained simple enough for a 7 year old at the time to understand it, yet not too juvenile that adults wouldn’t enjoy it was really great in retrospect. RIP.

I was going to post the same thing. I’ve unsuccessfully tried to find the old clips online for years. It really was my indoctrination into hockey, for a kid growing up in Arlington whom to this day has never put on ice skates. I used to love saying I’m the biggest hockey fan that has never been on skates, and Pierson’s Pointers at an early age was a big part of getting hooked on hockey (while focusing on playing baseball and basketball).

 

[Dotrat]

Loved Fred and Johnny when I was growing up--a vastly underrated PbP team.

 

[bankshot1]

He and Fred were the voices of hockey in Boston during the Orr-glory years.

RIP Johnny.

 

[FelixMantilla]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcJwUSkaeBU&ab_channel=arktoshorse

 

[cornwalls@6]

He and Fred were the soundtrack of my hockey youth in the late 70's/80"s. I'll even forgive him for bailing on playoff games to go to some frickin' furniture convention every year, and handing the reigns to Dave Shea. Top of the world, Johnny.

 

[Salem's Lot]

He and Fred were the soundtrack of my hockey youth in the late 70's/80"s. I'll even forgive him for bailing on playoff games to go to some frickin' furniture convention every year, and handing the reigns to Dave Shea. Top of the world, Johnny.

Wow I never knew why Dave Shea called some playoff games. All I know is my dad fucking hated Dave Shea. It was hilarious.

 

[cornwalls@6]

Wow I never knew why Dave Shea called some playoff games. All I know is my dad fucking hated Dave Shea. It was hilarious.

It was crazy. Ride with the the club through think and thin, then check out for a couple of weeks. Imagine Brick checking out in the early rounds, and leaving it to Fluto or KPD?

 

[Humphrey]

Pierson succeeded Cooney Weiland as Bruins analyst- Cooney was as bad an analyst as Ricky Weiland was a pitcher.

 

[jaytftwofive]

As ingrained in my brain as Fred and Johnny were, the sound of Bob Wilson on the radio saying “stand by for Bruins hockey” is right up there.

Don Earle called the 1969-1970 season for Ch 38. I think Fred and Johnny followed but I’m fuzzy on why Don left.

Earle's last year on TV was the 70-71 season. Maybe the best Bruins team ever. (IMO they were). Johnny did one year on TV with Don Earle then after Earle went to Philly to broadcast the Flyers, Cusick took over TV with J. P. Was Don fired by the Bruins?? Or did he just get a better offer from Philly?

 

[lexrageorge]

I have in my head a Boston Announcer HoF. Granted, it does mix play-by-play with color analysts, but here goes (ordered by team):

Fred Cusick
Derek Sanderson
Bob Wilson
Johnny Most
Tommy Heinsohn
Bob Cousy
Gil Santos
Gino Cappalletti
Curt Gowdy
Ned Martin
Jim Woods
Ken Coleman
Sean McDonough
Don Orsillo

Johnny Pierson absolutely deserves his place among that list.

Among still locally active announcers, I would add Joe Castiglione, Andy Brickley, Jerry Remy, and, of course, Mike Gorman.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

^^^a good idea for another thread^^^

 

[Ferm Sheller]

Should add Dick Stockton if you do have a poll.

 

[cornwalls@6]

Despite being a part timer, I’d include Eck on that list as well.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Channel 38 Nutcracker Suite. Good times...

He and Bucyk made a great team. Every odd man rush was an event and they kept the games exciting.

 

[3Olympics]

As with several of you guys, I was a Channel 38, with Fred & Johnny, kid. It was a magical time for the B's - as stated everyone connected to the team was absolutely loved. The thing I remember most about Johnny was his remarkable ability to see and call the tiniest tip or the puck just grazing a shirt on its way into the net. He was, to my recall, unparalleled at catching exactly what happened. RIP Johnny...thanks for helping make countless evenings (and some afternoons) absolute thrills for a knot of Lynnfield kids.

 

[Bleedred]

Amen, legendary pairing. And always insane when he had to bail on the playoffs to attend a furniture convention.

I too grew up on Fred and Johnny and they were always in sync, a sublime pairing. Interesting side note: My father was in the furniture business for the longest of time and attended the same conventions in North Carolina (High Point) every year and actually became friends with Johnny. They were not super close, but friendly enough that they would go to dinner socially once a year outside of the HP convention. My brothers and I attended a Bruins game sometime in the 70s (I can't remember when) and were given access to the Bruins locker room, all due to Johnny's kindness.

 

[ifmanis5]

I too grew up on Fred and Johnny and they were always in sync, a sublime pairing. Interesting side note: My father was in the furniture business for the longest of time and attended the same conventions in North Carolina (High Point) every year and actually became friends with Johnny. They were not super close, but friendly enough that they would go to dinner socially once a year outside of the HP convention. My brothers and I attended a Bruins game sometime in the 70s (I can't remember when) and were given access to the Bruins locker room, all due to Johnny's kindness.

Wow, that's great. I can't recall exactly who but a friend of my family was friends with him (also furniture related) and they had nothing but the nicest things to say about him as a person.

 

[Maximus]

He and Fred were the voices of hockey in Boston during the Orr-glory years.

RIP Johnny.

This. The Big Bad Bruins of the Orr era were appointment viewing on WSBK-Channel 38 with Fred Cusick and Johnny on color.

 

[ColdSoxPack]

This. The Big Bad Bruins of the Orr era were appointment viewing on WSBK-Channel 38 with Fred Cusick and Johnny on color.

Can't resist comparing Fred and Johnny to a certain clown show on Nesn.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

My dad just told me a story that when Pierson was playing he actually retired for a season in 54-55.
My grandfather, a solid amatuer goaltender, was playing for his town team and they decided to join the Class A Division of the Mayflower League, which was arguably the top amtuer league in MA at the time. I guess my grandfather said he knew they were going to be in trouble when they played the Quincy Bruins and he recognized their starting RW...

 

[RoDaddy]

Cusick was close to great as an announcer - a real class act as they used to say who I actually did some corresponding with back then. He and Pierson seemed to have great respect for each other and it translated to their game broadcasts. Cusick and Sanderson not so much - in fact, I think Fred really disliked him early on. The other thing I remember about Pierson was his hatred of the slap shot - as if ever shot should be a wrister no matter from where on the ice

 

[jacklamabe65]

Mr. Pierson was my peewee hockey coach and was as gracious, kind, and supportive a coach I ever played for in any sport. As someone who also attended Wellesley High with his children, he was an extraordinary father as well.