Amidst all the awards and titles being won at Fenway Park this season, Peabody resident Jimmy Buckley managed to bring home some hardware of his own.Buckley was named the 2007 Boston Red Sox Customer Service Employee of the Year for his efforts in the handicapped assistance department during Red Sox home games. The award was based on fan balloting throughout the ballpark.Red Sox President and CEO Larry Lucchino presented plaques to Buckley and four other employees before a late-season game.The 19-year-old said his experience working for the Red Sox was memorable, especially since the team was able to win the World Series.”It was just a great experience to see the massive amounts of people from all over the country that were Red Sox fans,” Buckley said. “It was just a great environment every night.”Buckley had previous experience working in a ballpark prior to being hired by the Red Sox. From 2004 through 2006, he worked for the North Shore Spirit at Fraser Field in Lynn, where he also assisted handicapped fans during games.”Knowing what it’s like to work at a baseball field and deal with fan issues was helpful (while working at Fenway),” Buckley said. “There was a lot more fans and issues at Fenway, but having that experience definitely helped.”Buckley said that his experience working with handicapped fans for the Spirit caused the Red Sox to offer him a position in their handicapped assistance department.Buckley is a sophomore at Bentley College, where he majors in managerial economics. In the future, he would like to work in the front office for a professional sports franchise.At Bentley, Buckley is a member of his class cabinet, and was the president of his class during his freshman year. He also works for the athletics department at Bentley as a student supervisor during games and events for the college’s sports teams.Buckley graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 2006. At St. Mary’s, he was a member of the 2005 Division 3A Super Bowl champion football team, and also played baseball for the school. Off the athletic fields, Buckley participated in student council and was a member of the National Honor Society.Next year, Buckley has been invited to work for the Red Sox again, and he said he would definitely be returning to the club.”(Working for the Red Sox) was good; a little hectic, a lot of people,” Buckley said. “But it was a lot of fun, considering how well the team did.”
