BOSTON -- Joe Castiglione -- wearing a white Red Sox jersey with No. 42 on the back to represent his unprecedented run in Boston’s broadcast booth -- was feted before Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Rays in the season finale, with a classy ceremony that befitted his time as the radio voice of the Red Sox.

Moments after the ceremony was complete, Castiglione went upstairs to call the game, which ended an era of more than four decades in which he was part of the soundtrack of New England springs and summers -- and in the best of times, the first full calendar month of fall.

Fortunately for Red Sox Nation, Castiglione is merely shifting duties, but he's not really going anywhere. He will stay on as an ambassador at team functions in Fort Myers, Fla., and Boston, sit in the Legends Suite during select Red Sox games and even call a game here or there when a pinch-hitter is needed in the booth.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu started the ceremony with a proclamation that designated Sunday as “Joe Castiglione Day.”

The Red Sox presented Castiglione with a placard from the Green Monster scoreboard that read “CASTIG” and two Fenway Park grandstand seats.

The man of the hour gave a brief and heartfelt speech, starting with his signature line that has punctuated many of the great Red Sox moments of the 21st century.

“Can you believe it?” Castiglione said. “This is overwhelming. Thank you, Mayor Wu, for the proclamation. Thanks to the Red Sox for your wonderful gifts and for letting me do what I love for 42 years here in Boston. On this very weekend in 1983, Carl Yastrzemski stood right here and said goodbye to Red Sox Nation. It was the end of my first season. Who would have thought I would be here [41] years later to [retire]?”

Many former Red Sox players who are considered Castiglione’s favorites put their uniform back on and were on the field for the ceremony.

The roster included Hall of Famers Pedro Martinez and Jim Rice, Red Sox Hall of Famers Roger Clemens, Dwight Evans, Kevin Youkilis, Rich Gedman, Trot Nixon and Bob Stanley, as well as Joe Morgan, Jackie Bradley Jr., Keith Foulke, Brian Daubach, Lou Merloni, Lenny DiNardo, Rich Hill and Bob Montgomery.

What compelled so many of those players to get on a plane and travel thousands of miles to honor Castiglione?

“Just respect. It's just respect and love for Joe, someone so professional,” said Martinez. “I'm so glad I can call myself Joe's friend, because that's the kind of attitude you want to have, and especially if you're going to do it for so long, 42 long years.

“It's a long, long time for someone to be working every single day, go through the struggles and successes, but the travel, the lifestyle … and to always have a smile. Those are the kind of people that deserve all the respect we are giving him today.”

Castiglione didn’t differentiate between the Hall of Famers like Martinez or the solid players like Nixon or utility players like Merloni. He befriended all of them and earned their trust.

“He made me be bigger than life on radio for fans for a lot of years,” said Nixon. “Never can and never will forget the voice.”

Red Sox chairman Tom Werner and president/CEO Sam Kennedy were also on the field. Manager Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow represented this year’s team.

“The guy -- for everybody in the organization, outside the organization, Red Sox Nation and baseball in general -- he’s a very respected man,” said Cora. “Ozzie [Guillen] said it best, ‘You sign that contract to get fired.’ But Joe is moving on from us, which is kind of like the perfect ending.”

Castiglione threw the ceremonial first pitch to Bradley, who somehow only won one Rawlings Gold Glove Award, during the World Series championship season of 2018.

“Jackie’s going to catch, because Jackie catches everything,” Castiglione said into the mic just moments before throwing his pitch.

Bradley came through, of course.

“It was special,” said Bradley. “Obviously we all care a lot for Joe. I’ve always had a pretty close relationship with Joe. I had to be here. We have a very tight relationship. We’ve had dinners with each other’s family, we’ve hung out outside the game of baseball. That’s been over the years and I don’t see it changing.”

The only thing that will change is that Castiglione will no longer be ever-present in that booth he’s called home for four-plus decades.

Earlier this year, Castiglione earned the ultimate recognition for a baseball broadcaster, when he received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“For Joe to do it out of love and passion, everything we do, every trophy and plaque is going to fall short of what he deserves,” said Martinez. “People like that, you don't find workers like that so dedicated and loving every bit of it. If he chooses to go now, we have to let him go. He has that right -- he earned it.”