RemDawg returns… at least for one night

Never underestimate the healing power of family. Jerry Remy certainly doesn’t.

The iconic Red Sox TV analyst, now known more popularly as the RemDawg, was back at Fenway Park for a Red Sox game Wednesday night for the first time since a post-cancer surgery infection and a bout of depression did a 1-2 number on him. And he credited his wife of over 30 years, Phoebe, for providing the inspiration.

“I didn’t know until 2:30 that I was coming because I was talking to my wife and said, ‘You know…’  It sounds crazy but kind of a big step was coming to the McCartney concert because I got back to the ball park. It was weird. I felt like I’m home,” Remy said.

“The better I feel, there had to be a day I had to come here. I looked at her today and I said, ‘I think I’m going to go in today.’ And she said, ‘Get in there, get in. Go hang around.’”

Remy said he has a date in mind for coming back but doesn’t want to make it public because he has passed two deadlines this year. It was his first return to Fenway since taking a leave and he will spend a couple of innings in the NESN booth tonight.

“I have a date in mind but I wanted to get in here prior to see how I feel,” he said. “I can’t say I feel great but I’m here where a month ago, I would not have been here.”

The impromptu gathering with reporters was emotional at times as Remy credited his family with being his biggest supporters on his road back from lung surgery last winter, an infection in January and depression.

“Family, that’s the best medicine,” said Remy, who said he started feeling the effects early this season while on the road with the team in Anaheim.

He then said that he ‘hit the wall’ while with the team in Cleveland.

“Emotionally I wasn’t ready and physically I wasn’t ready,” Remy said. “I started to crash in Cleveland and Don (Orsillo) saw me crash. With all that, it all finally came crashing down on me so I’ve been fighting depression for the last couple of months.

“I’ve been in therapy for that, trying to get the meds right, trying to get all that right. Physically, I’m back. I’ve put all the weight back on that I lost because of the infection. Mentally, they’ve been trying to get the right combination of meds. I think I’m on the right path. Doctors told me to expect stuff like. It’s probably going to happen and some were surprised I didn’t crash before I did,” Remy said.

But perhaps it was a bold prediction at the end that showed RemDawg is ready to return.

“I’ve haven’t been following that closely,” Remy said of the Red Sox, before adding, “They’re going to be fine. They’re going to the playoffs.”