As the sun struggled to break through the morning fog that had descended over the Red Sox spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida last week, a small 86 year old man with milky white hair, dressed in full uniform, approached newly acquired first baseman J.T. Snow and tapped him on the shoulder. When Snow turned around and looked down at the man, he was greeted with an outstretched hand. “Hi, I’m Johnny Pesky,” the man said. Snow, a 14 year veteran, stood shell-shocked, looking like a child being introduced to his favorite movie star. “Hi, I’m J.T. Snow,” is all he could muster, smiling sheepishly with an “of course I know who you are” expression on his face. All Snow need do is read the sign hanging above the field he was standing on -- Johnny Pesky Field.
Since debuting with the Red Sox in 1942 -- through 3 owners, 4 changes in spring training venue, 9 GM’s, 24 managers, and countless numbers of players, ranging from Yastrzemski to Garciaparra. His job title has also ranged nearly all capacities: player, manager, special assistant, and spring training instructor. In fact, the only years he was not with the team were 1943-45 (WWII), and 1952-54, when he was traded to the Tigers.
One would think that after 63 years in the Red Sox organization, Pesky would have had enough time in the sun, and would slip into obscurity along with other baseball legends of yesteryear. One would think that after the death of Ruth, his beloved wife of 60 years, Pesky would spend the years he has left enjoying his family and mourning the loss of his one true love. One would think that Pesky would finally listen to the brass of Major League Baseball and call it quits after they inexplicably banned him from wearing his uniform and sitting on the bench in 2004, claiming he was not an official coach.
After all, what more does he have to accomplish in the game? He led the American League in hitting the first three seasons of his career (1942-45), managed the Red Sox (1963-64, 1980), the Paw Sox (1990), and was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995. He also has a piece of one of baseball’s most historic ballparks named after him (Pesky’s Pole), is one of the few people in the world to get close enough to Ted Williams to call the “Splendid Splinter” his friend, and was finally absolved of the “Pesky Held the Ball” incident in Game 7 of the 1946 World Series when the Red Sox buried the demons in 2004. Heck, he was even bestowed the honor of raising the Championship banner in center field during the Ring Ceremony on April 11, 2005 (along with Yaz).
Yet still he stands. And if you head down Interstate 75 to Edison Ave in Fort Myers this spring, you’re sure to see him strolling around, joking and jostling with players half his age, smiling ear to ear, and shaking hands with Red Sox fans of all generations. While the man you see is a far cry from the brashly handsome 23 year old who debuted for the Sox in 1942, don’t be fooled by his white hair, his slow walk, or his shaky voice -- Johnny Pesky’s passion for baseball and his love for the Red Sox is as strong as ever.
Five Years ago
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