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Sox legend Johnny Pesky dead at 92 - BostonHerald.com
Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky, a former player and longtime ambassador of the team, died today. He was 92.
Pesky may well have wound up in the Hall of Fame, with iconic teammate Ted Williams and Bobby Doerr, but, after playing the 1942 season, he missed three full seasons in his prime while fighting for his country in World War II. He later played for the Sox from 1946-52.
He nonetheless had a career .307 lifetime batting average and later served the Red Sox [team stats] in a multitude of capacities — as manager, coach, broadcaster, front office executive, ad salesman, and, perhaps most importantly, goodwill ambassador.
Pesky transcended the generations. Beloved by oldtimers who saw him play and the youngsters who clamored for his autograph, Pesky was a familiar presence at Fenway Park [map] right up until this season.
He was particularly close with Red Sox stars Jim Rice and Nomar Garciaparra, and he had an eagle eye for scouting talent. During spring training one year, he paraded a Single-A infielder named David Eckstein to reporters and said proudly, “This kid is going to play in the big leagues.”
Eckstein went on to play 10 seasons in the Major Leagues.
Pesky gained a measure of unfair infamy in the 1946 World Series when it was said he “held the ball” as Enos Slaughter dashed around the bases, scoring from first with the deciding run in Game 7 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Pesky got a bad rap for that one. Baseball historians agree that it was more a case of Slaughter’s aggressiveness and bad outfield play on the part of the Sox that made the difference.
Vilified at times, Pesky practically turned the game into a nightclub routine. For years, the Portland, Ore., native would tell the story about attending the Oregon-Oregon State football game after the ‘46 World Series, and, “It was really rainy and muddy that day. Nobody could hold onto the ball. Finally some guy stands up and yells, ‘Give the ball to Pesky! He’ll hold onto it.’”
Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky, a former player and longtime ambassador of the team, died today. He was 92.
Pesky may well have wound up in the Hall of Fame, with iconic teammate Ted Williams and Bobby Doerr, but, after playing the 1942 season, he missed three full seasons in his prime while fighting for his country in World War II. He later played for the Sox from 1946-52.
He nonetheless had a career .307 lifetime batting average and later served the Red Sox [team stats] in a multitude of capacities — as manager, coach, broadcaster, front office executive, ad salesman, and, perhaps most importantly, goodwill ambassador.
Pesky transcended the generations. Beloved by oldtimers who saw him play and the youngsters who clamored for his autograph, Pesky was a familiar presence at Fenway Park [map] right up until this season.
He was particularly close with Red Sox stars Jim Rice and Nomar Garciaparra, and he had an eagle eye for scouting talent. During spring training one year, he paraded a Single-A infielder named David Eckstein to reporters and said proudly, “This kid is going to play in the big leagues.”
Eckstein went on to play 10 seasons in the Major Leagues.
Pesky gained a measure of unfair infamy in the 1946 World Series when it was said he “held the ball” as Enos Slaughter dashed around the bases, scoring from first with the deciding run in Game 7 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Pesky got a bad rap for that one. Baseball historians agree that it was more a case of Slaughter’s aggressiveness and bad outfield play on the part of the Sox that made the difference.
Vilified at times, Pesky practically turned the game into a nightclub routine. For years, the Portland, Ore., native would tell the story about attending the Oregon-Oregon State football game after the ‘46 World Series, and, “It was really rainy and muddy that day. Nobody could hold onto the ball. Finally some guy stands up and yells, ‘Give the ball to Pesky! He’ll hold onto it.’”