Projo Sox Blog

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Johnny Pesky stood on the warning track near the Red Sox dugout in the mist and fog Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park with tears in his eyes.

He was surrounded by current Red Sox players, who all gave him hugs after a pregame ceremony in which the organization bestowed the ultimate Red Sox honor when they retired his jersey number.

Now his No. 6 will hang alongside Bobby Doerr's No. 1, Joe Cronin's No. 4, Carl Yastrzemski's No. 8, Ted Williams' No. 9 and Carlton Fisk's No. 27 on the right-field façade. Also there is Jackie Robinson's No. 42, which was retired by Major League Baseball in 1997.

"I'm not Hall of Fame material," said Pesky. "But I played with some great guys and I was a great coat hanger. I was hanging on Ted, Bobby and Dom (DiMaggio).

Originally the ceremony was scheduled for last Friday, but due to the inclement weather it was rescheduled for yesterday.

"They should have skipped it all together," joked the always humble Pesky. "This is very flattering. I'm so grateful."

He also threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game One of Sunday's day/night doubleheader to current Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. Like most things Pesky does, he wanted to make it unique, so he walked over to the mound, grabbed the actually game ball and hit a fungo to Ortiz at home plate.

During his press conference, Pesky told the story of how he ended up with the Red Sox. He said he was in high demand as a young kid and scouts from the Sox, Yankees, Indians and Tigers all were interested in him. But because his mother liked the Red Sox, he signed with Boston. He's been with the organization for 56 years -- the last 39 in a row -- as a player, coach, manager, broadcaster and special assistant.

"I don't know how much longer I've got, but God spared me," said Pesky, who turned 89 on Saturday. "I say my prayers every night, and I say some for the Red Sox, too."

 Tags  Johnny Pesky Red Sox

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