Johnny pg 9 8-23-12
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- Category: Past Issues
By Ron P. Coderre
David Halberstam’s book “The Teammates” is subtitled A Portrait of a Friendship. The book recalls the careers and lifelong friendship of four Boston Red Sox greats, Ted Williams, Dom DiMaggio, Bobby Doerr and Johnny Pesky.
Pesky, the youngest of the four, died Aug. 13. He was 92. Doerr is the last of the four friends, who at 94 is still alive. Pesky, born of Croatian immigrant parents, was born John Michael Paveskovich in Portland, Ore. He became a Red Sox legend, spending 61 of his 72 years in baseball in Boston. Pesky was admired equally by the greats of baseball and the everyday fan.
I had the good fortune of being in Johnny Pesky’s presence on a number of occasions. The single word that best describes the former infielder, manager, broadcaster and Baseball Ambassador, is friend. Pesky had the ability to make everyone he met, regardless of stature, feel like a lifelong friend.
Some memories of being in Pesky’s presence include a Little League banquet in Putnam where he regaled the audience as the guest speaker. That was the first of many times we’d meet in life. On visits to Florida we encountered him on numerous occasions. Each time Putnam was mentioned Pesky would break into a story about his visit to our fair city.
On another occasion on a trip to Boston with the late Rene “Doc” Desaulniers, we met Pesky in an empty Fenway Park prior to the game and enjoyed the opportunity to watch batting practice while spending at least an hour talking baseball and everything Red Sox with him. It’s an indelible memory that remains vivid to this day.
The final time we met in person was about five years ago at a Worcester Tornadoes game at Holy Cross, where Pesky was the featured attraction of the night. Thanks to former Boston catcher Roger LaFrancois we once again enjoyed some quality time with Pesky chatting about his life and baseball in general.
While hosting the weekly Sports Talk call-in show on WINY Radio years back, Pesky was a telephone guest thanks to the efforts of Pawtucket Red Sox bullpen catcher Joe Voccio. As usual, Pesky was candid, humorous but most of all friendly.
Pesky was a longtime close friend of another Red Sox great, the late Walt Dropo. In 1952 Pesky and Dropo were part of a huge trade between Boston and the Detroit Tigers. I recall the late George Dropo, Walt’s younger brother, relating how Pesky and his beloved wife Ruth always made Walter feel at home, especially when times weren’t good for the Moose from Moosup.
An American of Tom Brokaw’s “Greatest Generation” Pesky had his Major League career interrupted when he gave three years of his life, from 1942 to 1945, to military service as a Navy aviator during WWII. His 10-year playing career included 1270 games with Boston, Detroit and Washington. His career batting average was a solid .307, including his first three seasons when he posted consecutive 200 plus hit seasons.
As Pesky aged the Red Sox realized his value and loyalty to the organization. In 2006 the team dedicated the right field foul pole, 302 feet from home plate, as the Pesky Pole. And in 2008 he was honored once again when his Number 6 was officially retired. It resides on the wall in right field behind the Pesky Pole with Doerr’s #1, Joe Cronin’s #4, Yaz’ #8, Williams’ #9, Carlton Fisk’s #27 and the #42 worn by Jackie Robinson. Pesky is a member of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
The memories of Johnny Pesky will live on for years, especially for fans of the Boston Red Sox. He’ll be remembered for his playing career and loyalty to Boston but most of all he’ll be remembered as a man who was a friend to everyone he met, from the immortal Ted Williams to any ‘Average Joe” who had the good fortune of being in his presence at least once during Pesky’s 92 years.