Johnny Pesky
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John Michael Pesky (born John Michael Paveskovich September 27, 1919 in Portland, Oregon) is a former Major League Baseball shortstop/third baseman who played in the American League from 1942 to 1954. He missed all of the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons while serving in World War II.
Pesky played seven and a half seasons for the Boston Red Sox before being traded to the Detroit Tigers in the middle of the 1952 season. He finished his career with the Washington Senators in 1954. He was selected to the All-Star game in 1946.
Pesky was a teammate and close friend of Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr and Dom DiMaggio. Their friendship was chronicled in David Halberstam's book The Teammates.
Pesky also has a piece of Fenway Park (the home of the Boston Red Sox) named after him. The nickname of the foul pole in right field is Pesky's Pole. This is named after Pesky because he was known for hitting short home runs down the right field line, often hitting the pole. Pesky's Pole is very shallow in right field.
Attended the 2004 World Series.
On April 11, 2005 Johnny Pesky, as a uniformed member of the Red Sox coaching staff, after 63 years with the organization received a World Series Ring. With the help of Carl Yazstremski, Pesky raised the 2005 World Series Pennant up the Fenway Park center-field flag pole.
See also
External link
- Johnny Pesky's statistics at Baseball Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/peskyjo01.shtml)