27 September 1919 - There have been better players that have donned a Red Sox uniform but perhaps no other has been more identified as the embodiment of the organization other than Johnny Pesky, who was born on this day in 1919, one year removed from Boston’s last championship season before good fortune smiled on the Sox in 2004. As a rookie in 1942, the 22-year-old shortstop amassed an eye-popping 205 hits, tops in the majors, and batted .331, second only to teammate Ted Williams; his efforts were enough to place him third in voting for the American League MVP. After his career ended in 1954, Pesky eventually returned to Boston and, since then, has served as manager, broadcaster, coach, and scout; these days, he continues as a special instructor to Boston players and can sometimes be found, in uniform, sitting in the dugout during the game.
Recently dubbed “Mr. Red Sox” by biographer Bill Nowlin, the longtime Red Sox employee also has a feature of Fenway unofficially named after him: the Pesky Pole. The right-field foul pole, which stands just 302 feet from home plate, has seen many pitches wrapped around this attribute over the years. Mel Parnell, a former Red Sox pitcher, supposedly named the pole after noting that the light-hitting Pesky, who hit only 17 home runs in his 10-year career, wrapped a couple of those around it.
Before tonight’s contest again the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Red Sox will hold an on-field ceremony to not only recognize Pesky’s 87th birthday but to officially dedicate the Pesky Pole. Pesky, per usual, plans to be there to not only participate in the ceremony but then, to no one’s surprise giving his dedication, join his team in the dugout for the game.
With a solo shot over the bullpens in right field on Thursday night at Fenway Park, Boston designated hitter David Ortiz became the all-time Red Sox single-season home run leader with 51 home runs. His third home run in his past five starts surpassed former Boston slugger Jimmie Foxx, who belted 50 home runs for the Sox in 1938, the same year he also won his second American League MVP award. On Wednesday night, Ortiz hit a solo shot into the Monster Seats off Minnesota Twins pitcher Boof Bosner to reach the mark in just 141 games; during his campaign, Foxx needed 149 games to reach the same plateau. For Ortiz, the record-setting blast came from the first pitch of the evening that he saw from Twins ace Johan Santana, easily reaching the bleacher seats past the Red Sox bullpen.
Later, in the seventh inning, Ortiz added another solo blast to dead center off pitcher Matt Guerrier, giving him 52 for the season. The two blasts also gave him 45 home runs as the designated hitter, breaking the major league record of 43 he set last season. In four years with Boston, “Big Papi” has struck 171 home runs during the regular season. In contrast, teammate Manny Ramirez has hit 159 home runs over that same time frame.
Recently, Red Sox Nation was shocked to learn that Boston Red Sox rookie pitcher Jon Lester was diagnosed with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, a treatable form of cancer. Among those who were deeply touched by this diagnosis were four local college students, Amanda, Christine, Courtney and Kayte. As the Red Sox are very involved with the Jimmy Fund, a foundation that raises money for children with all forms of cancer, the girls decided to make silicone awareness bracelets (similar to the “LiveStrong” bracelets) in honor of Jon and his fight to beat cancer; in short, all proceed from the bracelets will be donated to The Jimmy Fund in Jon’s name. What started off as a small project to be shared among friends has grown into a huge undertaking, thanks to the support of Red Sox Nation! So please take a moment to support The Lester Project and make a donation in Jon’s name today!
