Johnny Pesky: A True Gentleman

Johnny Pesky played in the American League from 1942-1954...missing entire seasons in 1943, 1944, and 1945 while serving his country in World War II. Pesky has been associated with the Boston Red Sox for 56 of his 68 years in baseball - from 1940 through June 3, 1952; 1961 through 1964; and continuously since 1969. He was their manager in 1963-64, and again in September 1980. Nicknamed "Mr. Red Sox," he is loved by players and fans alike. Today I had the pleasure of exchanging a few words with this baseball phenomenon. He was seated in a lawn chair at Red Sox Spring Training at the City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Florida. A small line had formed leading up to him for autographs and photos. Never more than ten or twelve deep, these folks were treated to more than just an old-timer's autograph. They met a true gentleman...an icon of how baseball used to be.

"I don't get up and down too well," he said, standing for a photo with an older couple. "Every few minutes I have to get up or I get pretty stiff."

For 88, the man looks fantastic, and eased himself in and out of that chair as well as I could!

"Do you play baseball?" he could be heard asking young children.

"How old are you? Six...seven?"

He posed for more than one photo if fans requested it, and was not put off in the least when I asked for autographs for a good friend and my father, in addition to my own.

"I'll do seven or eight more," he said, looking past me at the small line that had formed. He went on to do at least three dozen more in the next half hour that I stood watching from a short distance.

As of March 2007, Johnny Pesky was no longer allowed to sit in the dugout at Red Sox baseball games. Major League Baseball has a rule that limits the number of coaches allowed in uniform at one time. He managed the Red Sox from 1963-1964, and was a coach for decades. This uniform rule was enforced once before in 1997, but when current Red Sox ownership took the helm in 2002, he was allowed right back into the dugout.

It seems somewhat irrelevant to me that an 88 year old man wears some clothing deemed official by a ball team that he served for most of his life. I guess I simply don't see the harm in in, and personally feel they're penalizing an American baseball hero unnecessarily.

He takes it in stride, however, smiling for the cameras, signing bats, balls, hats and framed photographs. His image in one of a true gentleman...an example that needs empowerment in this day of a handful of arrogant players who won't give fans the time of day.

"I'm happy to do it," he says.

The happiness he spreads in doing so is a warm ray of sunshine, near the palm trees in Fort Myers, Florida.