Johnny Pesky - Baseball

Johnny Pesky played his way from downtown Portland into the hearts of Boston Red Sox fans around the world as a scrappy infielder, loyal coach and colorful commentator whose name will forever be part of Fenway Park.

Born in Portland in 1919, Pesky grew up just blocks from Vaughn Street Park, home of the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League, and spent some time as a clubhouse attendant in the visitors’ locker room. He played middle infield for Lincoln High, and upon graduating in 1937 played on semipro teams in Bend and Silverton before being signed by the Red Sox in 1940.

Pesky needed just two seasons in the minors to reach the Red Sox as shortstop, having impressed the team by being named American Association Most Valuable Player while with Louisville in 1941. As a rookie, he hit .331, led the American League with 205 hits and finished third in voting for MVP.

After serving three years in the Navy during World War II, Pesky returned to Boston as shortstop in 1946 and hit .335, led the AL in hits again with 208 and finished fourth in voting for MVP. With Pesky batting ahead of Ted Williams, the Red Sox reached the World Series in ’46, but lost to St. Louis in seven games.

Pesky played parts of six more seasons with Boston before being traded to Detroit in 1952. Detroit traded him to Washington in 1954, where he finished his major league career.

In 10 seasons, Pesky hit .307, had 1,455 hits and 404 runs batted in. The foul pole in right field of Fenway Park is nicknamed “Pesky’s Pole,” the name having been created by broadcaster Mel Parnell in honor of Pesky’s lack of power – the pole being just 302 feet from home plate.

Upon retiring, Pesky turned to coaching, first in the New York Yankees organization and then with Detroit. In 1960, the Red Sox named him manager for their Seattle affiliate in the PCL and he moved up to manage the big league club after two seasons. After two poor seasons, he was released as manager. Pesky coached with the Pittsburgh Pirates for several years, but soon returned to Boston and remained there as a broadcaster, an official and unofficial salesman and again as a bench coach. He managed the Sox for the final five games of the 1980 season, finishing with a 147-179 as a Major League manager.

Pesky’s biography is entitled Mr. Red Sox. He is a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame.

He was inducted to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 1980.