Pesky

Johnny Pesky came East to join the Red Sox in the spring of 1942.  He stayed in Boston until he passed away yesterday just shy of his 93rd birthday.  With the death of Ted Williams in 2002, Johnny became the living symbol of Sox history.  For decades before, his gregarious personality had made him loved in Boston.

This April, during the 100th anniversary celebration at Fenway Park, the most touching moment (of many such moments) came at the end when Johnny and his teammate Bobby Doerr (94 years old) were wheeled out on the field by Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield, accompanied by David Ortiz (the symbol of the 21st century Red Sox).

Here's a wonderful appreciation of Johnny by Gordon Edes at Espn.com

"He was born -- Sept. 27, 1919 -- on the day Babe Ruth played his last game in a Boston Red Sox uniform. He was teammates with Ted Williams, managed Yaz and Tony C., sparred with Dick Stuart, shared a microphone with Ned Martin, coached Jim Rice and Fred Lynn, hit fungoes to Nomar, wept tears of joy with Tim Wakefield and Curt Schilling, and with Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr this past April was an honored guest at the 100th anniversary of Fenway, escorted to the center of the diamond by Jason Varitek and David Ortiz.

More than anybody else, Johnny Pesky embodied the Red Sox. More than anybody else, Johnny Pesky loved the Red Sox. More than anybody else, Johnny Pesky shared that love with anyone who ever asked for a picture, an autograph, a smile, a story. And often, you didn't even have to ask."

Read the whole article to get a better appreciation of the man.

(UPDATED) Joe Posnanski weighs in: 

"Nobody who ever played or coached or watched baseball loved it more than Johnny Pesky. And you want to be around that kind of love. I think this is always true; life is more thrilling when you are around people who love something, whether it’s Mozart or Nine Inch Nails, modern art or pro wrestling, Greek mythology or baseball."

We will always have the Pesky Pole in Fenway.  Unofficially named in 1950, a few years ago the Red Sox officially designated the right field foul pole in Johnny's honor.

With Johnny's passing, Bobby Doerr is now the last survivor of the four friends from the 40s Red Sox; Ted Williams, Dom DiMaggio, Johnny and Bobby.  UPDATED:  Their 60 year friendship was the subject of David Halberstam's book, The Teammates (2004).