Red Sox Broadcaster, Player, Manager, Coach Johnny Pesky Dies At 92

Pesky

JOHNNY PESKY, who played, coached, managed, and provided color commentary for the BOSTON RED SOX for six decades as one of the team's most popular figures, died MONDAY (8/13) in DANVERS, MA at 92.

PESKY, a shortstop for the SOX in 1942 and 1946-52, played for DETROIT and WASHINGTON before his retirement after the 1954 season, making the AMERICAN LEAGUE All-Star team in 1946.  After ending his playing career, PESKY (born JOHN MICHAEL PAVESKOVICH; PESKY was a nickname based on his real surname and playing style that stuck) became a minor league coach and manager in the NEW YORK YANKEES, DETROIT TIGERS, and RED SOX organizations, and became SOX manager in 1962.  He was fired two games before the end of the 1964 season, then coached for the PITTSBURGH PIRATES and managed the PIRATES' COLUMBUS Triple-A farm club in 1968.

PESKY became color commentator on the SOX radio and TV networks based at the old WHDH-TV and WHDH-A/BOSTON in 1969-71, then on WBZ-TV in 1972-74, making occasional appearances on the radio side.  He later returned to the field as a coach and was interim manager for the SOX at the end of the 1980 season, moving to the front office as special instructor and assistant to the GM starting in 1985.

The right-field foul pole at FENWAY PARK is known as "PESKY's Pole" for its short distance from home plate and stories that some of his few home runs in the majors landed in the stands by that pole.

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