Comments on: Johnny Pesky’s terrific big-league start

By: 18thstreet

18thstreet — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:11:19 +0000

Don’t underestimate how tough the 1952 media was. Ted Williams was reviled in his time.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:34:32 +0000

“Before internet and blogs, we had to sit under trees and listen to old guys.”
Glenn: Our Country would be a lot better off if we still be spent time sitting under trees listening to old guys. This is something that gets lost on a lot of people.
You learn a great deal listening to old guys.
Hell…you learn a great deal by listening.

By: istillbelieveinblue

istillbelieveinblue — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 11:50:26 +0000

So many great players voluntarily gave up their primes years to serve. Ted Williams makes a real run at Babe Ruth’s 714 if he doesn’t miss 3 years to serve during WWII, plus most of 2 seasons to serve in Korea. He hit .406 with 37HR in 1941, and .356 with 36HR in 1942. According to Baseball Reference, his career 162 game average for homeruns was 37. He finished his career with 521 homers. Add in those three years, and he finishes with 632. However, he only played 6 games in 1952 and only 37 games 1953 due to military service in Korea. Add in another 50 HR, and he finishes at 682. That puts him second to Ruth, and would currently sit 4th (3rd if you remove Bonds, but that is a discussion for another time). Those years would have also put him well over 2000 career RBI, as well.

Ted was just one of hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of Americans that left their day jobs to defend our country during perhaps the most pivotal event of the 20th century. We all owe Mr. Williams, Mr. Pesky and all veterans a debt of gratitude. The Greatest Generation is quickly disappearing, so if you see a veteran of WWII, or any foreign conflict, go up and shake his hand and thank him (or her).

By: bigleagues

bigleagues — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:57:46 +0000

I disagree with a lot of what you say, but to be honest I’m not sure why so many have thumbed you down. There’s a lot of truth to what you said.

However, guys who hustled and honored and played the game right, like Pesky, will always rise above media opportunism and shallowness.

In many ways, Pesky was our Jeter.

By: badintent

badintent — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 06:27:50 +0000

Great Book, read it instead of some of the bloggers on other baseball sites.

By: tfbuckfutter

tfbuckfutter — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 23:02:24 +0000

Heh…..so beloved in Boston but really….imagine how today’s media there would have treated him…..Especially in the 1952 season (and even his 1948 season when he wasn’t very good).

By: jjdstl01

jjdstl01 — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 23:01:19 +0000

To All Red Sox Fans,

Sorry for your loss, he was a Red Sox and a WWll hero.

It’s a loss that all real baseball fans feel.

RIP Johnny P.

StL Cardinal Fan

By: Glenn

Glenn — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 22:29:13 +0000

Johnny Pesky is one of the more under-rated players, as you have done such a great job of illustrating. The moving to third base to make room for an inferior fielding Vern Stephens made no sense.

Pesky was one of my first autographs when he was coaching in the early seventies. He was mechanically signing and I said to him that he was the best Red Sox shortstop and lead-off hitter Red Sock ever. He stopped, looked me right in the eye, and politely said thank you very much. He probably figured a little kid had no idea who he was. My neighbor growing up lived in Boston when he was young and saw Babe Ruth, Smokey Joe Woods, etc. He said Pesky, Tris Speaker, and Fred Lynn were his favorite players to watch. Before internet and blogs, we had to sit under trees and listen to old guys.

By: SmackSaw

SmackSaw — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 22:09:11 +0000

Teddy Ballgame loved him. I had no idea he was such a great hitter in his first three seasons. There’s a book called ‘The Teammates’ about the lifelong relationship between Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Dom DiMaggio, and Johnny Pesky. It’s a good read.

By: GoneYickitty

GoneYickitty — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 22:07:30 +0000

I have so much respect for the guys who went and fought for free world.

Rest In Peace Mr. Pesky