Major League Baseball Player, Manager. Nicknamed "The Needle", he played shortstop and third base during a ten-year Major League playing career spent with the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Washington Senators. Born John Michael Paveskovich to Croatian immigrants, he broke into the majors with the Boston Red Sox in 1942. After serving in the United States Navy during World War II, he returned to the Red Sox in 1946 and played for them until 1952, when he was traded to the Detroit Tigers. In 1954, his final year as a player in the Major Leagues, he played for the Washington Senators. He was a rare left-handed hitter who threw right-handed and was a tough out for any pitcher. He was the first American League player to score six runs in a 9-inning game, and he led the American League in base hits three times — his first three seasons in the majors — and was among the top ten in on-base percentage six times. He retired with a .307 career batting average in 4,745 at bats as a Major Leaguer. He was also an excellent bunter who led the league in sacrifice hits in 1942. After his playing career ended, Pesky began coaching in the minor leagues. Then in 1963, he became manager of the Boston Red Sox, but was fired after the following season. Pesky then worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, initially as their first base coach, then as manager of their Triple-A team, the Columbus Jets. In 1969, Pesky returned to the Red Sox organization as a color commentator with the Red Sox' radio and television broadcasting team. In 1975, he left broadcasting and returned to uniform as Boston's first base coach, and helped the Red Sox reach the World Series. He remained a coach with the Red Sox through 1984. In 2006, the Red Sox honored Pesky by officially naming the right-field foul pole "Pesky's Pole", and in 2008, the Red Sox retired Pesky's #6 to mark his 89th birthday and his 61 years of service to the ball club.
Major League Baseball Player, Manager. Nicknamed "The Needle", he played shortstop and third base during a ten-year Major League playing career spent with the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Washington Senators. Born John Michael Paveskovich to Croatian immigrants, he broke into the majors with the Boston Red Sox in 1942. After serving in the United States Navy during World War II, he returned to the Red Sox in 1946 and played for them until 1952, when he was traded to the Detroit Tigers. In 1954, his final year as a player in the Major Leagues, he played for the Washington Senators. He was a rare left-handed hitter who threw right-handed and was a tough out for any pitcher. He was the first American League player to score six runs in a 9-inning game, and he led the American League in base hits three times — his first three seasons in the majors — and was among the top ten in on-base percentage six times. He retired with a .307 career batting average in 4,745 at bats as a Major Leaguer. He was also an excellent bunter who led the league in sacrifice hits in 1942. After his playing career ended, Pesky began coaching in the minor leagues. Then in 1963, he became manager of the Boston Red Sox, but was fired after the following season. Pesky then worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, initially as their first base coach, then as manager of their Triple-A team, the Columbus Jets. In 1969, Pesky returned to the Red Sox organization as a color commentator with the Red Sox' radio and television broadcasting team. In 1975, he left broadcasting and returned to uniform as Boston's first base coach, and helped the Red Sox reach the World Series. He remained a coach with the Red Sox through 1984. In 2006, the Red Sox honored Pesky by officially naming the right-field foul pole "Pesky's Pole", and in 2008, the Red Sox retired Pesky's #6 to mark his 89th birthday and his 61 years of service to the ball club.
Bio by: C & N Rasmussen
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