Mr. Red Sox plays Peabody

PEABODY – Young and old faces filled Wiggin Auditorium Monday night for what was to some, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the chance to meet Boston Red Sox icon and fan favorite John Michael Paveskovich, a.k.a. Johnny Pesky.”Mr. Red Sox” came to town as part of the Peabody Institute Library’s baseball-themed spring reading program Play by the Book.”We wanted to get a big name here,” said Young Adult Librarian Melissa Rauseo. “We never thought he’d actually come.”The 88-year-old former Sox player, coach, manager, broadcaster, and current special instructor took his seat upfront around 6:45 p.m., 15 minutes before the event was scheduled to start, and began to field questions from the near 120 fans dressed appropriately in Red Sox hats, jerseys, and jackets.”My mother really liked the Red Sox,” Pesky told the crowd, adding that it was probably because “the guys from Boston” always brought her flowers and his father a nice bottle of bourbon when scouting their then-teenage son.”I thought I was pretty hot stuff,” he quipped.Pesky answered a smorgasbord of questions ranging from his fondest memory in baseball (hitting any of his rare home runs) to what he thinks of David Ortiz (“He’s a pussy cat”).He also stated how it feels to have been forced out of the Red Sox dugout by Major League Baseball officials just over a year ago. It was said that Pesky was considered a fifth coach and only four coaches can be present in the dugout during the game.”I was hurt by that, but what can you do about it?” said Pesky, who has been with the Boston team for 57 years. “When a rule is made in baseball, you try to abide by it.”If he could, Pesky said he would be out on the field playing shortstop or third base again.”I love going to the ballpark,” he said. “And I’m going to keep going until I drop.”His appearance Monday night was very intimate, yet informal, with belly laughs pouring from the crowd after many of his humorous stories.”I sold cars one year in the off-season,” he said, noting that players used to have to get second jobs during the winter. “I only sold one car.”Although he admits to having a bit of a “fat head,” the white-haired Swampscott resident seemed both comfortable and humble.”I sign more autographs now than I did when I was a player,” he quipped. “The only thing I won’t sign is a check.”All kidding aside, Pesky repeatedly stated how appreciative he was of the life he’s led.”God was good to us,” he told the crowd. “I say my prayers every night.”When asked what he thinks of the current Red Sox lineup, Pesky said that Ortiz is one man who always has complete control of the situation and that he’s never met anyone quite like slugger Manny Ramirez.”He’s a very likable person,” he said. “But he’ll drive you crazy one minute, and you’ll want to kiss him another.”As for fellow Oregon native Jacoby Ellsbury, well, Pesky thinks he could quite possibly be “the new Ted Williams.””We don’t just raise cattle out there, we raise great ballplayers,” he joked. “He’s got power. He’s a good hitter. I think he’s the best young player we’ve signed in years.”Pesky spent the remainder of the night meeting and greeting his fans, most of whom came prepared with a baseball or photo to have autographed.”I’m dizzy and shaking,” said one older man who had his collector’s baseball signed. “Baseball really makes a little kid out of ya.”