| Birth: | Sep. 27, 1919
Portland
Washington County
Oregon, USA | | Death: | Aug. 13, 2012
Danvers
Essex County
Massachusetts, USA | 
Professional baseball player, manager and television & radio broadcaster. Johnny Pesky, nicknamed "The Needle", was a shortstop and third baseman during his ten-year Major League playing career, spent mostly with the Boston Red Sox. He was born John Michael Paveskovich, the son of Croatian immigrants. He broke into the majors with the Red Sox in 1942 and then after serving in the U.S. 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)
Family links:
Parents:
Jakov M. Paveskovich (1873 - 1948)
Marija Bajama Paveskovich (1887 - 1953)
Spouse:
Ruth Catherine Hickey Pesky (1922 - 2005)
Search Amazon for Johnny Pesky | | | Burial:
Swampscott Cemetery
Swampscott
Essex County
Massachusetts, USA |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: C & N Rasmussen
Record added: Aug 13, 2012
Find A Grave Memorial# 95304690 |
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