Monday, August 13, 2012

Johnny Pesky obit

Johnny Pesky is dead

He was not on the list.


PESKY, John M. "Johnny" Age 93, of Swampscott, formerly of Lynn and Portland, OR, died Monday, Aug. 13 after a brief illness. Born John Michael Paveskovich Feb. 27, 1919 in Portland, Oregon, son of Croatian immigrants, Jakov and Marija (Bajama) Paveskovich. (note: Major League Baseball has Johnny's date of birth as Sept. 27, 1919, an adjustment made by Johnny in 1939 to meet baseball scouting age limits for tryouts). He was raised in Portland, graduating from high school in 1939 where he was a stand out athlete in both hockey and baseball, but ultimately chose baseball and the Red Sox for his career. During WWII, he served in the U.S. Navy and trained as a pilot. He was stationed at Gordon Field Naval Air Base in Atlanta. It was there that he met his future wife, Ruth C. Hickey of Lynn. Ruth was a Machinist Mate 1st Class who was assigned the task of starting airplane engines. Johnny and Ruth shared 60 years of marriage before her death in 2005. In their early married life, they lived in Lynn before moving to Swampscott in 1965 to a new home that Ruth had built. During his career with the Red Sox, Johnny held positions as Player, Coach, Manager, Announcer, Special Assistant to the General Manager and Beloved Baseball Ambassador. Johnny worked tirelessly for over 70 years on behalf of the Jimmy Fund and several other charities. He was always willing to help all who asked. Throughout his life, Johnny had a love for the City of Lynn and Lynn has always been proud to claim Johnny as one of its own. His presence in the Greater Lynn Community was well known.

Nicknamed "The Needle" and "Mr. Red Sox", was an American professional baseball player, manager and coach. He was a shortstop and third baseman during a ten-year major league playing career, appearing in 1,270 games played in 1942 and from 1946 to 1954 for three teams. He missed the 1943–45 seasons while serving in World War II. Pesky was associated with the Boston Red Sox for 61 of his 73 years in baseball—from 1940 through June 3, 1952, 1961 through 1964, and from 1969 until his death. Pesky also managed the Red Sox from 1963 to 1964, and in September 1980.
A left-handed hitter who threw right-handed, Pesky was a tough man for pitchers to strike out. He was the first American League (AL) player to score 6 runs in a 9 inning game. As a hitter, he specialized in getting on base, leading the AL in base hits three times—his first three seasons in the majors, in which he collected over 200 hits each year—and was among the top ten in on-base percentage six times while batting .307 in 4,745 at bats as a major leaguer. He was also an excellent bunter who led the league in sacrifice hits in 1942. He was a teammate and close friend of Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr and Dom DiMaggio, as chronicled in The Teammates by David Halberstam.

 The annual Johnny Pesky Friendship Dinner grew from a small handful to over 400 people. Along with his contemporaries, he would frequent local restaurants as "Chairman" of the "Breakfast Club." Johnny prided himself on never turning down a kid for an autograph, no matter how old that kid might be. Always approachable, Johnny's kindness to those that he met will be remembered by all. He is survived by his son and daughter in law, David M. and Alison S. Pesky of Gloucester. His brother, Vincent Paveskovich and sister, Danica "Dee" Iveson of Portland, OR, several nieces and nephews, including Joanne Deveau, Lawrence Corea, Jr., Michael P. Hickey, and Patrick J. Hickey of Lynn. He is also survived by his dear friend, Evelyn Leary of Houston, TX. He was also brother of the late Tony and Marco Paveskovich, Ann Franciskovich and Millie Love. Relatives, friends, and the general public are respectfully invited to visiting hours at the Solimine, Landergan and Richardson Funeral Home, 67 Ocean St. (Rt 1A) LYNN on Sunday, August 19 from 2-8pm. Funeral Services and Burial will be private. Donations may be made in Johnny's memory to the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445. Directions and guest book at www.solimine.com

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