My Moment with Greatness

 

It was around 5pm on August 11, 2008.  I was heading to pick up my mom and head to the Square One Mall, in Saugus, MA, to meet the legendary Johnny Pesky.  My mom had told me a few weeks prior he would be signing autographs and asked me if I would be interested in going. (Like the question actually needed an answer.)

So we drive up to Saugus, not knowing how long the lines would be and if we would even be able to get to see him.  To our surprise, when we got to the store he was signing at, there was nobody waiting in line.  There was nobody there asking him questions about what it was like to play with Ted Williams or even what it was like to serve in the Navy.  Normally, you might have felt sad for an aged ballplayer sitting, waiting for somebody, anybody, to come talk to him.  But not Johnny, he was holding court with the store personnel, talking baseball of all things.

After I purchased a bat and World Series ball for him to sign, I walked over to the table he was sitting at.  He finished up his story with the staff and addressed me with a "Hello, young fella".  I introduced myself and told him what a huge fan I was of his.  I was wearing a Red Sox jersey at the time and he asked me who's number was on the back as he was tugging on the jersey to get me to turn around.  As I turned, his eyes lit up.  I was wearing his favorite player, and friend, a #9 Ted Williams' jersey.  He then started telling me stories about Ted Williams, Dom DiMaggio some of the other Red Sox greats.

I was fascinated and started hanging on every word he spoke.  He told me about what is was like watching Ted hit batting practice at Fenway Park and how he used to hit baseballs off the Green Monster to help Jim Rice become a better left fielder.  I was mesmerized by this man's recall memory; every detail in every story he described made you feel like you were there with him.  I told him my dad was from Lynn, MA and we started talking about Tony Conigliaro and how much pure talent he had.  He missed Tony C. and sat back in his chair, shaking his head, wondering what might have been.  We talked for a few minutes more as he signed my bat and ball and thanked me multiple times for coming to see him.  He also signed my mom's 2004 World Series hat (which I made her promise never to wear!) and thanked her as well.  I shook the man's hand and thanked him for all the years he has been with the Red Sox and told him what a pleasure and honor it was to meet him.  He smiled and said I'll see you at the ballpark.

I probably spent no more than five to seven minutes with this man, this legend, but he made it seem like we spent a lifetime together.

I never did run into him at the ballpark, but I never forgot the time I had my moment with greatness.

RIP Johnny Pesky.  You will be missed!!