Pesky's Pole
Pesky's Pole, commonly referred to as The Pesky Pole, is the nickname for the right field foul pole at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. It is named after Johnny Pesky, who played second base, shortstop and third base for the Red Sox from 1942 to 1952, except for 1943 to 1945, during World War II. The pole stands only 302 feet (92 meters) away from home plate. Like the measurement of the left-field line at Fenway Park, this has been disputed. Aerial shots show it to be noticeably shorter than the (actual) 302 foot line in right field, and Pesky has been quoted as estimating it to be "around 295 feet".
According to Pesky, former teammate and Sox broadcaster Mel Parnell named the pole after Pesky won a game for Parnell in 1948 with a home run down the short right field line, just around the pole. However, Pesky hit just one home run in a game pitched by Parnell, a two-run shot in the first inning of a game against Detroit played on June 11, 1950. The game was eventually won by the visiting Tigers in the 14th inning on a three-run shot by Tigers right fielder Vic Wertz and Parnell earned a no-decision that day.[1]
Pesky was a slap hitter who hit just 17 home runs in his career (6 at Fenway Park).[2] It's not known how many of these six actually landed near the pole.
The term, though it had been in use since the 1950s, became far more common when Parnell became a Red Sox broadcaster in 1965.
On September 27, 2006, on Pesky's 87th birthday, the Red Sox organization officially dedicated the right field foul pole as Pesky's Pole with a commemorative plaque placed at its base.
The seat directly on the foul side of Pesky's Pole in the front row is Section 94, Row E, Seat 5 and is usually sold as a lone ticket.
The opposing left field foul pole is known as the Fisk Pole, from star Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, who like Johnny Pesky's No.6, has had his No.27 player number retired by the team.
References
- ↑ "Pesky Pole at Fenway Park". redsoxconnection.com. Archived from the original on 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
- ↑ Pesky at Baseball Reference