Rest In Peace Johnny Pesky

Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky, a former player and longtime ambassador of the team, died today. He was 92.

Pesky may well have wound up in the Hall of Fame, with iconic teammate Ted Williams and Bobby Doerr, but, after playing the 1942 season, he missed three full seasons in his prime while fighting for his country in World War II. He later played for the Sox from 1946-52.

He nonetheless had a career .307 lifetime batting average and later served the Red Sox [team stats] in a multitude of capacities — as manager, coach, broadcaster, front office executive, ad salesman, and, perhaps most importantly, goodwill ambassador.