Johnny Pesky
Born: 2/27/1919 in Portland, OR, USA
Died: 8/13/2012 in Danvers, MA, USA
MLB Debut: 1942-04-14 | Final Game: 1954-09-24
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 168 lbs
Full name: John Michael Pesky
Biography
Johnny Pesky was a notable American professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1942 to 1954. Born in 1919, he played primarily as a position player for the Boston Red Sox, where he became a beloved figure in the franchise's history. Over the course of his career, Pesky participated in 1,270 games, amassing 1,455 hits and finishing with a commendable batting average of .307. He demonstrated consistent offensive production with 404 RBIs and 17 home runs, while also showcasing his speed on the bases with 53 stolen bases. His performance earned him a spot in the 1946 All-Star Game, highlighting his status as one of the premier players of his era.
Pesky's playing style was characterized by his keen batting eye and ability to make contact, which contributed to his high batting average. As a player during the post-World War II era, he contributed to the revitalization of Major League Baseball, which was experiencing a surge in popularity. Known for his strong defensive skills and leadership on the field, Pesky left a lasting legacy with the Red Sox, later becoming a coach and broadcaster for the team. His connection to Boston and its baseball history solidified his status as a cherished figure in the sport, with his contributions extending beyond his playing days.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1270 | 4745 | 867 | 1455 | 226 | 50 | 17 | 404 | 53 | 662 | 218 | 0.307 | 0.394 | 0.386 | 0.780 | 11324.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | BOS | AL | 147 | 620 | 105 | 205 | 29 | 9 | 2 | 51 | 12 | 42 | 36 | 0.331 | 1985.4 |
| 1946 | BOS | AL | 153 | 621 | 115 | 208 | 43 | 4 | 2 | 55 | 9 | 65 | 29 | 0.335 | 2607.4 |
| 1947 | BOS | AL | 155 | 638 | 106 | 207 | 27 | 8 | 0 | 39 | 12 | 72 | 22 | 0.324 | 1488.7 |
| 1948 | BOS | AL | 143 | 565 | 124 | 159 | 26 | 6 | 3 | 55 | 3 | 99 | 32 | 0.281 | 965.7 |
| 1949 | BOS | AL | 148 | 604 | 111 | 185 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 69 | 8 | 100 | 19 | 0.306 | 1502.0 |
| 1950 | BOS | AL | 127 | 490 | 112 | 153 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 49 | 2 | 104 | 31 | 0.312 | 1600.9 |
| 1951 | BOS | AL | 131 | 480 | 93 | 150 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 41 | 2 | 84 | 15 | 0.312 | 1609.3 |
| 1952 | BOS | AL | 25 | 67 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 0.149 | -263.6 |
| 1952 | DET | AL | 69 | 177 | 26 | 45 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 41 | 11 | 0.254 | -263.6 |
| 1953 | DET | AL | 103 | 308 | 43 | 90 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 3 | 27 | 10 | 0.292 | 89.3 |
| 1954 | DET | AL | 20 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.176 | 0.0 |
| 1954 | WSN | AL | 49 | 158 | 17 | 40 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 0.253 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 30 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.233 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | WS | BOS | 7 | 30 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.233 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 137 | 35 | 290 | 321 | 9 | 86 |
| 3B | 460 | 0 | 522 | 983 | 58 | 121 |
| SS | 591 | 0 | 1175 | 1810 | 111 | 387 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | BOS | SS | 147 | 0 | 320 | 465 | 37 | 94 |
| 1946 | BOS | SS | 153 | 0 | 296 | 479 | 25 | 96 |
| 1947 | BOS | 3B | 22 | 0 | 25 | 38 | 1 | 7 |
| 1947 | BOS | SS | 133 | 0 | 251 | 391 | 16 | 90 |
| 1948 | BOS | 3B | 141 | 0 | 121 | 303 | 22 | 35 |
| 1949 | BOS | 3B | 148 | 0 | 184 | 333 | 16 | 48 |
| 1950 | BOS | 3B | 116 | 0 | 160 | 257 | 11 | 29 |
| 1950 | BOS | SS | 8 | 0 | 23 | 32 | 2 | 7 |
| 1951 | BOS | 2B | 5 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 3 |
| 1951 | BOS | 3B | 11 | 0 | 14 | 19 | 4 | 2 |
| 1951 | BOS | SS | 106 | 0 | 204 | 340 | 22 | 74 |
| 1952 | BOS | 3B | 19 | 0 | 16 | 28 | 4 | 0 |
| 1952 | BOS | SS | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1952 | DET | 2B | 22 | 0 | 27 | 36 | 2 | 12 |
| 1952 | DET | 3B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | DET | SS | 41 | 0 | 78 | 101 | 9 | 25 |
| 1953 | DET | 2B | 73 | 0 | 166 | 183 | 3 | 49 |
| 1954 | WS1 | 2B | 37 | 35 | 92 | 91 | 4 | 22 |
| 1954 | WS1 | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 140 |
| Third Base | 459 |
| Shortstop | 589 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | TSN All-Star | SS |
| 1942 | TSN All-Star | SS |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 26th | 5.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 11.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 141.0 | 336 | 2 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 3rd | 143.0 | 336 | 2 |