Ex-Red Sox player, announcer Pesky dies

Former Boston Red Sox player, manager and announcer Johnny Pesky has died, a Massachusetts funeral home said Monday. He was 92. The Solimine, Landergan and Richardson funeral home of Lynn, Mass., said Pesky died Monday at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, Mass., ESPN reported. The funeral home did not reveal a cause of death. Pesky, who was associated with the club for 61 years and beloved by its fans, died of natural causes, multiple reports indicated. Pesky, primarily a shortstop, played for the Red Sox from 1942-1952 (excluding the World War II years of 1943-45), racking up at least 200 hits in his first three MLB seasons. He batted .313 over 1,029 career games with the Red Sox. The Portland, Ore., native was the skipper of the Red Sox from 1963-64 and returned to the club in 1969. Since then he has served as a radio and TV announcer, special instructor at spring training, coach, and most recently special assistant to the general manager and special assignment instructor. Fenway Park's right field foul pole was dedicated to him in 2006.